Seattle bicycle helmet law

Amanda Zhou: or azhou seattletimes. Amanda Zhou covers afternoon breaking news and enterprise for The Seattle Times. Most Read Local Stories Storm rips through Western Washington, killing two and leaving more than , without power in Seattle and beyond Two people dead after tree falls on their car near Issaquah in Sunday's storm Cargo ship on fire off Victoria, B.

Posting comments is now limited to subscribers only. In fact, from to , each year an average of 2 - 3 bicyclists died in King County and 42 were severely injured in collisions with motor vehicles. Washington Traffic Safety Commission, September To stay safe, follow Washington's bicycling laws and always wear a helmet! Visit the Washington state Department of Transportation's Bicycle Laws page to learn more about bicyclist responsibilities and state laws.

The new rule went into effect in August and requires that all bicyclists regardless of age must wear a helmet. Bicyclists throughout the county can be cited for not wearing helmets. Avoid fines, fees, and injuries by wearing a bike helmet! In , that law was expanded to include Seattle. At the same time, 17 cities within King County have their own requirements, which would not be affected by the actions of the Board of Health. At the time the law was created, evidence suggested it accomplished its goals of increasing helmet usage.

But the law's usefulness today is unclear. In Seattle, enforcement was minimal; in , Seattle police wrote just tickets, despite record levels of ridership.

While exact numbers can be hard to come by, Campbell said cities with and without helmet laws now both have high rates of helmet use. This includes access to affordable bicycles and helmets, options for kids to learn safe cycling at an early age, bike-storage options to prevent theft, and helmet-distribution options. Public health measures, including helmet use, have made it more likely that children and adult cyclists will enjoy their ride and get home safely each day.

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