Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
Jun 7th 2012 | 4:27 am
#32
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From: Upstate South Carolina
Jun 7th 2012 | 4:31 am
#33
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 213
From: Calgary, Alberta
Re: Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
That might be a Calgary bylaw as I am often almost mown down by cyclists without bells - I don't think they realise how quiet they are, they scare the living daylights out of me sometimes.
As for helmets, in Red Deer at least under 18`s have to wear helmets ot the parents can be fined. After that it`s up to you.
As for helmets, in Red Deer at least under 18`s have to wear helmets ot the parents can be fined. After that it`s up to you.
It is an Alberta Bicycle Law and the fine is $57 for not having a bell : Starsmile:
Jun 7th 2012 | 4:38 am
#37
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From: Upstate South Carolina
Jun 7th 2012 | 4:44 am
#40
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 10,630
From: Red Deer, Alberta
Re: Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
Taken from:http://www.canadatrails.ca/biking/bike_ab.html
Alberta Bicycle Laws
As in other regions of Canada cyclists must follow the same laws as drivers of motor vehicles. Some of the more specific points of the Alberta Traffic Safety Act are:
When ridden at night bicycles must have a white front light, a red rear light, side reflectors and a red rear reflector ($115 fine).
Bikes must have a bell or horn ($57 fine).
Bike brakes must be in good working order ($57 fine).
Cyclists under the age of 18 must wear a bike helmet ($115 fine).
Jun 7th 2012 | 4:57 am
#41
Beep
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 8,311
From: Here
Re: Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
No Nanny for us. If my contract is renewed then i'll be a working nanny. If not, i'll have to talk my wife into letting me stay home while she works 
Paint it Tiffany blue for the best of both worlds 
Jun 7th 2012 | 5:09 am
#42
Occidentally Damaged
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 398
From: Edmonton
Re: Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
There's an enormous weight of evidence at www.cyclehelmets.org, and the Canada situation is covered at http://cyclehelmets.org/1023.html.
Edited to add: more on Canada at http://www.cycle-helmets.com/canada_helmets.html
Last edited by agr; Jun 7th 2012 at 5:24 am.
Jun 7th 2012 | 5:12 am
#43
Thread Starter
BE user by choice
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,854
From: A Briton, married to a Canadian, now in Fredericton.
Re: Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
Oh, thank you so much for your kind replies...I shall stuff them in the packing....I wear one here, but cycled for years from Stratford to Marble Arch without one - but I was younger and oh so much fitter then alas, and a damn sight more optimistic! My son is mainly on cycle paths, but the kids who wear them aren't his mates, they just don't see it as cool...I have told him he MUST in Canada. There is no excuse for my OH, he drives me bonkers - but that's a whole'nother thread all by itself!
Jun 7th 2012 | 5:23 am
#44
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From: Upstate South Carolina
Re: Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
My brother managed to break his leg coming off his bike on his cycle path commute!
No one around, just hit some gravel and came off on the cycle path. Fortunatly his helmet (which was totalled in the fall, intact, but squished) took the brunt of the impact as his head hit the tarmac, and he remained conscious long enough to call an ambulance on his mobile before he passed out from the pain. (The was bone sticking out of his leg)
Unfortunately he had ended up in the cyclepath tunnel under the main road and the ambulance sat above him for some time before they found him!
Toe clips were his problem, if he had had clip in shoes or regular pedals his feet would have come free and he would not have been incapacitated for the best part of 6 months due to the spiral fracture to his tibia. Only now, 2 years later, is he biking to work again.
Just wear a helmet, you only have one head to hit on the ground. Just dont ride like it makes you invulnerable. Clearly if an impact is severe enough no helmet is going to help, but many injuries are associated with the fall from the bike to the ground, and helmets can help lessen the severity of those, maybe not necessarily life threatening injuries.
No one around, just hit some gravel and came off on the cycle path. Fortunatly his helmet (which was totalled in the fall, intact, but squished) took the brunt of the impact as his head hit the tarmac, and he remained conscious long enough to call an ambulance on his mobile before he passed out from the pain. (The was bone sticking out of his leg)
Unfortunately he had ended up in the cyclepath tunnel under the main road and the ambulance sat above him for some time before they found him!
Toe clips were his problem, if he had had clip in shoes or regular pedals his feet would have come free and he would not have been incapacitated for the best part of 6 months due to the spiral fracture to his tibia. Only now, 2 years later, is he biking to work again.
Just wear a helmet, you only have one head to hit on the ground. Just dont ride like it makes you invulnerable. Clearly if an impact is severe enough no helmet is going to help, but many injuries are associated with the fall from the bike to the ground, and helmets can help lessen the severity of those, maybe not necessarily life threatening injuries.
Last edited by iaink; Jun 7th 2012 at 5:34 am.
Jun 7th 2012 | 5:40 am
#45
Slightly Canadian
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,146
From: St. John's, Newfoundland
Re: Are helmets obligatory on a cycle?
An acquaintance back in Blighty wouldn't be here today if he hadn't of been wearing a helmet while mountain biking. While my own riding is way less extreme, I'd still wear one if I could find one that would fit.
