> Falling over the handlebars is likely when coming to a sudden stop.

Only if you are riding a bicycle completely unsuitable for commuting or general urban use; like a mountain bike or racing bicycle.

Commonly used bicycles in Denmark and the Netherlands look like this:

https://omidbikes.nl/wp-content/uploads/mat-zwart-7.jpg

Note the handlebars and upright rider position that basically prevent going over the handlebars during an emergency stop. That kind of accident just doesn't happen here.

I still prefer reverse-pedal brakes (terugtraprem).

Of course, even then, as a teenager I still managed to get myself into some interesting situations a couple of times. But never went over the handlebars :-P

Can you say whether you are yourself an active cyclist?

Yes I am. It’s nice for all the reasons people beat the drum about, but the biggest one for me is convenience. Driving and parking in a city is a nightmare. Biking is marginally slower than taking the bus and by comparison biking grants much more freedom. Frankly, I think it’s insane that anyone who regularly bikes would not wear a helmet. I push back so hard against this notion of not wearing a helmet because of how catastrophic a tiny incident can be.

Thanks. I also bike for my day-to-day transport, and love it.

I go back and forth about the helmet issue personally. Though I've almost never not worn one.

My general feeling is that it's not much of a burden to me. And while the cases where it's actually going to help are narrower than most people think (especially people looking from the perspective of a car impact), it does improve the outcome in those cases quite a bit. So it's worthwhile.

If nothing else helmets are good places to mount lights, which are definitely an important safety measure! :)