20-CREATION OF AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING CHILDREN UNDER SIXTEEN TO WEAR A HELMET WHEN CYCLINGmemo�andum
TO: Mayor & Council
FROM: John Godwin, City Manager
SUBJECT: CREATION OF AN ORDINANCE REQUIRING CHILDREN
UNDER SIXTEEN TO WEAR A HELMET WHEN CYCLING
DATE: Apri12, 2013
BACKGROLTND: Mayor Hashmi requested that this item be placed on the agenda.
STATUS OF ISSUE: At the meeting of March 25th City Council heard a presentation from
Sahill Prakash about bicycle safety, bicycle lanes, and specifically Project Bike. Mr. Prakash
mentioned several other cities having an ordinance that required children to wear helmets when
riding or operating a bicycle. Subsequently, Mr. Prakash has asked that the City Council
consider a similar ordinance.
BUDGET: No impact to the budget
RECOMMENDATION: Receive input from the City Council and provide direction to City
Staff.
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►Memo
To: John Godwin
From: Chief Bob Hundley
Date: April 4th, 2013
Re: Bicycle Helmet Ordinance
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At one time in my career, I was certified as a basic EMT and worked part-time for
the local ambulance service for about three years. During that endeavor, I recall
training which involved the medical assessment of persons who had collapsed
from a standing position. Not only were we looking for the cause of the collapse,
but we were not to ignore the possibility of a significant head injury from falling
from the person's height, 4 to 6 feet.
Add a little velocity while riding a bicycle and an uncontrolled fall to the pavement
can have grave results as well for the head. There is no argument that it is safer
for a bicyclist to be wearing protective head gear than not.
I understand there has been discussion regarding the need for a city ordinance to
force individuals who are riding bikes to have protective head gear.
Statistically, over the past two years, we have been fortunate to have a low
incidence of bicyclists being involved in crashes which resulted in a fatality or
injuries.
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15 bicycle crashes, each with a motor vehicle, included one fatality and 4 injuries.
Any type of helmet would not have prevented the death of the cyclist in the listed
fatality crash.
I agree that wearing helmets while cycling is a great prevention activity for
reducing injuries. I also support helmet wearing for those riding motorcycles.
The issue I see with a helmet ordinance is the reality of enforcement of such a
law. Officers issuing adults citations for not wearing a helmet will result in the
same 'intrusion of government' claims from some, just as it has with motorcycle
helmets. My main issue is with enforcement of an ordinance with children? I
have seen where the introduction of young people into the criminal justice
system results in a propensity for them to remain in the system from then on.
Law enforcement can only take enforcement action with children age 10 cr- older.
Those that are not wearing helmets, younger than 10, would have to be gathered
up and taken to a parent or guardian.
These enforcement activities will take up time and ultimately our resource� t,�at
would be better applied towards reducing criminal activities.
I fully realize that our citizen's safety is one of our essential activities, but I would
rather see an enticement program regarding this issue instead of a�unitiv�
program.
A public education campaign, free helmets or even some type of reward syr±em
for those cyclists officers 'catch' riding with a helmet would better «rve t`� �
community in the long run. I've heard of these programs and would like to
explore these possibilities instead of another law that would be problematic in
enforcement. I think a'reward' in hand will result in more helmet u�e ins' �ad of
a potential penalty if caught without one.
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