Bicycle helmet folds flat and fits into a laptop case

Morpher is a piece of bike equipment that provides the protection of a standard helmet while also being collapsible for easy storage.

Encouraging the increasing number of cyclists on city roads to wear a helmet is a difficult task — some believe they’re not necessary while others find them uncomfortable and bulky to carry around. Hoping to tackle the last of those issues, Morpher is a piece of bike equipment that provides the protection of a standard helmet while also being collapsible for easy storage.

According to statistics quoted by the UK startup, 92 percent of London’s bike rental scheme users don’t wear a helmet when they ride, but 84 percent believe they’re risking their safety by forgoing such protection. On top of this, 83 percent cite lack of portability as a reason for not wearing one. Having been involved in a bicycle crash himself, Jeff Woolf has since spent two years developing the Morpher alongside designers at therefore.com, the innovative group responsible for 2012’s GravityLight, a lamp powered by gravity. The helmet is made out of recyclable materials and uses a unique folding mechanism that enables it to collapse down to just a couple of inches wide. The design has already met European safety standards, meaning its flexibility doesn’t negatively impact its ability to protect riders. The video below is taken from the Morpher Indiegogo campaign, which saw the invention raise double its funding target:

Not only are Morpher helmets easier for solo users to carry, but they could make ideas such as automated helmet vending, as proposed by the Netherland’s HelmetHub, much more feasible for cities running bike rental schemes. Priced at USD 79 for the duration of their crowdfunding campaign, they can also be used by skateboarders, hockey players and other rough sports. Are there other ways to get cyclists to wear protective gear?