According to a biologist I know, "bears are perfectly safe as long as you keep them at least a quarter inch away from your skin"
Who can argue with that?
I do quesion the intelligence of people carrying pointy sticks as a weapon in bear country. I do not consider "bear spray" as anything more than a feel-good hope...... The human voice and an aggressive human attitude (as well as a few brains) is probably more effective.