In California, what is the penalty for getting a citation for not wearing a bicycle helmet when I'm 16?

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Anonymous

today me and my friend pulled over by a cop because we weren't wearing our bike helmets, and he gave us both citations. he said that we would get a letter in the mail from the court telling us what we would do, and for us to show the ticket to our parents. what happens? what is the penalty? what is the court going to make me do?

Answer
To answer your question:
Youth Bicycle Helmets: Minors
California Vehicle Code 21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.
(b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance with the standard described in subdivision (a) which shall constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms to the applicable safety standards.

(c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet which is not of a type meeting requirements established by this section.

(d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against the person is the first charge against that person under this subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the charge is not the first charge against the person.

(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25).

The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.

(f) Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this section shall be allocated as follows:

(1) Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in a special account of the county health department, to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under the age of 18 years, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.

(2) Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to administer the program described in paragraph (1).

(3) If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the amount collected shall be transferred to and deposited in the treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used pursuant to paragraph (1).

Added Ch. 1000, Stats. 1993. Effective January 1, 1994.
Amended Sec. 6, Ch. 674, Stats. 1996. Effective January 1, 1997.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 475, Stats. 2002. Effective January 1, 2003.

http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d11/vc21212.htm

some further info...for future reference:

Bicycle deaths by helmet use, 1994-2005

No helmet Helmet Total*
Year Num % Num % Num
1994 776 97 19 2 796
1995 783 95 34 4 828
1996 731 96 27 4 761
1997 785 97 23 3 811
1998 741 98 16 2 757
1999 698 93 42 6 750
2000 622 90 50 7 689
2001 616 84 60 8 729
2002 589 89 54 8 663
2003 527 85 57 9 619
2004 602 83 87 12 722
2005 673 86 76 10 782

Why are so many young people turning to Communism as a way to govern in the USA?

Jake G

What is wrong with todays youth

Answer
I think you might be confusing Communism with Socialism. Socialism is a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. Young people are taught, in public schools, to question the status quo and hate big business. They are told the only way to keep them in check is government regulation. Once the government taxes corporations, or businesses, over 50% the government becomes the majority partner in any business.

They are also taught that the government can solve all your problems. People are dying in car accidents. Here's a mandatory seat belt law. Kids are getting hurt riding bikes. Here's a bicycle helmet law. Don't make enough money? Here's welfare. Don't have enough sense to get out of the way of a hurricane? Here's a trailer to live in and $2,000 to tide you over. Can't save money for your retirement? They provide Social Security. The phrase, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help" should scare the hell out of everybody!

If they learn to be self reliant and not think the world owes them a job or a pay check, there may be a chance for the youth in America.

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What kid of bike is good for an adult beginner?

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tothepoint

I never learned how to ride a two wheeler as a kid just a tricycle.

I've tried the Giant Suede and the Schwinn Town and Country Trike and was looking at the Townie. $500 is about my price range.
By tried I mean I hopped on and sat on it while the saleswoman held the front wheel. The trike I was able to get on an d go obviously =D

Answer
You will have to judge if a three wheeler will meet you needs.

I will tell you how to learn to ride a two wheeler. Buy a low cost Dahon folding bike and get a bike helmet. Drop the seat way down so you can stand up while sitting on the seat. Wear your helmet and long pants. Go to a local park during quiet hours when no one is there. Drop the seat on the Dahon so low that it can be used as a scooter with both of your feet flat on the ground. With helmet on and riding in the soft grass in the park walk around with your weight on the seat and getting the hang of the steering. Don't use the pedals at all and in fact they can even be removed from the bike. When you get too far leaned to one side use the leg on that side to right yourself and start again. This will take most adults about 1-2 weeks of visits to the park to get the hang of it. After a while you will be able to coast and hold your legs off the ground for several seconds before the bike loses speed and leans over. At that point you can try to actually start pedaling.

Why do the cops let some kids ride their 4 wheelers on the streets and without helments?

jean ann j

Concerned people that see kids going as fast as they can without helments on, on four wheelers, call the police. The police come out and just look and do nothing. Also the kids suddenly go into their houses.

Answer
Yeah, you're in the wrong section. This is a Cycling section. 2 Wheels with pedals.

Cops don't always let this by, but in some cases they do. I've seen multiple 5-8 year olds ride a bike without a helmet in a park which is right across a police station. Now some cops just don't always bust people when they see something wrong. I once road on a sidewalk to get through a intersection on my bike and a police officer just starred and took a grin at me. He knew i saw him, yet i still didn't get a ticket.

If you are so concerned, maybe you should just call and make a complaint the next time you see them

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Should I try motocross? But where do i start?

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Bridgit

I recently got hurt in a bad hockey accident and my parents are making me quit. I have been thinking about trying motocross. I have always wanted to try it and i know the commitment and the money it is for it. Should i try it? I own 11 acres of land and probably can get an area to practice. And if i do what bike should i get? and where do i start? Also how easy is it to get hurt? It takes a lot of pain to get me to admit i am hurt.

Answer
Motocross is dangerous. All motorsports are.

If you can ride a bicycle, you can ride a motorcycle.

Start buy purchasing a bike. Go to your local dealerships and sit on a bunch of different bikes to see which ones you fit on best, then look for a used model on Ebay, Craigslist or Bikefinds. You can save thousands purchasing used.

You have two types of engines to choose from. 2-strokes and 4-strokes. Since you are just starting out, go with a 4-stroke. They are easier to ride and they take a little less maintenance.

You will need to purchase riding gear. SNELL approved helmet, goggles, gloves, long sleeve shirt, long pants and motocross boots are the minimum. You should also look into getting armored riding pants, jersey with elbow pads and shoulder pads with chest protector. You can also locate this gear used also. Check Ebay, Craigslist, garage sales and flea markets.

Once you have your bike and all your gear, then all you do is go and ride. I would recommend you have some one show you the basics and you should never ride alone.

Good luck, have fun and welcome to the sport.

Does anybody know where I can find a Cear Bear Bike for my little 4 year old girl?

happy m

I looked on E-bay, Wal-mart, and Target web sites.....but no luck!
Her birthday is right around the conner and she would go nutz if I could find one!

Answer
Here is a link:

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/bik/594061409.html


And here's a helmet to match!!

http://cgi.ebay.com/CHILDS-BICYCLE-HELMET-CARE-BEARS-AGE-5-UP_W0QQitemZ330216456193QQihZ014QQcategoryZ64645QQcmdZViewItem

I hope this helps

PS your little girl is vey lucky!!

xxx

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Can you give some tips about riding my bike in Austin-Texas?

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secret

I am a 25 years old woman, and would like to take my bike for rides around my neighboor and go errands around. I would like some tips or warnings what could do to be safe and do the right things here in Texas.
I cannot take a drive licences, because I don't have rights so I want to stick with my bicycle!

