Study: Greater Risk For Head Injuries In Cities With Bike Share Programs

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The next time you're thinking about renting a Nice Ride bike, one group wants to make sure you think about bringing a helmet.

Researchers behind a new study say their data shows a greater risk for head injuries in cities with bike-share programs.

They studied data from Minneapolis, Montreal, Washington, D.C., Boston and Miami Beach and compared it to cities without programs, like Nice Ride.

Researchers say the study suggests bike-sharing programs should consider making helmets available.

According to the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, only about 8 percent of Minnesota's bike riders wear a helmet consistently.

Since the study was published, a number of reports have contradicted its findings, claiming that the data actually shows a decrease in head injuries in cities with bike-share programs.