TATA FRIKY · 4 MIN

Why don’t I wear the helmet on a zem?

The driver handed me one. I looked at it, looked at my hair and said “no thanks”.

streetshabitssafety

October 21, 2026

Tata Friky at a café near a busy street with motorcycle taxis

Tata Frikythinking out loud…

Monday
Tata Frikyzem driver: “helmet?”07:42
me: looks at the helmet. looks at my hair. “I’m fine.”
how is my hairstyle suddenly a safety policy? 💀
Nadiasome shared helmets really are in rough shape
Tata Frikysome shared helmets really are in rough shapeyes. cleanliness and fit are real issues, not imaginary excuses.
but I’ve also refused a decent helmet because I was going “just around the corner”.
that corner somehow becomes a twenty-minute ride every time.
•••
Kossipeople drive too fast anyway; a helmet won’t fix that
Tata Frikypeople drive too fast anyway; a helmet won’t fix thatdriving carefully matters too. the two things are not enemies.
I can ask the driver to slow down AND protect my head.
I watched someone step off a zem, smooth down their hair, and say “we made it”.
I do the same. I plan the arrival photo before the journey.
the ride deserves as much attention as the destination.
•••
I asked the next driver for a helmet that fit. the first one didn’t. he had another.
I tucked my scarf away so it didn’t get caught and wore it properly.
not a glamorous look. a useful one.
if the helmet is damaged, I can choose another ride or carry one of my own when I can.
I don’t control every driver. I do control whether I ask and whether I speak up about speed.
Afrikyf’s Arrive Alive Week Goal is a good reminder.
Tata FrikyAFRIKYF WEEK GOAL · G03 · Live nowArrive AliveExplore the goal ↗
neighbourhood safety also improves when people solve everyday problems together.
Tata FrikyAfrikyf · storyneighbourhood solves its own problem
Tata Friky
Do you wear a helmet on a moto-taxi?
I’m putting one on for the short rides too. remind me.