Answer
Use a bicycle helmet, wear bright colors, get a basket for carrying things, take a good lock and lock both wheels and lock it to something strong, follow the same rules that cars have to use, don't trust any cars to wait at stop signs, wear crash gloves, make sure your bike is in good condition-good brakes. Do not ride the wrong way against the traffic flow. Take the less busy side roads even if it is longer distance to go somewhere.Be alert for broken glass and bad holes in the road. Watch out for everyone all the time.Ride with a friend if you can. Do not ride after dark because you will be invisible! Start keeping a record of your distances traveling. Go to the library and read everything you can find about biking. It is a great way to travel just stay alert all the time like a bird does.

What clothing do you recommend for riding your bicycle to work in the rain?

jellymouse

How do I stay warm and dry in the chilly (sometimes cold), wet winters in northern California? What things are necessities and what things are a waste of my money? Please give suggestions for the top of my head all the way down to the tips of my toes! Recommendations of specific brands are helpful, too.

Answer
It's been my experience that when choosing clothes for wear during inclement weather situations you have four concerns, they're affordable, keeps you dry, maintains your own level of comfort, and allows you to remain visible to motorists and pedestrians. Performancebike.com has a good selection of women's rain wear to look at, along with specs on what situations are best for those particular items. They're usually reasonable priced and if you like to shop around to compare prices before making purchases, performance bike also sells through through amazon.com.

I noticed a few guys plugging Goretex clothing. And while Goretex products are goods, if not the best, for cold and rainy days if you look at the listings on the Goretex website link provided below, they're not inexpensive in the least. The least expensive pair of waterproof pants is $100 dollars US, and the one they've made expressly for female bicyclists is twice that amount, so I'd really have to hope that those rainy days are vicious and often to justify the expense.

I can say this much confidently. If you get yourself a cap to wear under the helmet, a pair of pants and a jacket/coat that will keep your head and body dry from the rain, what you wear underneath will not matter in the least. The only concern you'll have is bicycle lighting, footwear, and socks at this point. And honestly, just about any type of comfortable waterproof footwear will do, if you're using regular pedals as opposed to clips. Best of luck to you. Ride smartly and safely.

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Do kids need helmets to ride small plastic tricycles?

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Ivy has Tw

They would be riding them in our house, at the playground, and in our parking lot.

The pediatrician handout says to have them wear helmets on tricycles, but it just seems unnecessary to me. They are 2.5 years old and we are getting them their first trikes, so they will be small ones.

I just can't see how a child can get a head injury on a small low to the ground plastic tricycle?

Answer
But any SMALL bump or knock can cause serious head injuries or brain problems.

We told our girls that if they wanted to go on bikes, trikes, roller skates, boards etc they have to wear a helmet.

Not only does it protect them, but it becomes second nature to wearing it. They have no problems wearing their helmet but a friend, who never really has made them wear them, has trouble now that they are that little bit older.

Better safe than sorry.

KD

What steps do I need to take to bring my son into AMA motorcross racing?

softball4e

I have a 5 year old son and I would like him to get into ama racing. I know it is expensive, money isn't much of a problem, but I was wondering what steps I need to take to get him started in it, what age he start, and just things about gear and just general things i should know.
thanks!

Answer
First of all, make sure that HE really wants to do it and it's not just you wanting him to do it, because once you're in, it's hard to get out.

You say he's 5? I think that's a little too young to start actually racing. He's the perfect age to get practiced up so that he can race when he's a little older. I started riding when I was 6 and started racing when I was 11. He could probably start racing when he's 7 or 8 if he really wanted to.

Getting into the racing crowd: Find out where some tracks are around where you live and he can start riding there and get the feel of what a racing track will be like. From there, go to your local dirt bike and ATV dealer and talk to them about local motocross leagues. They should be able to give you some names of people to get ahold of in order to get into racing.
If he doesn't already have a bike, figure out his weight and height and get him a bike he can use for practice, but as he grows, he'll need different bikes.

Gear: For gear, you're looking at up to $2,500 worth of gear. Once he gets into AMA, he'll have sponsors who will pay for some gear and bike stuff. Here's some ballpark prices on the gear he'll need:
Riding Pants: $50+
Jerseys: $40+
Helmet: $100+ (for a real nice one)
Goggles: $25+
Gloves: $10+
Boots: $90+
Racing & Practice bikes: The price of bikes depends on the model, motor size, etc.
Then you also have the price of gas, oil, bike parts, etc.

I think that's about all you really need to know to get started. Hope I helped!!
Good luck to you and your son!

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When riding my bicycle, should I stop at all stop signs and red lights?

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vargasdfw

I just bought a bicycle. When I am going in neighborhood streets I feel silly stoping at the stop signs, and on some other streets even stoping at a red light. If a policeman sees me, not stopping, will I get a ticket (????). Please explain how it works.

Answer
A bicycle is considered as a Vehicle, that's the first thing you should know.

In most jurisdictions, bicycles must have functioning front and rear lights when ridden after dark. As some generator or dynamo-driven lamps only operate while moving, rear reflectors are frequently also mandatory. Since a moving bicycle makes little noise, some countries insist that bicycles have a warning bell for use when approaching pedestrians, equestrians and other bicyclists.

You' are expected to obey the rules of the road w/e mode of transportation you are using. Think about it, if you don't stop at the stop sign, you're risking yourself! You never know you might get into an accident. The largest cause of serious and fatal injuries to cyclists is collision with motor vehicles.

Yes, if a policeman saw you, he can and will give you a ticket for beating a red light/not stopping at stop signs. A "failure to stop, Stop sign" citation was worth $122.97 for a cyclist violation and $158.97 for a motorist bust.

One good answer to dealing with a ticket would be to work it off at Bike Traffic School (if there's one close to you)

How to avoid tickets:

Signal your intent â Boost your predictability and get in the habit of signaling your intended path, using hand gestures that let everyone know what you're doing. A lot of right-of-way confusion and resentment can be resolved easily with a few clear hand signals, just point out your path if there are other people around to whom that would be useful information. You'll be surprised at how smoothly things go.

Don't be a right-of-way thief â Rolling s l o o o o o w l y across a stop line at an empty intersection is one thing, but barging in front of someone (car, bike, pedestrian, bus) is bound to draw anger at least and maybe a ticket.

Watch for cops, and don't do anything stupid in front of them â Really, use your head. Traffic officers tell us that they don't try to hide, they sit right out in plain view with their big shiny motorcycles and bright "white dot" helmets and the black and white cars. It's incredible how many cyclists (and motorists and pedestrians) will pull a brazenly illegal maneuver right in front of a cop. If you can't bring yourself to play nice when the police are obviously watching, maybe you need that ticket to clue in.

Nothing in the law says that a "complete stop" requires a cyclist to take his/her foot off the pedal and make contact with the ground. CVC 21201 does say that a bicycle must be small enough for the rider to stop, support with one foot on the ground, and restart safely, but whether or not a complete stop is made ultimately hinges on a police officer's discretion.

Bicycle riders under age 18 must wear a helmet under California law(I don't know what's yours in your state). Riders 18 and older can decide for themselves. If you do choose to wear a helmet, make sure it's properly sized and fitted. Headlights are required for night riding, as are reflectors: red in the back and yellow/white on sides and pedals (reflective whitewalls count).

