Advocacy & Safety - Parades and Helmets

I went to my town's 4th of July parade this morning and saw a lot of kids (under the age of 14) riding around without helmets. While this is illegal, it's not uncommon around here (unfortunately) and therefore I'm not extremely angry about that. However, one of the elementary schools had about a dozen kids (3 rows of 4 riders) riding in the parade with a few teachers. At least one teacher and two of the kids were riding without helmets.

Has anyone else had this happen in their town?

Just got back from the parade but there weren't any bicycles in it. There were a few kids sitting up on top of the fiberglass cab of a very big fire engine. The youngest child looked to be about 6. It didn't look like there was anyplace to hold on to up there either. About a 12ft straight drop to the pavement. I'd put the risk factor at about 100+ times that of riding a bike. Didn't see anybody getting bent about it.

I went to my town's 4th of July parade this morning and saw a lot of kids (under the age of 14) riding around without helmets. While this is illegal, it's not uncommon around here (unfortunately) and therefore I'm not extremely angry about that. However, one of the elementary schools had about a dozen kids (3 rows of 4 riders) riding in the parade with a few teachers. At least one teacher and two of the kids were riding without helmets.

Has anyone else had this happen in their town?

Speeding along at two miles an hour even! I'll bet those marching in the parade at the same speed as the cyclists chose not to wear helmets either.

Speeding along at two miles an hour even! I'll bet those marching in the parade at the same speed as the cyclists chose not to wear helmets either.

I'd think that it's harder for an elementary school-aged kid to stay up and go straight on a bike at a slow speed, and in a pack that's not a good thing.

They showed some video of some neighborhood parades on the local news tonight and all the kids I saw were wearing helmets, though the strap on one kid's helmet was about six inches too loose!

I went to my town's 4th of July parade this morning and saw a lot of kids (under the age of 14) riding around without helmets. While this is illegal, it's not uncommon around here (unfortunately) and therefore I'm not extremely angry about that. However, one of the elementary schools had about a dozen kids (3 rows of 4 riders) riding in the parade with a few teachers. At least one teacher and two of the kids were riding without helmets.

Has anyone else had this happen in their town?

I returned to the town where my family lives and celebrate in the July 4th festivities there. Each year, I lead the parade's bicycle unit along with another member of the bicycle club to which we both belong. The bicycle unit consists of both children and adults. While my bike partner and I were wearing helmets,
most of the other participating bicyclists didn't. This is not to say that all bicyclists in the unit or all bicyclists in general should be required to wear a helmet.

I went to my town's 4th of July parade this morning and saw a lot of kids (under the age of 14) riding around without helmets. While this is illegal, it's not uncommon around here (unfortunately) and therefore I'm not extremely angry about that. However, one of the elementary schools had about a dozen kids (3 rows of 4 riders) riding in the parade with a few teachers. At least one teacher and two of the kids were riding without helmets.

Has anyone else had this happen in their town?

Nah, all the kids here were busy swimming without waterwings or setting off fireworks. All survived.

In my town the kids were all playing with illegal fireworks powerful enough to blow their little heads right off.

There were kids in our 4th parade on dirtbikes, quads, and John Deere Gators (and clones) without helmets. Along with bikes without helmets. Riding a bike in a parade, at parade speeds is not dangerous and does not need a helmet.

As far as the teacher not wearing a helmet, I do some substitute work at an elementary school and I never wear a helmet when commuting there. Bicycling to the school is not dangerous and does not require a helmet.

When I mountain bike, or fast road bike, I wear a helmet.

Holy. Thread. Revival.

wow 4 years old

None of the kids on horses were wearing helmets either, I bet!