Are bike helmets required where you live?

Jeremy Lax

I got a ticket the other day because I forgot my helmet. I always wear it because it's the law, but I just forgot it. I know I won't again. $25 ticket! Im going to take the bike safety class, then I dont have to pay it, but I can't get another ticket.

Answer
Bicycle helmets are not required by law in the UK. Motorcycle helmets are. I wear one anyway as I ride along busy roads, and at the bottom of a chalk cliff where large lumps of chalk fall down on a regular basis.

Can you ride on the road on a bicycle in the UK without a helmet?

John

Ive just bought a bike, and I was wondering if I could ride it on the road legally?

Answer
Yes you can there is no law or legal requirement to wear a helmet. The reason you see most cyclists wearing a helmet is that if they roll into a hole in the road or there tire goes over a bump in the road they could lose control of the bike especially in a racer with the speed and the position you would be in it would be hard to not lose control of the bike. Even hitting a stone could cause you to fall or some lose pebbles on the road.

It is really suggested that you do get a helmet for you own safety.

Best of luck and have fun with your new bike.

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Can you ride on the road on a bicycle in the UK without a helmet?

Ive just bought a bike, and I was wondering if I could ride it on the road legally?

Answer
Yes you can there is no law or legal requirement to wear a helmet. The reason you see most cyclists wearing a helmet is that if they roll into a hole in the road or there tire goes over a bump in the road they could lose control of the bike especially in a racer with the speed and the position you would be in it would be hard to not lose control of the bike. Even hitting a stone could cause you to fall or some lose pebbles on the road.

It is really suggested that you do get a helmet for you own safety.

Best of luck and have fun with your new bike.

Is a bike helmet really safe?

Recently I fell off my bike and landed on my face, giving me lots of painful facial grazes and cuts...wasn't too nice. I wasn't wearing a helmet at the time but someone told me that it wouldn't have made a difference because I landed on my face and that actually a helmet could have broken my neck or made the injury worse.
Does anyone know if this is true cos it's making me unsure as to whether I should wear a helmet next time I cycle or not?

Answer
In the UK the CTC [1] are against compulsory helmet use. They reason that it has demonstrably damaged the case for cycling in countries where such a law has been introduced.

However, I always wear a helmet. It is sometimes hot and uncomfortable, but I firmly believe that it provides good protection against brain damage. Richard Ballantine [2] was very much of the same opinion in his original Bicycle Book.

Many cycling accidents happen at low speed where the rider is pitched over the handlebars and the head is the first contact with the ground.

If a helmet works and saves a rider from injury, then no government statistic or hospital records will be created. Instead there will be one more helmet purchase as a grateful rider buys a replacement! So any statistics on helmets making an injury worse or not preventing an injury will be substantially skewed by the silent majority of cases.

Now to your specific case: Yep, it must really hurt injuring your face like that. But your face absorbed the impact that your brain could have receieved had you landed slightly differently. The fact that a helmet sticks out about 1.5 inches might have reduced the impact to your face. If a helmet were worn incorrectly (such as tilted right back; something I frequently see) then it might damage your neck. However, worn correctly and with the straps done up, I fail to see how it could make the situation worse. Anyway, facial injuries may be unpleasant and require plastic surgery, but they are a lot more recoverable than brain injuries.

So, on balance, I'd suggest you wear a helmet and ignore the alarmist view that caused you to post your question.

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Are bike helmets required where you live?

bicycle helmets law uk image

Jeremy Lax

I got a ticket the other day because I forgot my helmet. I always wear it because it's the law, but I just forgot it. I know I won't again. $25 ticket! Im going to take the bike safety class, then I dont have to pay it, but I can't get another ticket.

Answer
Bicycle helmets are not required by law in the UK. Motorcycle helmets are. I wear one anyway as I ride along busy roads, and at the bottom of a chalk cliff where large lumps of chalk fall down on a regular basis.

Can you ride on the road on a bicycle in the UK without a helmet?

John

Ive just bought a bike, and I was wondering if I could ride it on the road legally?

Answer
Yes you can there is no law or legal requirement to wear a helmet. The reason you see most cyclists wearing a helmet is that if they roll into a hole in the road or there tire goes over a bump in the road they could lose control of the bike especially in a racer with the speed and the position you would be in it would be hard to not lose control of the bike. Even hitting a stone could cause you to fall or some lose pebbles on the road.

It is really suggested that you do get a helmet for you own safety.

Best of luck and have fun with your new bike.

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Is wearing a helmet whilst on a bike a law in England?

bicycle helmets law uk image

Vanya

Is it required by law to wear a helmet while on a bicycle and can you get penalized if you do not?

I know that you "should" and etc, but I want to know if it's a must.

Answer
It's not a legal requirement anywhere in the UK.

Are bike helmets required where you live?

Jeremy Lax

I got a ticket the other day because I forgot my helmet. I always wear it because it's the law, but I just forgot it. I know I won't again. $25 ticket! Im going to take the bike safety class, then I dont have to pay it, but I can't get another ticket.

Answer
Bicycle helmets are not required by law in the UK. Motorcycle helmets are. I wear one anyway as I ride along busy roads, and at the bottom of a chalk cliff where large lumps of chalk fall down on a regular basis.

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