Maybe you can learn something from this link just disregard the city name I'm pretty sure you don't even live in bay area >.<

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7M-_ueoU2E&eurl=http://www.sfbike.org/?bikelaw_sfpd_video

What is your most memorable bicycle story?

Quese

I have 3 cars and my favorite means of transportation is my bicycle. It has been since I was 8 yrs old. When I go on trips I sometimes buy a bicycle through Craigs list, my last purchase was in NY city. I take my helmet with me in the airplane and as soon as I get to the destination I take a cab to the address where the bike was purchased . I ride the bike to the hotel, from there I visit all the tourist attractions and when I finish the trip I give it away to some kid. I have done this 58 times and have biked some of the states, some islands of the Caribbean, cities in South America, some European countries, in Thailand and in China. I remember when I asked my father for my first bike, he told me that when I learned how to ride he would get me one. I went to a neighbor's house after school every day and borrowed his bike until I learned. That day I was so excited! Waiting for Dad to get off from work, I stood at the corner of the street. I ran alongside his car when I saw him and almost without breath told him that I had learned how to ride a bike! He got out of the old family car and holding his hand I pulled him all the way to the neighbor's house to show him. He smiled, went to me and bend down to see what size of tires was this bike, it was a 24. The next day he came home with an old black scuffed 3 speed bike but in my eyes it was the greatest gift I had ever received! In the 60's my father would earn $120 a week for a family of 6 but had a second job so he could send us to private school. Every time I had a dollar doing odd jobs around the neighborhood I would go to the local harware store or pharmacy and purchase a can of spray paint and metal sandpaper that you used with water. That ol' bicycle started being black but throughout the years it was painted red, silver, gold and black again. It went through 4 sets of tires I would run them until you would see the white threads showing through, 3 chains and some wire helped when sometimes had to fix it until I had the money to buy a new one. When I joined the US Army I left it to a kid on the block. I never saw that bike again, I miss it, but hope that others enjoyed it as much as I did. I was hell on wheels then!!!! I am still riding and my wonderful husband has always kept all my bikes in tip top shape throughout our 32 years of marriage.

Answer
Being bored to death by reading stuff like this on the Internet.

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What information would you like to see included in a home economics course?

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Torgo

The teaching of home economics has pretty much gone by the wayside in a lot of places. If you were to resurrect such a course, what sorts of information would you include in it?

I was tempted to post this question in the âEducation and Referenceâ section, but Iâm looking for answers from people who have âbeen thereâ and are aware of the realities that a home economics course should be designed to address.

(X-posted in 'Family and Relationships')

Answer
I would love to see ( In no particular Order - just as it comes to me) (Except the First 2)

1) BUDGETING & SAVINGS (Balancing a Checkbook, Necessities/Wants, Etc..)

2) Basic Accounting/Financial/Economic Information (Interest-Credit-Etc.)

*These first two should be STRESSING Financial Independence*

3) "Green" Cleaning/Pest Control - Vinegar/Baking Soda/Etc..

4) Basic Sewing - Fixing hems, sewing on buttons

5) Basic Home Fixes - Patching a hole, unclogging a sink/toilet, Etc..

6) Basic Car Maintance - Checking Tire Pressure, Checking Oil, Replacing Wiper Blades

7) Basic Bicycle Maintance (Especially with Gas Prices) - Oiling the chain, checking brakes, tires, proper fit of Bicycle & Helmet

8) Time Management

9) Basic First Aide

10) Basic Organization

11) Basics of Entrepreneurship (starting a business, running a business, etc..)

12) Basics of Personal Safety

13) Balancing Life/Work/Relaxation (Stressing that importance of having some relaxation for the health of themselves and others)

14) The "Art" of Compromise & Basic Communication (Verbal)
That is all I can think of right now.

Can anyone tell me something to cheer me up?

booklove45

9/11 has kind of brought me down. Can any one tell me a joke or make me laugh or smile?

Answer
Why are black ppl so good at basketball?

Because they can run, shoot, and steal :P

What do you call a black priest?

Holy shit.

How do you confuse a blonde?

Put her in a circular room and tell her to sit in the corner.

Ways To Annoy People
1. Sing the Batman theme incessantly.

2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sensual massage."

3. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."

4. Learn Morse code, and have conversations with friends in public consisting entirely of "Beeeep Bip Bip Beeep Bip..."

5. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.

6. Amuse yourself for endless hours by hooking a camcorder to your TV and then pointing it at the screen. <

7. Speak only in a "robot" voice.

8. Push all the flat Lego pieces together tightly.

9. Start each meal by conspicuously licking all your food, and announce that this is so no one will "swipe your grub".

10. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 98 copies.

11. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.

12. Sniffle incessantly.

13. Leave your turn signal on for fifty miles.

14. Name your dog "Dog." 15. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."

16. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think."

17. Claim that you must always wear a bicycle helmet as part of your "astronaut training."

18. Declare your apartment an independent nation, and sue your neighbors upstairs for "violating your airspace".

19. Forget the punchline to a long joke, but assure the listener it was a "real hoot."

20. Follow a few paces behind someone, spraying everything they touch with Lysol.

21. Practice making fax and modem noises.

22. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc:" them to your boss.

23. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.

24. Invent nonsense computer jargon in conversations, and see if people play along to avoid the appearance of ignorance.

25. Erect an elaborate network of ropes in your backyard, and tell the neighbors you are a "spider person."

26. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with the prophesy."

27. Wear a special hip holster for your
remote control.

28. Do not add any inflection to the end of your sentences, producing awkward silences with the impression that you'll be saying more any moment.

29. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears.

30. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.

31. Give a play-by-play account of a persons every action in a nasal Howard Cosell voice.

32. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.

33. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."

34. Drum on every available surface.

35. Staple papers in the middle of the page.

36. Ask 1-800 operators for dates.

37. Produce a rental video consisting entirely of dire FBI copyright warnings.

38. Sew anti-theft detector strips
into peoples backpacks.

39. Hide dairy products in inaccessible places.

40. Write the surprise ending to a novel on its first page.

41. Set alarms for random times.

42. Order a side of pork rinds with your filet mignon.

43. Instead of Gallo, serve Night Train next Thanksgiving.

44. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a "croaking" noise.

45. Honk and wave to strangers.

46. Dress only in clothes colored Hunters Orange.

47. Change channels five minutes before the end of every show.

48. Tape pieces of "Sweating to the Oldies" over climactic parts of rental movies.

49. Wear your pants backwards.

50. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints by the cash register.

Yo mamma's so fat, when she walked in front of the TV, I missed five minutes of the show!

Yo mamma's so fat, when she walked into a hotel and asked for a water bed, they put a blanket over the ocean

Yo mamma's so fat, when she sat on a rainbow, skittles popped ou

Bob was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was
really pissed.

She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the
driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE !!"

The next morning he got up early and left for work. When his wife woke
up, she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box
gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway.

Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, brought
the box back in the house.

She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.

Bob has been missing since Friday.

