Are there helmet laws for bicycles? Its probably a state thing like motorcycles. I live in Michigan.

in pennsylvania, i believe, there are only laws for kids under 16. as far as i know, new york has none pertaining to adults

There's no state helmet law in Michigan, at least for bicycles. There is for motorcycles, though.

ok. i just found a page with all the helmet laws. your right, there are non.

and im aware of the motorcycle helmet law....just got my first motorcycle as well. its been a good week, just hard on my backside =)

County by county in Washington state. I live in Pierce county where its mandatory for all ages and I see so many kids with out helmets it scares me. I guess they don't look cool but there are an equal number if not more adults that don't ride with one. I won't leave the driveway with out mine.

i was just curious because i have no money, and between now and the time i buy one i dont want to get a ticket.

<----college student

How about a cracked skull?

health insurance will cover that.

Dude, beg, borrow, or steal (not really) a helmet to ride with until you can drop coin on the one you want. You don't have to go down hard or at a high rate of speed to be seriously hurt. I won't ride mountain bike or road bike without one. Period! If you're truly broke, ask mom and dad for the money to buy one. It's that important.

Don't bother with worrying whether your state law requires helmets. The laws of physics require it. If you go down, you're likely going to hit your head. Don't ride without one. Too many riders have made that mistake.

On Saturday, I was riding with the Scouts to help them work on their Cycling merit badge. On our rides, these kids average about 10-12MPH, so you'd think it would be safe, right? One of the adults touched wheels with the Scout in front of her, and went down. Cracked helmet. Other than a scrape and some bar tape, she was fine. If she wasn't wearing a helmet, She could have had a serious injury.

As far as I know, there are no state laws requiring helmets for adults on public roads. There may be some city or county laws. Regulations can also vary on park lands or private property, especially for mountain bikers. Many states do require helmets for children.

Club ride last week...very experienced rider looked backward during a 35 mph descent and ran into the back of a van that had stopped. Broken collar bone, two broken ribs, broken wrist, assorted contusions, cracked helmet but no head injury. Without a helmet, who knows? Wearing a helmet is a no brainer.

No bike helmet laws for any age in Arkansas. No helmet laws for motorcycle riders in Arkansas with one exception. Anyone under 21 is required to wear a helmet on a motorcycle. Arkansas has never had a helmet law for cyclist that I'm aware of.

However, Motorcycle helmets were always mandatory until a few years ago. I don't remember why Ark repelled the motorcycle helmet law. I will say this. Concerning bike helmets, I've saw one person in my city that wears one. He rides a tri bike cannondale.

I'm in my 50's, and there has never been a serious injury to a cyclist in this city that I'm aware of. I've lived here all my life. In all those years I can't remember any adult or kid with not even one serious injury. None of these people have ever worn helmets, and their have been no bicycle fatalities.

Concerning the motorcycle helmets. The owners of "sports bikes" AKA "Crotch Rockets" tend to all wear helmets. The older guys on crusiers, especially the Harley riders wear bandanas with no helmets. This is the scenario in my city. I can't speak for the whole state. However, around my city. No bicycle helmets, and only "Crotch Rocket" motorcyclist wear helmets.

I think Ark may be trying to thin out the population on the motorcyclist. I have no idea. Personally, I think helmet laws should be mandatory for all motorcyclist. There has been one motorcycle fatality about 2 miles outside of the city I live in. It happened around 1969...Helmet laws were in effect at that time. For bicycles, I don't think that helmets should be mandatory.

BTW, I forgot to mention that their have been a couple of people dying from head injuries. Both were freak accidents that didn't have anything to do with cycling. Both victims were 2 elderly ladies that lived alone. One tripped in her bathroom and hit her head on the bathtub. This lady died. A few years later another elderly lady that lived alone fell and hit her head, and she was also killed.

So, we have had some people die in this city from head injuries..but neither was bike related. I'm scheduled to take the "MSF' or "motorcycle safety course" later this month. I ordered my Motorcycle helmet tonight. I don't care what the law says. There is no way I would get on a motorcycle without a helmet.

When I ride a motorcycle..I will always have a helmet on my head.

Here's a Link to a webpage that shows bicycle helmet laws by state in 1998. Probably outdated by now. Bicycle Helmet Laws By State In 1998

Motorcycle Helmet Laws By State


Here's a thread over 60 pages long arguing for and against wearing bicycle helmets in the safety forum.

Bicycle Helmet Debate

I don't understand why anyone would feel that helmets should be mandatory for adults. And don't give me that "society pays the medical bills" BS. I can give you 1,000 examples of lifestyle and activity choices that affect the overall cost of society's health care bills. It's called a free (pretty much anyway) society.

Why can't adults chose to risk their own noggins? I'm a helmet wearer by the way, and I don't smoke cigs.

I just do not understand the thing against helmets. I think they look cool. All mine , cycle the air straignt to my noggin. Even if the helmet were to crack on impact, it still has to take some of the shock that would have totally impacted your skull.

if you care about your brain and body wear one no matter if thier is a law or not...

I've got an old Trek brain bucket you can have for free to get you through. Send me a PM if you want it.

I believe here in Clark County in Warshingtown state the law says anyone under 18 must have a helmet when biking, skateboarding, or rollerblading. Now, with all the 13yr old kids riding BMX's down the wrong side of the street, I can't remember the last time I saw one WITH a helmet. I've also seen groups of helmetless kids riding all willy-nilly over the road and a cop roll by the opposite direction, without so much as a passing glance. So if your state is anything like this I wouldn't worry about it.

You can get a really cheap helmet at Walmart. We are talking under $20.

Wear a helmet even if it is a cheap one. It saves your life one day. I saw good bell "ironman" helmet in costco for 14 Dollars. You may afford that. I've seen a few crashes that helmet save their head hitting the ground. Go get you one.

I really like the idea of helmets. I have considered wearing one while riding or driving in my car. I know that I would be considered a nut but with around 40,000 people being killed in car crashes each year in the US it makes sense to me. I have been in two car crashes and have never bumped my head and my wife has been in three car crashes and has bumped her head pretty hard each time.

I would also like to have a full face helmet for bike riding. The last bike crash that I had, I was sliding along on my face and had to tilt my head down to get the helmet between me and the asphalt. If I had been using a full face helmet maybe my nose and sun glasses wouldn't have taken so much abuse. Does anyone make a full face helmet for bike riding that is light weight?

It never ceases to amaze me that this topic is still even discussed.

My friends dad fell on his bicycle without a helmet and is now a vegetable. What more do you need to know???

This man will never know his grandchildren, no longer knows his own wife or children, and basically has no quality of life.

Maybe I'll go to the hospital and visit the rider in my neighborhood who got into an accident a week ago. He couldn't stop in time when a van short stopped in front of him and he went right through the back window head first (with a helmet).

Just put on a damn helmet.

Just ride and don't worry about mythical laws and safety nannies who are too timid to do something as simple as riding a bike unless they have a helmet on. That said, helmets are cheap, 20 bucks and you're golden.

Students...no money for a $30 helmet, but plenty appears for a keg or two.

12 and under in PA. But enforcement is non-exsistant. Another effort by our overpaid, over staffed State government. PA = worst state govt. in the USA.