Dr. Michael Rifkin survived a dangerous bicycle crash. The helmet he was wearing may have saved his life or prevented serious, long-term injury.

A week ago, Rifkin – who practices in Auburn – was involved in a car-bicycle collision while riding in Turner. The crash was so severe that Rifkin’s wife said he spent a few nights in Central Maine Medical Center, recovering from his injuries.

“He suffered some serious trauma, but his bicycle helmet saved his life. It was blown apart,” Laura Rifkin told the Sun Journal.

The lesson here is twofold. First, helmets save lives. And second, automobile drivers must be alert for and share the road with people riding bikes.

While Maine does not require adults to wear helmets on bicycles or motorcycles, the choice should be clear. When riders get on a bike without a helmet, they unnecessarily risk life and limb.

According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more than 500,000 people visit emergency rooms each year because of bicycle-related crashes. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries. More than 700 people die a year from injuries sustained in bicycle accidents.

The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute estimates that 88 percent of the head injuries from bike crashes could be prevented if the rider had been wearing a helmet.

The Lewiston and Auburn police departments help make helmets available for people who can’t afford them. Other police departments may do the same. There’s really no good reason not to have a helmet.

When automobiles and bicycles collide, the injuries can be severe. Cars are involved in about 90 percent of all bicycle deaths, but only about 10 percent of total cycling injuries.

More and more people enjoy riding bicycles. It is a good form of exercise and a healthy and safe way to get around. The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that more than 40 million American adults said they rode a bike within the last month.

Drivers and riders alike share responsibility for safe highways. By obeying traffic laws and being predictable, both groups can make the roads safer for the other.

For drivers, slow down when you pass a rider on the open road. Give yourself a chance to react if something unexpected happens. Cyclists won’t swerve into a car’s path on purpose, but a rough spot in the road, loose gravel or a mechanical failure could cause an unexpected movement.

Cyclists must follow the same rules as cars. Stop at traffic signals and stop signs, ride with the flow of traffic and pay attention to what’s going on.

And a little courtesy on everybody’s part goes a long way.

Dr. Rifkin plans to create a sculpture with the pieces of his shattered bicycle helmet and use it to promote bicycle safety. That’s a great idea. But the good doctor’s real contribution to bike safety is the example he set when he strapped on that helmet in the first place. We should all follow his lead.
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