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Do your..........?

bike helmets vancouver image

children have bike helmets?!?
5-year-old girl killed while riding her bicycle

Wash. (AP) - A 5-year-old girl was killed Sunday in Vancouver, Washington, after she was hit by a truck while riding her bicycle.

The victim was Selena ********** of Vancouver.

She died at Southwest Washington Medical Center of head trauma after the 11:30 a.m. accident.

The accident was witnessed by the girl's twin sister. It happened outside her home.

Police say the driver of the 1999 Ford F350 pickup truck that struck her, 31-year-old *********** Jones of Vancouver, was not speeding.

This is just part of the article. It went on to say she didn't have a helmet. She only died due to the head injury and would still be alive if she were wearing a helmet.
Slim I'm not going to put peoples full names up on something like this. That's just wrong.

Answer
For once I won't actually make a smart comment here.
Unfortunately they are only speculating that by wearing a helmet would have saved her life.
It may have helped but you never know.
That really sucks though.

Helmet laws in vancouver?

aaronbouge

Im not here to debate whether or not I should wear a helmet, im just wondering if legally i HAVE to in vancouver b.c.? or is it only required for people under 18?
bicycle helmets!

Answer
It's totally legal to walk around the streets without a helmet. (See why you need to post questions carefully?)

On a bicycle or a motorcycle, helmets are required. On a bike, I must admit the enforcement is weak. On a motorcycle, you'll be pulled over by the first officer who spots you.

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How does a bike helmet help reduce the impact of a crash?

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Grant

Using equations if possible, thanks. I know that it spreads the force across a larger area of your head, but what about absorbing?

Answer
A helmet reduces the impact of a crash using two methods: distributing the force over a large area and slowing down the impact.

Using the basic equation of force, Force = mass * acceleration, we can look at how these two methods reduce impact.

Force can be measured simply as total force (e.g. 100 Newtons) or quantified by force over area (e.g. Newtons per square centimeter). As a bicycle helmet spreads the force for one point to a larger area, the force/area measure is decreased. This reduces the force applied to a single area, however, the overall force applied is still the same.

Acceleration is the other part of the equation that a helmet works to minimize. Acceleration is often measured as length over time-squared (e.g. meters/second-squared). Upon impact, the helmet is designed to crush, and this process of crushing extends the amount of time involved for the head to come to a stop (or before it bounces). This increases the time value in the measure, and since the time measure is a squared value, the effects of increasing the time involved has a big impact on reducing the overall acceleration and subsequent force.

To represent the two methods used by bicycle helmets to reduce impact, it is better to rewrite the original equation of Force = mass * acceleration as force/area = mass * (distance/time^2). Now you easily see where the added area for absorbing impact, and the increased time for the impact have big impacts on the trauma experienced by the head. The mass is slightly increased by the helmet, but nowhere near makes up for the distribution of force and slower acceleration (deceleration).

When riding my bicycle, should I stop at all stop signs and red lights?

vargasdfw

I just bought a bicycle. When I am going in neighborhood streets I feel silly stoping at the stop signs, and on some other streets even stoping at a red light. If a policeman sees me, not stopping, will I get a ticket (????). Please explain how it works.

Answer
A bicycle is considered as a Vehicle, that's the first thing you should know.

In most jurisdictions, bicycles must have functioning front and rear lights when ridden after dark. As some generator or dynamo-driven lamps only operate while moving, rear reflectors are frequently also mandatory. Since a moving bicycle makes little noise, some countries insist that bicycles have a warning bell for use when approaching pedestrians, equestrians and other bicyclists.

You' are expected to obey the rules of the road w/e mode of transportation you are using. Think about it, if you don't stop at the stop sign, you're risking yourself! You never know you might get into an accident. The largest cause of serious and fatal injuries to cyclists is collision with motor vehicles.

Yes, if a policeman saw you, he can and will give you a ticket for beating a red light/not stopping at stop signs. A "failure to stop, Stop sign" citation was worth $122.97 for a cyclist violation and $158.97 for a motorist bust.

One good answer to dealing with a ticket would be to work it off at Bike Traffic School (if there's one close to you)

How to avoid tickets:

Signal your intent â Boost your predictability and get in the habit of signaling your intended path, using hand gestures that let everyone know what you're doing. A lot of right-of-way confusion and resentment can be resolved easily with a few clear hand signals, just point out your path if there are other people around to whom that would be useful information. You'll be surprised at how smoothly things go.

Don't be a right-of-way thief â Rolling s l o o o o o w l y across a stop line at an empty intersection is one thing, but barging in front of someone (car, bike, pedestrian, bus) is bound to draw anger at least and maybe a ticket.

Watch for cops, and don't do anything stupid in front of them â Really, use your head. Traffic officers tell us that they don't try to hide, they sit right out in plain view with their big shiny motorcycles and bright "white dot" helmets and the black and white cars. It's incredible how many cyclists (and motorists and pedestrians) will pull a brazenly illegal maneuver right in front of a cop. If you can't bring yourself to play nice when the police are obviously watching, maybe you need that ticket to clue in.

Nothing in the law says that a "complete stop" requires a cyclist to take his/her foot off the pedal and make contact with the ground. CVC 21201 does say that a bicycle must be small enough for the rider to stop, support with one foot on the ground, and restart safely, but whether or not a complete stop is made ultimately hinges on a police officer's discretion.

Bicycle riders under age 18 must wear a helmet under California law(I don't know what's yours in your state). Riders 18 and older can decide for themselves. If you do choose to wear a helmet, make sure it's properly sized and fitted. Headlights are required for night riding, as are reflectors: red in the back and yellow/white on sides and pedals (reflective whitewalls count).

Maybe you can learn something from this link just disregard the city name I'm pretty sure you don't even live in bay area >.<

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7M-_ueoU2E&eurl=http://www.sfbike.org/?bikelaw_sfpd_video

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What kind of helmet should I get?

best low profile bike helmets image

Chris

I'm looking for a good helmet to use for a pretty long commute to school (1 hr, 30 minutes each way) and just regular biking (bicycle not motorcycle). I use my dad's old Giro helmet that is uncomfortable and kind of ugly. I don't think I'm gonna be racing or anything. I want something that is low profile if possible and not lame looking, but also functional. Any ideas?

Answer
Helmets are like shoes. What fits and is comfortable for one person is not necessarily good for another. Every time I buy a new helmet I go to a well-stocked bike shop and try them all. Buy the one that is the most comfortable regardless of the name as long as it has a sticker inside that says the helmet meets the requirements of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC). If you are wearing the helmet 3 hours a day it would be worthwhile to invest in one of the top of the line models. More expensive helmets don't give you any more protection but they are lighter and have better ventilation, at least that's what the literature claims. When I get a new helmet I also buy a couple of spare sets of pads right then. If you wait until you need to replace the pads in your helmet you'll find out that they don't make that model any more and you can't buy replacement pads.

In my experience I've found that Bell helmets fit best on riders with heads that are more round than oblong. Giro helmets fit best on riders with heads that are more oblong than round. Both Bell and Giro are owned by the same parent company.

HTH

Anyone have experience with bike trailers?

