The Danish Bicycle Trade organisation says that sales of cycle helmets in Denmark have rocketed in recent years, seemingly as a result of campaigns and the arrival of designer helmets.

The organisation says that from 2003 to 2009, sales have increased by between 25 and 30 percent each year.

“We are close to a boom. We don’t know how much of the increase is because people have swapped helmets or because they’ve bought their first one,” says Bicycle Trade Organisation Director Erik Oddershede.

“The positive thing is that adults have come on board. That may be because cycle helmets have become more modern – you can get them now with all sorts of things on them – from flowers to something that looks like a fur hat,” he adds.

The Rådet for Sikker Trafik (Safe Traffic Agency) organisation says that in 2007 some 17,000 cyclists were treated in emergency wards. Of these 2,700 had serious headwounds. The agency says that 15 percent of all cyclists wore helmets in 2008.