Doctors Want Critique Run Off Racks Consumer Reports Bike Helmets Story Draws Ire Of Harborview Researchers

In a searing letter Monday, researchers here blasted a Consumer Reports critique of bike helmets, saying the “misguided review” may cause some cyclists to ride without protective headgear.

A top official of Consumers Union, which publishes the magazine, said discouraging use of helmets was the last thing the consumer-testing organization wanted.

“Any helmet is better than no helmet, so for God’s sake wear a helmet. We stress this over and over,” said R. David Pittle, vice president and technical director of Consumers Union.

That’s not how it appeared to officials of the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Program.

“As the lead investigators of what can be described as the most comprehensive bicycle helmet research program ever conducted … we are writing to express our outrage at the tragic decision by Consumers Union to malign the utility of bike helmets based on a few buckles,” said the letter dated May 19 and signed by Dr. Fred Rivara, director of the program, and epidemiologist Diane Thompson.

The magazine published by the Yonkers, N.Y.-based consumer group says buckles sometimes failed on half of the 24 helmets tested.

In its June issue, Consumer Reports said it appeared helmets with problem buckles would offer effective protection at first impact, but could then “come off, leaving your head unprotected.”

Until the problem is corrected, it recommends consumers buying bike helmets “give first consideration to the 12 helmets … that have one of the buckle types that consistently passed our tests.”

The researchers at Harborview Medical Center, owned by King County and operated by the University of Washington, said they believe the report will result in “brain injuries and deaths to children and adults who choose to forgo a helmet because of the confusion you have caused.

“Rather than have retailers or manufacturers pull helmets from their shelves we encourage them to pull your June issue of Consumer Reports,” the letter said.

“It’s a very passionate letter,” Pittle said in a Monday telephone interview from Yonkers.

He said the magazine had sought to make clear that all cyclists should wear a helmet.

The sixth paragraph of the article says people who already own a helmet with a problem buckle should “continue to use the helmet. Wearing any helmet reduces your likelihood of death or serious brain injury when riding a bike.”

But Rivara said the effort failed.

“On the whole, bike helmets work,” he said in a telephone interview. “Their article has given the false idea that there’s a problem with them.”