Many of you are missing the point by focusing on accident rates of cyclists - they, pedestrians and motorists have accidents and always will. The important part of cycling is its health benefits - the health risks presented by obesity mean that you are far more likely to die of not exercising and being fat than you are of cycling with or without a helmet. Plus, the more people that cycle, motorists get used to seeing them and used to driving considerately - this means fewer accidents of all types. This is why compulsory helmets is wrong (it puts people off) as are scare stories such as this one. All activities have a risk - these should be offset by potential benefits and mitigated reasonably and proportionately.