Bicycle helmets

https://cyclingtips.com/2018/11/commentary-why-i-stopped-wearing-a-bike-helmet/
https://www.bikehelmetblog.com/?fbclid=IwAR0Gn29M6eeXfWF-mGSAUPFnJSzqtL7tdaHeFaDIYb06I6XwNCtcnT2jCgA

I never really liked them. Growing up watching anime and living a bit of my childhood in korea, I got used to seeing and being around people not wearing helmets.
It's the usual childish tantrum for me. Like wanting the wind in my hair, not having to worry about where my helmet is, where to store it or whether it'll get stolen. Plus I do want to be stylish at times too you know haha

The article I linked on the top kind of nudged my view to be a bit more radical. I don't like mandatory bike helmets (I also don't like fines for people riding on foot path).
I know a lot of people compare bike helmets to seat belts and bikes to vehicles. But are they? I agree that if cyclist wants to ride with the cars, yes, a helmet should be mandatory. If they want to ride as fast as a car, yes, they shouldn't be on the foot path. But this blanket law has discouraged a lot of slow and casual riders like myself, who just wants to use the bicycle as an alternative commute like the bus, car or walking.
With cycling, you can adjust the speed quite freely and the size of the bicycle can be relatively small. I'm a small person, so my wee mountain bike I used for commute can even be compared to a woman strolling a large buggy, or one of those electric scooter for the elderly.
As for speed, I've had children on scooters riding faster than me on the foot path (without helmets, just to add). If I'm going that slow on the road with cars, I actually become a hazard way more than if I were to ride on the footpath and risk being hit by a driver carelessly backing out without looking.
I understand that NZ culture is not the same as Denmark or Japan. We don't have wide foot path and many of our roads don't have cycle lanes yet. But cultures can be changed and should always aim to change for the better. Cars are already guzzling up our fossil fuel that will eventually run out. Buses can have ridiculous waiting time and limited routes. People can't always walk to their work and an alternative choice should be made more freely available to the general public. Bike helmets should always be highly recommended, but fining people for not using them will just put people off.

In any case, I just wanted to share the article somewhere so I can keep it in mind.