The Bell Metro helmet represents a long overdue innovation in bicycle helmets. Surprisingly, what has been missing in helmet design (before the Metro) was a focus on the everyday bicycle rider's needs. It seems that most helmets are only created with racing in mind and they have the appearance of a brighly colored rider in the Tour de France. This results in a gaudy and inappropriate accessory that makes people who ride bikes feel self-conscious. In the end, fewer people wear life-saving helmets.
The casual rider doesn't need 30 vents or sleek aerodynamic design. Nor do average bike riders want to dress up like Lance Armstrong every time they get on a bike. What bike riders want is protection that feels comfortable and doesn't look silly. In this regard, the Metro delivers and provides lots of great additional options.
The helmet comes in a variety of subdued monochromatic colors. It has a nifty tightening mechanism in the back to ensure a snug fit. There is a ponytail hole in the back. Overall, it's round and not pointy, so it won't get caught on something in crash and snap your neck. It comes with a detachable visor.
However, the beauty of this helmet are the accessories.
This helmet can be fitted with a rain shield. Many bike riders don't wear helmets when it rains (even though they're more likely to skid out on wet surfaces) because they want to wear a hat to ward off the raindrops. Several hardly noticable little buttons around the edge of the helmet await the attachment of accessories like these.
This helmet can also be fitted with a "winter kit" that includes plugs that fill the vents and thermal ear-muffs that are sleek and un-muff-like. This is great because most bike riders don't want to freeze their ears off just to protect their head during winter rides.
You can clip a blinky light to the back of this helmet and forget about attaching one to your bike. I've done this with mine and I think it's much more visible up at eye level than under my seat.
Lastly, the size and shape of this helmet is utilitarian and practical for riding and really seems to be appropriate for the task (in my case, commuting 2 miles to work every day). It has adjustable straps that are easy to use. Be sure to get the size that suits you best. They also make a cheaper version called the Citi, which is the same design but "one size fits all" (or no one, really) and accepts fewer features.
The best news about this helmet is that it is hopefully going to be a precursor in a larger rethinking of bicycle safety, this time, with everyday urban riders in mind.
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