Crazy or ingenious? An airbag for your head

Helmets divide the bike community. I wrote a column about it some time ago. And the debate has come to, er, a head recently with the launch of the cycle hire scheme. I’ve yet to see a cyclist riding a Boris Bike wearing protection.

And as more women start riding, the number of helmets on the road appears to be dropping (that isn’t to say all men wear helmets but I do think more do. My Mum used to ride to work and would only wear a helmet when it was raining – to keep her hair dry).

Anyway, it’s nice not to wear a helmet and people look less stupid without one. The debate has become heated in Australia, where helmets are required by law and have lead to a drop in the number of bikes on the road – and an overall negative effect on health (cos people get fat on the bus, the theory goes).

I do wear a helmet, although I’m pro-choice. Ideally, however, someone needs to invent a less dorky alternative to the  standard bonce protector. We’ve had skater helmets and helmet covers but nothing really cuts it.

Is this the solution? The Hövding is an airbag for your head. You wear a collar (good for winter) which detects an impact and ejects a head-enveloping balloon in the time it takes for your face to hit the Tarmac, or a car bonnet. Watch the video and let me know what you think. It’s certainly clever.

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