Gordon Ramsay's massive 'purple potato' injury reignites bicycle helmet debate and if they actually make cycling safer or more dangerous

Gordon Ramsay has urged cyclists to wear helmets after an accident left him looking like a ‘purple potato’ – but experts are divided on how effective they are. Overall, they said wearing a helmet while cycling was ‘highly recommendable’, adding: ‘Bicycle helmets have consistently been found to reduce head injury, specifically serious and fatal head injury.’ Ramsay suggested his injuries could have been a lot worse if he hadn't been wearing a helmet as he showed off a massive bruise to his social media followers The TV chef said he was left looking like a 'purple potato' after his 'very serious accident' But Colin Clarke, of campaign group Cycling UK, has repeatedly argued that the benefits of helmets are overstated and that their use may have negative side-effects. He wrote: ‘The emphasis on helmets is unscientific and, more importantly, damages cycling and blocks the kind of cycling policy and infrastructure in successful cycling cities.’ Another study by scientists at Bath University showed in 2019 that motorists made riskier decisions around cyclists with helmets. ‘If people want to wear one because they fear a fall – mountain bikers particularly – that’s a different matter, but there are obvious concerns with the former situation.’ It is not currently a legal requirement to wear a helmet while cycling in the UK.