McG

I am looking for a light, folding, 2 child trailer with quick release wheels. I've looked on line, but have zero experience with them. Can one upgrade the tires to narrow high pressure tires? Do they affect the handling of the bike? If you have used one, do the kids really like riding along? All that kind of stuff.

Answer
I've been using a Kool Stop Lil Trooper bike trailer for almost 4 years now. I agree with the other two answers about having the trailer but I would also have to say that narrow high pressure tires probably aren't a good alternative to what the trailers offer already.

While mine is a decent $200 trailer, the first answer has a Burley D'Lite- which is literally the "Cadillac of Trailers." They have every thoughtful touch including padded seating, recesses for the helmet and tinted windows. Mine doesn't even have quick release. The way I see it is if the D'Lite doesn't offer the feature, it probably offers no advantage. In fact, it may even be unsafe to have narrow tires. The D' Lite is the leader in trailer technology and it is also one of the most expensive because of that.

About the kids being bored: My son no longer rides in the trailer but his 15 month old baby brother does. After the intial ride, neither of my kids gave me any qualms about riding in there. Give them some treats, a drink, and something to keep them busy (toys,coloring books, etc.) and they are good to go. They usually look out the windows or go to sleep- which is what they do best in the trailer.

As long as they see Daddy in front, they don't worry. I'll ride a 40 mile ride with one of them in the back and I just let them get out and play for about half an hour at my halfway rest stop before heading back. No worries. Your experiences may be different but when they normally see me riding my bike without them, they are just glad to come along at times. Heck, it gives my wife a break too unless she comes along.

Also, it's recommended that you not exceed 20 mph with the trailer. I found out why when the trailer began to feel unstable when I hit 25 mph a few times. No worries. With the extra weight, you'll want to save your legs on any ride over 15 miles anyway.

Trailers will affect the handling of your bike and make sure that you have either a full steel or aluminum frame bike with at least 32 spoked wheels to pull them with. I had to buy an all aluminum bike while biuying my trailer because the LBS said that a carbon frame or carbon rear frame will crack from the stresses of a trailer. My original bike was a carbon Trek. Titanium is also a no-no.

There are many choices out there when buying a bike trailer. Burley is at the top of the list. Even their barebones Burley Bee trailer is good.

Cannondale trailers are really impressive and they are up there with Burley in terms of technology. Many riders like their unique, more aerodynamic profiles.

Kool Stop is good and they are a family owned company that strongly backs their products. Just make sure to go for a higher end trailer than the Lil Trooper.

A really good trailer that has had a strong cult following but are now being recognized by the masses are Chariot trailers. They are a Canadian company that makes exceptional trailers. Chariot used to make most of Burley's trailers until many buyer's found out that Chariots were the same trailers they were looking at purchasing from Burley and can be had for less. Now Burley makes their own.

Basic requirements that will make your trips easier are quick release skewers ( as you mentioned) AND aluminum rims.You may even want to make sure that your trailer had a rear window in the trunk area so that air can flow threw it on hot days. If you decide you want the D'Lite but it seems cost-prohibitive, consider a used one. Most used trailers have very low miles and are in great condition because they are used so little. That's good for you because you can buy used for a lot less than a new one. Sorry this is so long winded but I'm trying to get as much info to you, so that you will be better prepared when you go shopping for one. Good luck with your purchase.

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How much is a ticket in California for not wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle?

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mvdavid69

I am clearly under 18 and have heard to many things on how much the price of the ticket is. I am wondering if anyone has the actual amount.

Answer
It will cost you $25 for each infraction. Here is the Vehicle code section for your answer.

21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

(e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25).

Kimber

I have a question about the bicycle helmet law?

Richard

I live in Arlington, TX and it is illegal for anyone under 18 to ride a bicycle without a helmet here. But I heard that police officers don't stop you to enforce this law because it is too much paperwork for such a small "crime". I've seen people ride without helmets all the time and I would like to know if this is true.

I also know that I should wear one but they look so weird and I'd rather not hear any safety advice...

Answer
You shoud wear a helmet, you dont have to use those XC/AM helmets, you can use these:
http://www.huckmonkey.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/flash-test-012.jpg

the pro BMXers, and dirt jumpers use those. they are better, dont look as geeky, and you can customize one with stickers to make it look sweet as!

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Questions about horseback riding lessons?

bicycle helmets 2013 image

Morgan

Before someone flies off the their handle with that "you don't know if you like horses your a beginner don't waste your money!" stuff, just chill. I've been looking to get into horse riding sense I was 7 or so (now 15 so its not just a faze), I have been on horse back without someone leading me around before (1hour trail rides), and I have done a crapload of reading on the topic of horses and riding. I'm 99% sure I really do have an interest in horses.

Which do you think is better for a beginner: group lessons or one on one?

What's the average price for WESTERN lessons? There's only a few places that offer western lessons close by, and most are about 50$ per lesson, is that roughly normal?

What are things to look for in lessons and at the stable? Besides the obvious things: health horses, everything looks fairly clean, happy students, trainer isn't being to easy or harsh, people behaving around the horses, nothing dangerous laying around (glass, metal, toxic plants), has the type of lessons I'm looking for ect.

I'm aware I should thank a lesson to make sure I think the teaching style, thanks.

How often a week should I take lessons? I'm thinking once a week to start with, and that's probably all I have the time for unless I go on weekends.

What do I need to bring beside myself and a pair of boots with a 1" or so heal and a helmet?

Because I do not own my own horse, is it likely I will be put on the same lesson horse each week?

I'm in fairly good shape, but I know horse riding uses different muscles, so is it necessary for me to work on them or should I be okay? And if so what are ways to get those muscles in shape for riding?

What are the very basics I should know before going to lessons? I'm fairly sure at 15 years old I'm not going to do anything too stupid (like stand behind the horse, play with its eyes, or walk under it).

Would I still call myself a beginner? I'm not 100% sure on what's counts as a beginner, but I do know how to mount, steer on a lose rein, what the basic gaits are (walk, trot, canter/lope, gallop, non of the fancy ones for gaited horses though), the basic parts of the saddle, bridle and the horse and just some random info about horses. I'm guessing I'm still in the beginner, just not the 'uhh what's a hoof?' beginner.

And lastly, is there any big questions I should have asked but didn't, or anything else that I really should just know?

Thanks a lot guys.
Oh, thought of another question:

What should I wear for lessons? I don't have riding breeches or jodhpurs, so I'm guessing a loose pair of pants and a comfy Tshirt, because shorts would allow my legs to get beat to hell and back haha.

Answer
1) Since lessons are typically about an hour, I think you would find GROUP lessons (small group; no more than 4-5 riders) to be more rewarding. It can be hard to fill an hour-long individual lesson with the very basic skills you will be mastering first, and you will learn a lot by watching the other students. Individual lessons are better for more experienced riders who have a specific goal.

2) Unfortunately, there is no such thing as "average;" it depends on where you live. I would find $50 to be reasonable for an hour-long INDIVIDUAL lesson, but rather steep for a group lesson. If they really ARE that expensive, see if you can get a discount by working a few hours at the barn. It's the rare establishment that wouldn't welcome a helping hand with stall mucking!

