Bike Helmets
Hook
Picture this. A young person is riding her bike through the forest. Then when she least expects it… Bang! The next day she wakes up in the hospital with a concussion. If she were wearing a helmet she would not even be there. People should wear helmets on bikes because they can save your life, they look good, and finally, it it the law.
↑Thesis Statement
Topic sentence for the first body paragraph with the transition underlined
Topic sentence for the first body paragraph with the transition underlined
First, helmets are built for a reason: to save lives. Helmets, made of a very hard plastic with an inner foam and padding, are designed to minimize the impact on the head when a cyclist gets into a dangerous situation. According to the National Highway Traffic Safely Admininstration, "A helmet is the single most effective way to
prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash" (Traffic Safety Facts 2017). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that "In a majority of bicyclist deaths, the most serious injuries are to the head, highlighting the importance of wearing a bicycle helmet. Helmet use has been estimated to reduce the odds of head injury by 50 percent" (Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute 2015). Clearly, cyclists who protect their heads with helmets have a much better chance of surviving accidents.
Topic sentence for the second body paragraph
A second reason to wear them is that helmets are also stylish. Not every helmet looks the same. Helmets can look like almost anything the owner wants them to. They can be customized to fit the wearer's personality and wishes. There are helmets with mirrors attached to the sides so the cyclist can see the view behind. Some people put reflective tape, lights, and even cameras on their helmets. Bike helmets come in many different colors, designs, and styles, and there are even interchangeable covers so a cyclist can have several different looks with the same helmet (Bike Pretty). Cyclists can make a fashion statement while being safe.
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Finally, people should wear bike helmets wherever it is the law. Utah is currently one of twenty-nine states that do not have state laws regarding helmets for bicycle riders. However, fifteen of those states have local laws that require helmets (Utah Bicycle Lawyers). And other states and provinces have strict laws. For instance, cyclists under the age of eighteen who are caught without a helmet in the province of Ontario, will be fined sixty dollars (Ministry of Transportation). Also in Ontario, cyclists are not allowed to ride a bike with a hockey helmet, baseball helmet, or football helmet. All these helmets are inappropriate for bike riding (Ministry). Therefore, if a person is going to travel and take a bike along, that person should find out whether there are helmet laws at their destination.
Topic sentence for the counterclaim/rebuttal paragraph -- Rebuttal
Some cyclists complain that helmets are uncomfortable. They do not need to be. The Children's Hospital of Los Angeles recommends trying on a helmet before buying it, then adjusting any rings and straps to ensure that the helmet fits snugly, but is not uncomfortably tight (CHLA). Taking time to select and properly adjust the right helmet will ensure both comfort and safety.
Conclusion
Bike helmets are very important. They can save lives, they are stylish, and the law in many places states that they must be worn. Remembering that without a helmet an otherwise minor accident could cause death or disability should convince all cyclists to wear a helmet every time they ride.
informal
evidence from sources
https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/bicycle-helmets-getting-the-right-fit
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/bicycle-safety.shtml
https://bikepretty.com/blogs/blog/10-shockingly-chic-bicycle-helmets
https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/812382
Adapted from http://learningin21.edublogs.org/2012/02/17/bike-helmets/
