Bicycle helmet law in Lakewood??

[Kristine Pagsuyoin]

Truly, I'm astonished that anyone would think it is a waste of time or effort to require bikes helmets to be worn by kids when out riding on the streets/sidewalks. This law (common sense) resulted from the efforts and advocacy of the Lakewood PTA and the Lakewood Council President at the time, Deb Sweeney, who is also a former Lakewood City Schools Board Member. Just like seat belt laws and child seats these laws are intended to protect children. In Lakewood, we have a significant amount of accidents involving cyclists. It is true, once they hit 18 they are on their own. I do support this law and have made my frustration with the mishandling of enforcement known several times with Mayor Summers, the planning department and a couple of council members.

When my kids were younger we were once stopped by a Lakewood police officer while out bike riding. He praised my kids for wearing their helmets and gave them a coupon for a free ice cream. This is "guardian" policing at it's best. Not to digress, but it is a good example based on what the country has gone through and stresses how important it is that our police force know it's community and to build relationships with the people they serve.

When the city planned the "Bike to School Day" last year and the year before PTA advocated that they do more outreach and education on the bike helmet law with students and parents. We also made it clear that we could only partner with the city if they took the bike law seriously and made wearing it a requirement for participation. They agreed with some annoyance; however, they only did the minimum that was required. When I talked to the Mayor about this the response that I got was that it was a parent's job to make sure their kids wore a helmet. Pointing out that this was a law on the books of the city he ran fell on deaf ears. I explained to him,and other members of the city, that we used to reward kids as a way enforcement. Honestly, it is frustrating to buy helmets for kids to have them ditch them because no one else is wearing them. I like the idea that an officer would remind my kids to get the helmet on. Parents need support from the city. This is an issue that the schools and city could do a better job of partnering together with parents. It would be a POSITIVE thing among all of the darkness we've all endured lately.

Overall, I felt like the city was more interested in the public relations and a Bike to School Day so that they could take lots of pictures of kids on bikes to help promote Lakewood as a bike-able city. Fine, but we still need to protect kids and promote safety. For instance, if you've ever been in the Independence Day Parade ( if you live in Lakewood who hasn't) it is clear on the forms that if a child is on a bike or something similar they must wear a helmet. In the second year of Bike to School Day, PTA was granted bike helmets that were distributed for free and in addition sold helmets at a low cost. Early Childhood PTA used to sponsor a bike helmet sale years ago. These are good helmets that really help out families with the cost. These days a good helmet can be very expensive and if you have a big family it is tough.

Right now, the city and the schools have serious problems to work out. However, bike safety (like hens, dogs on leashes, dog laws,noise, etc) that effect the quality of life in a city is also important. Teaching parents and kids how to be safe on a bike, and by the way, education drivers how to share the road with cyclists is a good thing. We have the ordinance the help frame the effort and to provide enforcement (however they might look) to save lives and to make this a good place to live.

[Amy Martin]

you're missing the point which is that this code/law is not consistently enforced if enforced at all. Sure, it's the smart thing to do, but don't have a law on the books if you don't plan on enforcing that law. I have NEVER seen a cop stop a cyclist who is not wearing a helmet. Yet I see dozens of riders a day without them . .

[Lori Allen _]

Amy, thank you. You are absolutely right.

[todd vainisi]

Peg, in my opinion, the health benefits of riding your bike to school and encouraging exercise and activity in general far outweigh the risk that one of these children might seriously hurt their head in an accident. I agree with the mayor that limiting participation to only those with a helmet would be short sighted.

I also definitely would not want to see our police officers handing out tickets to parents of children riding their bikes without a helmet. It's not the same as motorcycle helmets (which aren't required) or seat belts or drunk driving or the cumulative dangers of a lifetime of hockey/football/boxing. It's just not.

Outreach and education are the right idea. The stickers or lollipops to children with helmets on is a great approach.

[cmager]

Peg, in my opinion, the health benefits of riding your bike to school and encouraging exercise and activity in general far outweigh the risk that one of these children might seriously hurt their head in an accident. I agree with the mayor that limiting participation to only those with a helmet would be short sighted. I also definitely would not want to see our police officers handing out tickets to parents of children riding their bikes without a helmet. It's not the same as motorcycle helmets (which aren't required) or seat belts or drunk driving or the cumulative dangers of a lifetime of hockey/football/boxing. It's just not.

Two thoughts:
1. The issue appears to be a city administration that is not interested in operating the city, but instead in privatizing and selling it off for personal gain. Hospitals, trash, graffiti, code enforcement, and yes bicycle helmets all take a back seat to this exciting agenda of privateering.
2. I'd much rather hear from a person, a parent, a family member, or a medical professional of one who suffered a TBI from bicycle riding or a similar activity. I'm expecting you will get a different perspective of a life-changing injury that crushes this here party of unequal enforcement meets "don't tell me to wear a helmet in 'Merica."

One TBI is too many in my opinion. If the issue is simply unequal enforcement, then enforce the law. Elect those who desire to operate the city for the greater good.

[todd vainisi]

this here party of unequal enforcement meets "don't tell me to wear a helmet in 'Merica."

Except there is no 'murica party going on here. Just people saying that their kids wear helmets on their bikes but that it needn't be a law or if it is, it should be enforced.

Here are some statistics for you, from this article: http://www.medicaldaily.com/89-children ... ies-261024

Each year, around 33 million children ride bicycles for close to 10 billion hours, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. An estimated 800 bicyclists were killed, and another 515,000 were rushed to the emergency room following a bicycle-related injury back in 2010.

Of course those accident/death statistics are for ALL bike riders in the US (not just kids). This website says that half of those were children (http://www.cdc.gov/healthcommunication/ ... uries.html). So .007 of the children that rode a bike in 2010 ended up going to the emergency room. How many were there for a broken arm or non head injury?

But like I said, my child wears a helmet while riding her bike. But if for some reason she was caught by a police officer not wearing one, I sure wouldn't want a ticket. And I stand by my opinion that we don't need a law like that in our city code.

Lastly, Kristine, sorry I called you Peg. My mistake.

[Lori Allen _]

Hospitals, trash, graffiti, code enforcement, and yes bicycle helmets all take a back seat to this exciting agenda of privateering.

Just when I thought I was the only one that saw it!

Standing ovation!