Helmet

Helmet Safety

Parents AND children: Wear a bike helmet EVERY TIME YOU RIDE.

Parents, when you do not wear a helmet while riding, you set a poor example. As soon as kids are on anything with wheels – skates, scooter, bikes, skateboards – helmets should be automatic. A good rule of thumb is if there are wheels under your feet, there should be a helmet on your head. This will help you avoid the “why do I have to wear a helmet” discussion. We don’t question the value of seatbelts, and helmets should be the same.

Here are three reasons to wear a helmet

  1. Wearing a helmet can prevent up to 85% of head trauma, should you be involved in a collision.
  2. It's the law. In California, riders under the age of 18 must wear a helmet. And ALL riders on Class III e-bikes also must wear a helmet.
  3. No matter how safe we ride or how good of a rider we think we are, we have no control over other road users.  We wear helmets not just to protect us from our mistakes but also from mistakes caused by other road users.

Helmet Fitting

Your helmet should fit properly, be worn level and cover your forehead. Make sure the straps are fastened. Use the “Eyes, Ears, Mouth” test: If your helmet is on properly: 

  1. Look up – you should be able to see your helmet with your EYES without tilting your head
  2. The straps should encircle your EARS comfortably, making a “V” beneath each ear.
  3. When the chin strap is adjusted properly, you should be able to open your MOUTH wide and feel the helmet snug against your head. 
  4. Lastly, use the dial adjust (if applicable) to snug the helmet to a comfortable position

Check out this guide to helmet fitting from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.