3) You've already listed the primary things to look for. As a teenager, you might also want to consider whether you think you fit in with the other students. I realize you're there to ride, not socialize. But riding CAN be a very social activity, and you want to ENJOY your time at the stable. Trust your gut; if you don't like the feel of a place, look elsewhere.

4) Once a week is a great way to start (and easier on your pocket book.) As you progress, see if you can trade stable chores for either additional lessons or independent riding time to practice your new skills.

5) You probably won't need much more than a pair of boots with a 1" heel and a helmet for your initial lessons; the instructor will tell you if there are other items s/he would like you to supply. Some people recommend gloves for riding; I personally hate them and use them only at shows. ASK before you bring treats for the horses; some stables frown on them.

6) Most stables will put you on a different horse each week. This is partly "luck-of-the-draw" and partly to give you experience riding as many different horses as possible that suit your ability. Some stables will assign you a particular horse for several lessons in a row, then switch you to another. I like that system because it gives you the opportunity to get to know each horse a bit better before learning a new one's personality quirks. However the stable handles it, you can be assured that they WILL put you on a horse that is suitable for YOU.

7) According to a recent study cited by Julie Goodnight in the July 2013 issue of AMERICA'S HORSE, BEGINNERS get quite fit using muscles unfamiliar to them, but as riders become more skilled, it takes less and less muscle strength to do the job. Most upper level riders do additional exercise to keep fit enough to ride. I personally have found that bicycling, skating, walking, and hula-hooping use many of the same muscles, so if you pursue these activities in between your lessons, you will be in great shape to ride.

8) As a beginner, you're not expected to know ANYTHING; it is the job of the instructors at the stable to teach you. You are, however, expected to listen, follow directions, and exercise basic common sense. The fact that you've been proactively reading up on horsemanship and horsecare definitely helps.

9) Although you've apparently educated yourself quite a bit on theory, your actual time with horses has been quite limited, and you've never had a lesson before. You are therefore a beginner.

10) Since you're riding Western, you won't need breeches or jods. A comfortable pair of jeans and shirt of your choice will do fine. After you've been riding a while, you might want to invest in some chaps and nice boots.

Lastly, I don't know why anyone ought to discourage you from getting into riding just because you've never done it before. It's good to try new things -- especially horseback riding, and EVERYONE was a beginner at something at least once in his or her life. Also, the fact that you've taken the time to read up on horseback riding ahead of time and have asked intelligent questions about what you're getting yourself into shows considerable maturity. And even if you choose not to pursue it further after you've had a few lessons, so what?! That's no reason not to give it a try. I hope you have a GREAT time out there! Good luck.

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What is the smallest DOT motorcycle half helmet?

best bike helmets men image

silent m

I love those fake german helmets because they're so small but I think it's time I get something with actual protection. So what are some small options?

Answer
Gotta agree with the other answer- buying a half-helmet is just a way to get "legal"

I've worked in the bike industry for 20 years as a mechanic, I've raced, I've ridden for 30 years and owned 61 bikes. I have NEVER in my life seen anyone who wrecked that hit the parts of his head that a 1/2 helmet covers. I'd say 90% pop the stink out of the chin bar, which is exactly what opponents of full-face helmets don't have. We used to display wrecked helmets on the wall at our dealership, and what a surprise: none of them had any damage on the top half, other than a few very minor scratches. But where your jaw is, your mouth, your nose? BUSTED the FRAK UP. And I mean bad, too. I have four busted helmets myself, and dude I'm telling you if they were halfsies I wouldn't be able to freakin chew.

As long as something in you woke up to the fact that you're vulnerable (and not immune to an accident) please God step up and get a full-face. I've heard "I'm claustrophobic" for 25 years, dude- you'll get over it in, like... a week. "I can't see" is another lame excuse- the eyeports in full-face helmets go almost back to your ears, where you can't see anyway.

IF you have to get a 1/2, they only make about a billion of em. Get to a bike shop and look at a Tucker-Rocky catalog. I don't know if they have online shopping, but legitimate manufacturers are Shoei, Arai, HJC, Icon, Shark, KBC, Kiwi (hard to find), Nolan... they almost all make 1/2s because people are gonna buy em.

But I won't.

One wreck is all it would take, and I know how suddenly crap can go wrong. I totalled a PC800 Honda while STOPPED at an intersection! Total idiot was driving north while looking south and rammed me. I faceplanted and I wasn't even dadgum MOVING, so it's not how safe you are, or how skilled. If crap's gonna happen, you might as well be as armored-up as you can get. Not to mention you can hear better wearing a full-face.

Oh well. Do what you're gonna do, but man try a full-face. Either way, remember you get what you pay for- a crap helmet will hurt your head. That's the bad thing about Arai helmets- they're so dang luxurious they spoil you. Shoei too. And it's true what they say: you either have a Shoei head or an Arai head. If an Arai is comfortable to you, a Shoei will give you a headache, and vice-versa. They have different ideas about human heads, and it show in their helmets.

Get to a dealer, put the helmet of your choice on, and keep it on as long as you can manage. 20 minutes with the wrong helmet will kill your head, and you can definitely feel it. A new helmet will be "too tight" feeling. If it slips right on with no pulling or pressure, it's too big. It will compress as you wear it, and a new, smooth-fitting helmet will become broken in and it will be like wearing a big bell on your head in a few weeks. Don't ever let anyone wear your helmet- their skull will ruin the fit by overcompressing the EPS liner in places that YOUR head doesn't. REALLY. And don't hang the thing on your mirror either- that will also compress the EPS liner in the helmet and ruin it.

Good luck, man. Grats on getting safer.

What route should I take to drive through all 48 states without using the interstate system?

Trey C

Me and a friend are planning on motor-biking across the country with the goal of at least entering all 48 contiguous states. We will be riding motor-bikes that will only be able to achieve about 30-40 miles per hour, so we will need to avoid the interstate system. We will have plenty of time to complete the trip, so no worries about time constraints. Anyone that could suggest a possible route would be a great help. Thanks and have a great day.

Answer
You've really put a lot of thought into this, haven't you?

Okay, sorry, look, you're talking about a landmass that is 3,000 miles by 1,000 miles (4800km x 1600km). The interstates were built because it was so difficult to construct a route across the nation.

No joke, in 1919, Lt. Dwight D. Eisenhower was part of a military experiment to see how hard it was to drive from Washington, D.C to San Francisco. It took him more than two months. When he took-over Germany 25 years later and saw the Autobahn, it was, literally, a revelation. When he became president, he built the interstates.

It is extremely difficut to hit all of the lower 48. I've moved cross-country about six times and driven cross-country more than a dozen times, and there are states I've never entered. In my entire life, I've known about a half-dozen people who have even claimed to have been in all 48, and I don't know that I really believed all of them. (Odd point, the three who basically proved it to me by showing me their travel logs were all Canadians).

