Car hits bike... spring in New England

[spazzdog]

Just watching the local news and they showed a 12 yr old being airlifted to the hospital after being it by a car.

Seemed like a residential area, but if its anything like my neighbor hood, the kids zip all over the road, between the car and NEVER wear helmets.

Hope this little one ends up being OK. As of the news report, no charges had been filed on the driver.

spazz

[Irulan]

we had not one but two bike/kid incidents yesterday. The 15 year old girl who was riding on the wrong side of the road with no helment did not make it.

Irulan

[joyrider]

I live right by a middle school and I can't believe how many kids are riding (on the wrong side of the road, talking to their friends) without helmets, or, my favorite, wearing the helmet on the back of their head with the straps hanging loose to look cool!
If I were their mother, I would take their bikes away!

[spazzdog]

I don't understand why they don't just make a law... preferably a federal law that states "under 16 helmet required". Put it out there like a child protective thing and what legislator would have the cojones to vote nay.

I know they won't pass one for adults because adults are supposed to have common sense... heck NH doesn't require motorcyclists to wear helmets; which I think is soooooo stupid. Been there, done that (when I was 18-19) and now I go on the "sweat is cheaper than skin grafts" theory.

spazz-bouncing off the little soapbox

[Barb]

The kid across the street from me was hit by a car. He was not wearing a helmet and at the hospital he recieved a gift of THREE new helmets. His mom says "I just can't get him to wear one, even now". I just smiled and told her I knew how to lock bikes up for riders who couldn't bother with a helmet. Shesh I was mad at her. BE A PARENT>>>ENFORCE A RULE.

Ok, I'm calm again.

[spazzdog]

Warning... generalization to follow.

Why is it, our "baby boomer" generation, felt the need to give our children control of their lives and by extension the lives of the parents. No rules, rationalizing with the screaming 2 yr old, not locking up the bikes if no helmet firmly on head.

Not to sound like my parents, but if I didn't follow the rules I didn't get to play... period. Subsequently I learned at a very early age respect, reliability, consequences, responsibility and a few other important social skills.

I don't have children, but I tell you this from my heart... if my kid got on a bike or a skateboard or skates without a helmet, it would be a long time before they ever saw those toys again.

Of course, I'm all for taking jr. high school kids to the morgue to view what guns do to a human body to perhaps prevent a bit of the schoolyard shootouts.

call me crazy; just don't call me late for dinner.... spazz

[RoadRaven]

Hi there... the wearing of cycle helmets has been a legal requirement here for everyone on a bike for a few years now, and has greatly reduced head injuries in our hospitals

I guess it was easy to introduce because the wearing of helmets on motorcycles has been law for years and years.

RR
Aotearoa New Zealand

[Irulan]

I don't understand why they don't just make a law... preferably a federal law that states "under 16 helmet required". Put it out there like a child protective thing and what legislator would have the cojones to vote nay.

I know they won't pass one for adults because adults are supposed to have common sense... heck NH doesn't require motorcyclists to wear helmets; which I think is soooooo stupid. Been there, done that (when I was 18-19) and now I go on the "sweat is cheaper than skin grafts" theory.

spazz-bouncing off the little soapbox

there are lots of laws. but are cops going to sit around the skate park and write no helment tickets, or are they going to look for criminals. In this town, forget the enforcement. Even with laws, the local paper still regularlary does recreation shots without helmets.

And I'm with all the other parents on this board. I really wonder about those that don't enforce it at home.

We have the bonus of having lots of real life experince with what happens without helmets due to our Ski Patrol work. Lots of good real life examples every single winter weekend

penny

[LBTC]

[QUOTE=Irulan]there are lots of laws. but are cops going to sit around the skate park and write no helment tickets, or are they going to look for criminals. In this town, forget the enforcement. Even with laws, the local paper still regularlary does recreation shots without helmets.
/QUOTE]

Doesn't that just frost your cookies? I see red when I see those pictures! It's completely irresponsible for them to print those!!

yeah, in BC there's a helmet law too. and we have bicycle cops. and I've seen bicycle cops ride right past riders not wearing helmets and not even say something, let alone issue a ticket. and they didn't look like they were in a hurry chasing criminals. it's a shame it's not enforced.

fact is, though, we need parents doing their jobs.

is there enough room on this soapbox for all of us?

namaste,
~T~

[Deanna]

I don't understand why they don't just make a law... preferably a federal law that states "under 16 helmet required". Put it out there like a child protective thing and what legislator would have the cojones to vote nay.

I know they won't pass one for adults because adults are supposed to have common sense... heck NH doesn't require motorcyclists to wear helmets; which I think is soooooo stupid. Been there, done that (when I was 18-19) and now I go on the "sweat is cheaper than skin grafts" theory.

spazz-bouncing off the little soapbox

There is such a law in California. I believe helmets are required for anybody under 18, but it could be 16. And you are correct, it would not pass for adults. It drives me crazy to see a young kid in a childs seat on the back of a bicyle being ridden by a parent without a helmet. I want to run up and ask them who will take care of the kid if it survives a crash and they don't because their head got smashed like a watermelon.

[DeniseGoldberg]

I have all I can do not to stop and talk to people when I see riders without helmets - to encourage them to wear helmets. I'm afraid my comments wouldn't be accepted too well, but maybe I'm just being a chicken.

I know that when you fall you don't always hit your head, but I'm not willing to take that chance myself. In fact, I probably err on the other side since if I stop for a break on a ride my helmet usually stays on my head. I forget I have it on, and I have been given some funny looks when I walk into a store still "dressed" in my helmet.

--- Denise