From the Archives - Helmets and Bikes: Is your style in danger?

By Taiwo Orimadegun (Written April 9,2009), Photo by Laide Olabode
Since the introduction the law that makes it mandatory for commercial motorcycle riders, a.k.a., Okada, to wear helmets and provide same for their passengers, people, especially the female folk, have had challenges with incorporating the helmet into their normal style routing. Before now, people rode on bikes to parties, events, work just about anything; gowns, suits, jeans, mini skirts, iro and buba, full head gear, etc. With this new directive, how does it affect one's style when we are left with no other form of transportation to one's destinations.

I know this Helmet thingy doesn't affect the guys as it affect the 'Ladies', but it sure poses a lot of threat to how we want to be seen. You know our Naija chics..., "I fixed my hair with "N10,000 (Ten Thousand Naira yesterday! I can't wear this dirty helmet....it can’t even enter my head." Sympathy for the female folk might not be misplaced here. Women might find it hard to accept this safety measure because of their complicated hair-dos.

Faith Ogah, a Business Woman feels Helmet makes you look like a safety engineer, and sometimes weird when you're wearing native attire.

Abimbola Salami, a Banker, thinks it fits the guys, especially when you intentionally work-out styles that fit the Helmet - of course not when the Helmet looks tattered, old and rough and all the bad adjectives or when it just wont fit, "but seriously, it's not much to worry about. I have worn it with my apparel (suit, jacket and casuals) to different occasiosn and it hasn't been too much worry for me,” he said.

A company Legal Secretary, Funmi Shopeju feels it makes one weird. Hear her, “You don't have a choice because the Okada is the fastest means of transportation for now! To be frank, it makes one look really weird. But it is for the safety of the person wearing the helmet. Can you imagine wearing an helmet on a suit? It is a matter of 'no choice' for me."

"It greatly affect one's dress sense, as you do not expect a lady or guy kinky-dressed to put on a helmet besides, imagine a lady with a tall hair style, the helmet wont even fit into the hair not to talk of the head. I guess that law has to be reviewed!" says, Abayomi Ayoola, also a Banker.

"Apart from affecting your dressing, what about the health hazards? You can pick Keloids and lice or even bed bugs. My only advice is for ladies to buy a ""chick"" helmet like mine. Mine is hot pink though. I regret buying pink sometimes. Maybe I should have bought black. But I was in a funky mood on the day I bought it,” Esther Agugua said.

"It doesn't affect my dress sense in anyway," says Laide Olabode, an undergraduate student. “Though it can be such a bother at times cause you have to worry about who has worn it before you cause you don't know what sort of things is on the other user's head. The only thing I like about the helmet is that it keeps my hair intact I don't have to worry about getting my hair messed up by the wind," she added.

Apart from that fact that most bike operators are using construction worker's hat which do not help in anyway, I think most of them don't know the importance of a helmet. They probably just think "shebi dem say make we buy helmet." They really do not understand the safety need. But check this out. Some people believe okada riders put some funny things (like juju?) in these helmets..... wow!

"I really don't mind it. I have worn it several times on my suit to work and to church in my native attire, and in just about anything if I don't have a car at my disposal," says Rotimi Kayode, a Banker.

Mariam Kadir, a Lawyer, says, "Helmet on my head? I will rather use my last money to get a cab. Even with the chance of Lagos traffic messing up my appointment, I won't to be tempted to hop on bike. I just can't stand to be seen donning an helmet, a fine babe like me!" she exclaimed.

"It is kind of embarrassing to me. Just imagine, my hair cost me between five thousand to fifteen thousand and you would want me to go and put on helmet on my head. I simply don't like it," Imama Sekoni, A Politician added.

"I'm just too sophisticated for Helmet, the other day that I had to ride one, I held it and the bike man frustrated my life till I get to my destination, ever since, I have vouched not to get on a bike again. So I've learned to be proactive on my timings and set out early to wherever I want to go, so as not be in haste. Helmet does not fit into my style at all. Forget about the hygienic issues..... I can't add it up to what am wearing," says Jummai Shuaib, a Teacher.


"Hmmmm......I have never liked bikes. So if i can avoid them, I give them ten miles! If I am forced to ride on one, it's definitely without an helmet. Forget fashion sense. That thing is repugnant! The way some people sweat and smell, using such helmet for just one second will cause BRAIN TUMOR!! Seriously,” Gloria Odimba hinted.

"It's too odd. It's just not worth. It will really spoil fashion for us. It make one look like a bike rider, and I don't find it funny when my hair style get scattered while removing the helmet," says Aremu Abiola, an IT student.

"Even before the so called helmet law, I detested bikes. It just don't look good with whatever I'm wearing. How will I wear my long pencil skirt and still hop on a bike,or my mini skirt not to talk of other sexy apparels. The whole bike thing just doesn't go with my dress sense at all. The helmet law has eventually done it for me, No Bike!" Says Adeyemi Ademola, A fashion designer.

Funmilayo Adaja, travel agent, share an experience she had an experience just last Sunday. "I went to the salon to make my hair and didn't leave until very in the night. The fastest means to get home of course was okada. My hair was still wet and the bike man insisted that I use the helmet because of 'dear policemen' who now use it as a means of exploiting people on the way. I was so angry but I had no choice. Putting on the helmet with my new hairdo was really annoying for me."

Olufunmi Olajoyegbe, a gospel singer, believes it is a safety measure and is not bothered by how it affects her sense of style, "Though, the helmets available are not the most dignifying. But the truth is it's for the best. I know it doesn't make one look particularly elegant or stylish, but hey it could mean your life. If not for helmets two of my brothers would not be alive today."

This is a case of one man's meat, becoming another man's poison. Everyone could say just about anything as it affects them. The bottom line is that helmets have come to stay. It means you MUST change your style to fit the situation, else get to your destination in cabs, not minding the traffic. You could just get a car. Abi? Lets all just take it as the safety measure that it is...Cheers.