Also, if you're doing this on scooters/mopeds or something similar, realize that, in a lot of the western U.S., the next gas station is 60+ miles away. My cycle has a six-gallon gas tank and I've been on reserve more than once. I knew a guy in Utah who tried to ride a scooter to Mardi Gras. He killed the scooter (literally, last day was done in the back of a friendly person's pickup) to make it across the Texas border so that he could at least say he'd gotten an entire state away from Utah.

Some suggestions:
. Buy a Rand-McNally type road atlas and study it, in depth, before you do any other planning
. Look for the scenic routes
. Realize that different states have different helmet laws
. Realize that you may not be able to get scooters repaired in a lot of places. Travel with a support truck or use some brand with a broad suport base in the U.S., such as Honda. Honestly, it would probably be less headache to do this on bicycles than on Vespas. Why not get real motorcycles and do the interstates at least part of the trip?
. Don't get hung-up on hitting all 48, or you will probably miss some really oustanding sights. F'rinstance, you'll want to see south Florida, but that will add 1,000 miles to your trip. California Highway One will take a day or three on scooters, and you will only transit about a quarter of the length of the state.
. Weather. March in Texas is pleasant. Other parts of the states are receiving six inches of snow. North Texas may be receiving six inches of snow.

Here are some roads that may be useful:
. 93/91/89 through Montano, Idaho, Utah, Arizona goes through a lot of scenic places
. Forget Route 66. Much of what exists is under interstates. Most of it goes (actually, "went")through very boring places.
Oh man, I'm having a hard time finding non-interstate routes that traverse more than one or two states. Seriously, talk to people and put some thought into this. I think you'll want something that can do more than 40 miles per day for any real travel in the U.S.

@MrDanger -- If you'd read what I wrote, you'd realize I'm trying to tell the Asker to use some other form of transportation. But anyway, I know people who have bicycled 89/85 from Canada to Mexico. I've ridden and driven most of it, and for most of it, it's a slow, pleasant drive. Just 'cause you drive like a jomoke doesn't mean everyone is a discourteous law-breaker. Speeding fools kill kids in schoolzones all the time, where the speedlimit is only 15MPH.

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What model of motorcycle should I buy?

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Don Corleo

I'm a new driver seriously considering buying a motorcycle. What model of motorcycle would you recommend? Would I also have to buy a car for when it rains and the winter season?

Answer
Since you're a new driver with little or no experience riding a motorcycle, the first thing you need to do is to take a Basic Rider Safety Course. These are offered in one form or another in all 50 states. They vary in cost, but you usually receive your motorcycle license when you pass the course. The safety skills you'll learn will be well worth the cost.

When considering what type of motorcycle to purchase, you need to think more about what you want from riding and less about what manufacturer's you're interested in. First, ask yourself a few basic questions about what you want from riding. What kind of riding do you want to do and what capabilities do you want your bike to have? Are you attracted to the idea of riding the winding, twisty roads? If your answer is yes to this question, you should look for something in a sport, standard or even a sport touring bike (more on this later).

Or, do you think you just want to cruise along at a modest pace so you can soak in the experience of having the wind in your face? If this is what you like, a cruiser or larger sport touring bike might be more to your liking. If you like all things chrome and you think a bike should be thunderously loud, then a cruiser is most definitely your thing (again, more on this later).

If you chose a sport bike, standard or sport touring bike, then you should consider machines in the 600cc-800cc range, and NO larger. As a novice, you simply do not have the skills and experience to ride anything above that class. Personally, I'd suggest you stay in the 600cc class if a true sport bike is what you choose to purchase. Something like the Honda CBR F4i (which you'll have to buy used since they are out of production) or the Honda CBR600RR are good machines, as are the Yamaha R6 and Suzuki GSX-R 600. All are very capable machines, with plenty of power for a novice to enjoy. Power delivery to the rear wheel is fairly smooth so with a reasonable degree of control you won't be likely to spin the rear wheel (though it is possible).

If you choose to go with a cruiser, go with something in the 650cc-750cc range. Again, Honda, Yamaha (Star motorcycles) and Suzuki all make decent models in that range that would suit a novice. All would serve you well until you've outgrown them through sheer riding experience. That should take a few years unless you ride everyday, everywhere you go for the first two years. At that point you might be ready to move on to something else.

If you live anywhere where it snows, a rust bucket car would be enough to get you through the winter until riding season starts again. Buy yourself some reasonably priced protective gear (Cortech makes some great stuff at affordable prices and it's pretty good in the rain, too), a full-face helmet, leather gloves and above ankle boots. Full protective gear will give you the best chance to survive a mistake (a crash of your own doing) or an accident cause by some @ss in a car or truck. Don't let anyone tell you you don't need that stuff. It saved my life and it saved the life of a professional instructor I know. Both of us survived head-on collisions with cars because we had full protective gear on.

And last, but most importantly ... never, EVER, ride over your head!!!

Never, EVER, let your friends goad you into riding at speeds you know you can't handle. That's a sure fire recipe for a funeral. Yours, and probably some innocent bystander's as well. Do yourself and everyone else a huge favor and just don't go there. And, always view your riding with a critical eye. That way you can review your riding with the intention of improving your skills. Do that and with any luck you'll survive 35 years on two wheels the way I have.

Good luck!

Where can I get the best deal for Giro Indicator Sport Bike Helmet (Titanium, Universal Fit)?

Where can I find a really good deal online for Giro Indicator Sport Bike Helmet (Titanium, Universal Fit)

Answer
http://www.amazon.com/Giro-Indicator-Helmet-Titanium-Universal/dp/B000BNS62A/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

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What is the difference between a bicycle helmet and a skateboarding or scooter helmet?

bicycle helmets for large heads image

Tyou

I have a 5 year old son. I need to get him a helmet for his bicycle, and scooter. I notice at the stores they have bicycle helmets and then they have a helmet for all other activieties. Why? Which is best?

Answer
a bicycle helmet covers mainly the top part of the head while a skateboarding helmet covers a larger area of the head including the sides. I would reccomend a skateboard helmet for a five year old. Make sure he's comfortable with the helmet(not too loose, not too tight)

Is there a difference in bicycle helmets?

c_schumack

I am looking through a bicycling catalog and the prices range from $25 to over $150 for bicycling helmets. I would assume they all have to meet guidelines for protecting your head - surely the more expensive ones will not protect it 5 times better. There seems to be a thing about the number of air vents. I notice the weight between them all is nearly the same. Other than air vents, what advantages would I notice as a user if I went with a mid priced helmet over the cheapest helmet?

Answer
Weight, venting, and marketing make up the biggest differences in the cost of helmets. Helmets must meet the same standards, so the function of all the helmets is presumably equivalent. However, one way that manufacturers make some models less is expensive is to make less sizes. For example, using 2 molds instead of 3 saves the company development, manufacturing, and distribution costs, but it means less size options for you to get a helmet that fits well.

When it comes to comfort and safety, a good fit is the most important factor. More expensive helmets tend to come in a larger variety of sizes with more control over chin strap and back-of-the-head adjustments. I have found helmets with tensioning systems on the back of the helmet to be the most comfortable and to have the most secure fit.

