Worlds first bicycle helmet
The modern bicycle helmet with a hard shell and cellular plastic (Styrofoam) became popular in the 1970s and 1980s, but the first, simpler forms of protection—such as the leather-covered “leather sausages” or hairnets—began to be used by competitive cyclists as early as the 1930s and onward.
Key milestones in the history of the bicycle helmet:
• 1930s: The first leather straps and net-like protective gear (“leather sausages”) appear.
• 1950s–1960s: Competitive cyclists begin to use simple helmets inspired by motorsports on a larger scale.
• 1970s/1980s: Modern bicycle helmets made of hard plastic and foam (Styrofoam) are developed and introduced to the market.
• 1980: Designer Ove Johnson creates the first Swedish bicycle helmet as his thesis project at Konstfack.
• January 1, 2005: The law requiring children and adolescents under the age of 15 to wear bicycle helmets goes into effect in Sweden.
• 2011: The Swedish inflatable bicycle helmet Hövding is launched commercially.
Key milestones in the history of the bicycle helmet:
• 1930s: The first leather straps and net-like protective gear (“leather sausages”) appear.
• 1950s–1960s: Competitive cyclists begin to use simple helmets inspired by motorsports on a larger scale.
• 1970s/1980s: Modern bicycle helmets made of hard plastic and foam (Styrofoam) are developed and introduced to the market.
• 1980: Designer Ove Johnson creates the first Swedish bicycle helmet as his thesis project at Konstfack.
• January 1, 2005: The law requiring children and adolescents under the age of 15 to wear bicycle helmets goes into effect in Sweden.
• 2011: The Swedish inflatable bicycle helmet Hövding is launched commercially.
56-60, M