bicycle helmet laws.ca?

JOSE J

does a bicycle rider over 18 yrs old require a
helmet by law

Answer
Hey Jose,

Here is the whole enchilada on the California bike helmet law. Anyone under the age of 18 years of age has to wear a helmet while riding any bicycle, scooter, skates or skateboard on any PUBLIC roadway, highway, bicycle path or street. The key word is Public. If your neighborhood is located on a private roadway then the law does not apply on private land. Here is the California Vehicle Code section:

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.

Kimber = )

Will a paintball mask fit on while wearing a bicycle helmet?

Rini

Hey,
It's spring and while biking I've noticed a lot of bugs are out and I was searching around for something I could wear with my helmet that would keep them off/out of my face. I was wondering: can you wear a paintball mask that has no visor while you are wearing a helmet. It looked as though it would actually fit really well, but before I spend the money on it, I was hoping someone could test it and let me know if it would actually work. Thanks in advance!

Answer
I bought one to use to keep all of the bugs out of my face at dusk but never used it because it was so odd looking and on the large size. It will fit and they are cheap, $5 if you shop around.
Bandanas work until they get saturated with sweat, maybe cheese cloth?

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What is the best kind of bicycle helmet?

bicycle helmet how to fit image

moorfr

I am in the market for a bicycle helmet. I am a casual cyclist...I just have a mountain bike that I don't ride too often, so it doesn't have to be a "professional" one. I just want something comfortable with excellent protection and something that has adequate ventilation. Can anyone recommend a good helmet for someone like myself?

Answer
You should be able to get a good quality helmet for $40. I would look for one with the foam molded into the shell. They hold up a little better. Most helmets are well vented . THey also should have a retention system.

The most import is fit. Go to a bike shop and try several models on. They should stay in place fairly well if you shake your head without the chin strap tightened. If you feel a pressure point, you may want to look for something else. It will get very annoying after a couple of hours in the saddle.

The Giro Transfer goes for under $30-$40 i in molded, has a retention system and is well vented. I am sure there are other comparable ones. But a comparable Bell or other branded helmet should have similar features for about the same price. Just buy the one that is most comfortable.

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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What is a reasonable price for a bike helmet?

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John

I would like to know how much is too much on a all-mountain/single track bicycle helmet and how much is reasonable. Also, any recommendations, the main helmet that I was looking at was the Bontrager Lithos which is $129 and I was wondering if this is a bit outlandish for a helmet or if that is what's necessary for a quality helmet?

Answer
In the U.S. every helmet regardless of price is tested to the same minimum standards. As the helmet gets more expensive the helmet gets better, lighter, and stronger.

$129 is a LOT cheaper than brain surgery or even a trip to the hospital from your helmet shattering on the pavement.

EDIT: OK, I guess I'll have to go into a little more detail. As I said before, all helmets must meet minimum requirements. The differences with better helmets, however, are staggering. First, cheaper helmets (asm entioned before) are good for ONE impact. That does not take into consideration that almost every accident involves more than one impact as you bounce off the road. That is part of the CPSC regulation.

Good helmets have internal webbing to allow the helmet to stay together as your head bounces off the road as cheaper ones come off your head. Cheap helmets break apart and fall away leaving your head exposed after the first hit.

Good helmets fit the head much more securely without using low durometer pads stuck to the inside, again making the safety fetaures of the helmet much more effective. Most decent helmets also have less abrasive straps and pinch-free buckles along with a much more effective and slip-free situation.

Good helmets also have a positive placing system of some sort to passively place the helmet in the correct position on your head. Again, VERY important feature.

Soooo, if all you want is minimum protection- if you don't particularly need your head for anything special- than a $25 helmet is great. On the other hand, if you tend to use your head (or anything that might be stored inside it) occasionally, that $129 is pretty cheap insurance.

How can I remove a decal from my Bicycle Helmet without scratching the black finish?

L.J.

The decal is kind of an advertising thing on the front and I'd like to remove it with out scratching the finish...Its been on there for a while. Its a military style helmet and fits perfect. I don't want to ruin it...Please help. Thank you....

Answer
Try using rubbing alcohol to loosen the glue that holds the sticker in place.Then use a piece of plastic along with more alcohol to slowly scrape the sticker off.This works well on glass so it should be fine for your helmet.

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

bicycle helmet how to fit image

Felipe

I was riding my bike to school without a helmet and I was given a ticket. The officer told me that I would be fined $50 and I would receive a ticket in the mail in 3 weeks. I finally received it and the fine said $197. I went online to the official website of California, SKIP DOWN TO PART E. So what is the deal with this huge fine, when it clearly states a ticket cannot be or $25?

(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).

Answer
Your fine is $25. However, California places all sorts of assessments upon fines, which raises the cost of a $25 fine to close to $200. (If the officer had been right that the fine was $50, that would have cost almost $300.) However, if you can honestly declare in court under penalty of perjury that you have never been cited for this offense before, the charge must be dismissed.

What is the best kind of bicycle helmet?

moorfr

I am in the market for a bicycle helmet. I am a casual cyclist...I just have a mountain bike that I don't ride too often, so it doesn't have to be a "professional" one. I just want something comfortable with excellent protection and something that has adequate ventilation. Can anyone recommend a good helmet for someone like myself?

Answer
You should be able to get a good quality helmet for $40. I would look for one with the foam molded into the shell. They hold up a little better. Most helmets are well vented . THey also should have a retention system.

The most import is fit. Go to a bike shop and try several models on. They should stay in place fairly well if you shake your head without the chin strap tightened. If you feel a pressure point, you may want to look for something else. It will get very annoying after a couple of hours in the saddle.

The Giro Transfer goes for under $30-$40 i in molded, has a retention system and is well vented. I am sure there are other comparable ones. But a comparable Bell or other branded helmet should have similar features for about the same price. Just buy the one that is most comfortable.

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