Head injuries cause about three-fourths of the 800 to 900 deaths resulting from bicycling-related accidents in the U.S. each year, according to a study conducted by the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center.
Bicycle helmets cut the risk of head injuries by 85 percent.
That’s why the city of Lake Forest Park is considering instituting a helmet ordinance that would require anyone, regardless of age, to wear a helmet while operating a bicycle.
The city council is also looking at requiring helmets for children ages 17 or younger who are using skateboards, scooters or roller skates in the city. Violation of the ordinance could result in a warning or a $25 ticket.
According to the Washington State Department of Health, bicycle riders between the ages of 5 and 14 represent the second-highest number of non-fatal injury hospitalizations in Seattle and King County, at 605 hospitalizations between 1990 and 1999.
The Burke Gilman trail passes from Seattle to Woodinville right through Lake Forest Park. The trail, a former railroad line that’s been paved over, is a popular route for bicyclists, joggers and others that like to wheel through Lake Forest Park. City officials say they want to make it safe.
They are debating whether to apply the ordinance to all ages, and if it should apply to scooters, skaters and skateboarders too.
“Part of the reason I am willing to entertain this ordinance is that it will be educational,” said City Council member Ed Sterner. “There is some virtue of having laws on the books. Even if you don’t write tickets, you could educate the public and hand out warnings.
“I think we should try it without picking on any age. We see injuries enough in all age groups.”
Council member Nate Herzog recommended limiting the helmet requirement to users 17 and younger for scooter-riders, roller skaters, and skateboarders.
“I have a tough time with restricting civil liberties, and with the concept of requiring helmets for everyone, but I can go along with it for bikes for adults because I see that in a different breed,” Herzog said.
“But there are laws we use to restrict age groups. We don’t allow the purchase of alcohol, firearms, tobacco, lottery tickets or the use of motor vehicles. I see a clear distinction and have no problem with 18-year-olds buying cigarettes or choosing to use skateboards, scooters or roller skates without a helmet if they so desire,” he said.
Council member Dwight Thompson felt scooters should be removed from the list.
“I think scooters would be difficult to enforce, and speeds are not the same as the speed of a skateboard or others,” he said.
Council member Carolyn Arminini said she’s seen scooters all over town, and doesn’t believe scooters are slower than skateboards.
“If scooters are to be exempt, than I propose exempting all forms of transportation but bicycles,” said council member Roger Olstad.
California has a law that requires users 18 and younger of bikes, scooters, skates and skateboards to wear a helmet. While Washington state doesn’t have such a law, King County requires helmets for all bicyclists.
Other cities along the Burke Gilman Trail runs through, like Kenmore and Bothell, don’t have helmet ordinances on the books because the King County ordinance applies. The ordinance does not apply, however, to Seattle.
The council plans to continue the debate on a helmet ordinance at its 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13 meeting.
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