Definitely go to a bike shop with lots of models and sizes in stock, and then try on a wide variety of options to see what fits your head and your wallet best.

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Helmet safety is not a forgone conclusion after all or is it?

best bicycle helmets 2011 image

mark_hensl

Recent evidence indicates that cyclists who wear helmets are 14 percent more likely to have a collision per mile cycled than those without, and are more likely to suffer neck injuries. Meanwhile, increases in helmet use have never been linked with lower cycle casualty rates".
British Government study on bicycle safety August 10, 2011

Answer
The problem with "statistics" is - you can make them say anything you want. Fact: Most users of hard drugs started out on marijuana. Using that logic, you can also say that 99.9% of all alcoholics started off on MILK!

Helmets have saved my cookies both on a motorcycle & bicycle. I'll keep mine on - thank you.

Here's what Mark Twain had to say about statistics. Figures often beguile me, particularly when I have the arranging of them myself; in which case the remark attributed to Disraeli would often apply with justice and force: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."

Can I ride my BMX Bike on the sidewalk in Toronto?

Robert

I Have a BMX Bike and I read in the Toronto Bike Etiquette that all Bikes with wheels under 24 inches are allowed to ride on the sidewalk without any trouble from the Police as long as you wear a Helmet is this True and What do I need to have to ride my Bike on the Road in Toronto.?

Answer
The first source link I posted below is the official Toronto web site that explains cycling on sidewalks.

The second source link explains the helmet requirement.

The third source link I posted below is the City of Toronto By-law No. 1409-2011,
§ 950-201. Regulations for bicycles and mopeds,
. . C.(1) For the purposes of § 950-201C(2), BICYCLE shall be defined as a bicycle or tricycle where either has at least one tire that has a tire size of more than 24 inches, or the metric equivalent of 61.0 centimetres.
. . C (2) No person shall ride a bicycle on a sidewalk of any highway, except for those locations designated in § 886-6 of Municipal Code Chapter 886, Footpaths, Pedestrian Ways, Bicycle Paths and Bicycle Lanes.
MY COMMENT REGARDING THIS SECTION - this means that if just one of your tires is more than 24 inches in diameter, then you have to limit your bicycle riding to those specific designated bicycle areas and stay off sidewalks. Therefore, if both of your tires are 24 inches or less, then you can ride on sidewalks.

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Is it necessary to wear a bike helmet when commuting to work?

best looking road bike helmets image

Tks O

In addition, I only ever ride my bicycle on the pavement/side walk shared by pedestrians; the only time I go on the road is when cross the lights for pedestrians.

Is it really necessary for commuters to wear a bike helmet. I just find it unnecessary to wear helmets on the street because the chances of collision and injury are a lot less than on the road, and I question the compulsory bike helmet laws.

If wearing helmets is mandatory, why don't we make the inclusion of airbags mandatory for all cars as well then?

Answer
Even when I ride on the sidewalk, which is illegal where I live, I have close calls when people are backing out of driveways and such. Not to mention the people that are getting out of their house I almost hit.

http://bicyclesafe.com/
"The Crosswalk Slam

You're riding on the sidewalk and cross the street at a crosswalk, and a car makes a right turn, right into you. Cars aren't expecting bikes in the crosswalk, so you have to be very careful to avoid this one. This collision is so common we've lost track of the number of people who've told us they were hit this way, such as Ray John Ray. One study showed that sidewalk-riding was twice as dangerous as road riding, and another study said it's even more dangerous than that.

How to avoid this collision:

1. Get a headlight. If you're riding at night, you should absolutely use a front headlight. It's required by law, anyway.

2. Slow down. Slow down enough that you're able to completely stop if necessary.

3. Don't ride on the sidewalk in the first place. Crossing between sidewalks can be a fairly dangerous maneuver. If you do it on the left-hand side of the street, you risk getting slammed as per the diagram. If you do it on the right-hand side of the street, you risk getting slammed by a car behind you that's turning right. You also risk getting hit by cars pulling out of parking lots or driveways. These kinds of accidents are hard to avoid, which is a compelling reason to not ride on the sidewalk in the first place.

And another reason not to ride on the sidewalk is that you're threatening to pedestrians. Your bike is as threatening to a pedestrian as a car is threatening to you. Finally, riding on the sidewalk is illegal in some places. (In Austin, those places are the Drag, and downtown on 6th St. and on Congress). If you do plan on riding on sidewalks, do it slowly and EXTRA carefully, ESPECIALLY when crossing the street between two sidewalks."

"1. Don't ride on the sidewalk. When you come off the sidewalk to cross the street you're invisible to motorists. You're just begging to be hit if you do this. Keith Vick was killed this way in Austin, TX in Dec. 2002."
~~~~~
"Contrary to popular belief, you increase your chances of getting hit by car when riding your bike on the sidewalk. I know you may find it hard to believe but its true.

While riding in the street is more intimidating, it places you in a position that makes you more visible to the motorist. Usually people will ride on the sidewalk because they want to stay away from cars or they ride against traffic in the street because they are afraid of being hit from behind: they "want to see the cars coming at me". Crashes on sidewalks comprise close to fifty percent of all crash types. They are more common because every driveway forms an intersection and, if you went to driving school you may remember, that most crashes happen at intersections. In traffic engineering jargon where two vehicles cross paths is referred to as a conflict point and traffic engineers work very hard at reducing or eliminating conflict points.

Essentially every driveway that crosses the sidewalk forms a conflict point. Couple this with motorists not stopping at the sidewalk before entering the street and looking at traffic in the street not for bicyclists on the sidewalk and you have recipe for a crash. By cycling in the street you completely avoid these conflict points. The motorist stops before entering the street and is looking where you will be before they cross your path. While these crashes are usually not fatal, they can easily result in an incapacitating injury especially if you are not wearing a helmet. In my expert witness practice, the majority of sidewalk related crashes I've been involved with the rider was not wearing a helmet and usually result in brain injury"- http://ezinearticles.com/?Bicycle-Safety---The-Problems-With-Sidewalk-Riding-and-Against-the-Flow-of-Traffic&id=1857311

What is the best equipment to use while riding a road bike?

metalfreak

I am starting to ride a road bike, but I want to start training while using the right equipment. I don't have a lot of money to spend on it but I have the bike and I just need to know the basics.

Answer
I've been road biking for like 3 years and to tell you truth to this day I ride in jeans or whatever I have on. I've gone 50 mile rides in a pair of jeans. I use toe clips not shoes yet because It's not a priority of mine to go out and buy them. Obviously water bottle cages. Two of them are the best idea. Helmets are a great idea because on certain hills you can hit 40. I hit 46 once on a windy day and my bike being super light felt like it was going to get airborne. I actually had to hold on for dear life. Pack a small backpack for long treks. Other than that stuff, the other flashy garb is all a preference. If you want too look like you're riding Le Tour then go out and buy yourself some jerseys and spandex. Make sure you have a thin but comfortable seat, and I wouldn't start trying to make super-sharp Lance Armstrong turns too early or you'll crash bad. Anything else is up to you. Hope this helps.

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