Riding Without Proper Gear

[daycare]

I have a family that has needed to start riding bike to DC becuase DCD crashed his car.

This morning the DCD and DCK show up on bikes. It is not a far ride from my house to theirs and vice versa. However, the DCK rode about a mile or 1.5 miles without any gear of any kind. I am mostly concerned that he is riding without a helmet and does have to travel down an extremely busy street to get here.


dad asked if he could leave the bike here so that they could ride it home. At first I did not mind at all. I told him to put it on the side yard and that it could not be ridin during DC hours.

I then asked DCK helmet was and the DCD laughs oh yeah we dont have one...

I got really upset and said thats a long way to come without a helmet for him and the street is super super busy..

Would you require the child to have one in order to ride the bike to DC?
It is a law in my state that children under 18 must wear a helmet.

[MsMe]

YES!!!!!!

I had a DCD that would ride his son to daycare in morning and leave his bike so they could ride home at night (they lived and worked close and just liked riding) The DCB LOVED this and ALWAYS wore a helmet as did the Father. I would give him a warning that it is the law and you will inform proper athorities if he continues to ride without one. If it is matter of money I may even go as far as to buy one myself and let them pay me back even $1 at a time if that is what it takes.

[daycare]

I know that money must be tight right now as I dont think that DCD has any way to get to work. I will mention it at pick up. Which better be soon, as they have no light on the bikes either...

thanks for th response.. I will tell them at pick up DCK has to wear a helmet...
The way I see it, it's like riding in the car with no seatbelt.

[momatheart]

And reflective gear as well. Especially if they are riding at dusk. A light on the back of the bike and a strip of reflective tape would be nice on the dad and the child.

Even if they are on a trail or sidewalk. Or they could tape a flashlight to the back of the seat so cars can see them.

[PitterPatter]

Tell him Goodwill sells them for $2. He shouldn't have a problem getting 1 there.

[laundrymom]

YES!!!!!!

I had a DCD that would ride his son to daycare in morning and leave his bike so they could ride home at night (they lived and worked close and just liked riding) The DCB LOVED this and ALWAYS wore a helmet as did the Father. I would give him a warning that it is the law and you will inform proper athorities if he continues to ride without one. If it is matter of money I may even go as far as to buy one myself and let them pay me back even $1 at a time if that is what it takes.

I was not aware it was law to wear one. No one here wears one.

[daycare]

In ca under 18 must wear a helmet. I used to live in orange county Newport beach. Trust me u don't want to be caught there with no helmet If your under 18

[Meyou]

Where I live you have to wear a helmet to bike, skateboard or rollerblade. They just ammended the old law to include adults and the skateboard and rollerblade section. It's a pretty big fine here.

[melskids]

here, i think the law is under 14.

and yes, i would say something. no different then not using a carseat.

[morgan24]

We don't have any laws regarding wearing helmets on bikes or anything else. I wouldn't say anything. I don't consider the ride to and from my home any of my business. I feel that is the parents job to keep their children safe on the ride to my home. If dcd laughed when you asked him about the helmet, he must not be concerned.

[Cat Herder]

I would not tell him he can't come..... only because this was unplanned and a rough time.

I would either loan him one of my kids helmets or just gift him one.

Was anyone hurt in the wreck?

Oh, you could also print off the online coloring books on bicycle safety and do an educational unit on safe riding.

Send the kid home with a whistle, "safety" badge and helmet....

Seize an opportunity to be a rock star.... Summer is here and bike riding / skateboarding will be all the rage.

[laundrymom]

I had no idea there was such a law anywhere. Here there isn't one. I guess that's why it threw me. If it were a law I'd say something about being careful so he doesn't get ticketed. But you can't force him to obey laws. He knows the risks. He chooses not to care. Here my own children don't wear them. But they don't ride bikes on streets. Actually they probably ride once or twice a year for 300-600 feet. Mostly between campsites. We walk and hike more.

[Blackcat31]

I had no idea there was such a law anywhere. Here there isn't one. I guess that's why it threw me. If it were a law I'd say something about being careful so he doesn't get ticketed. But you can't force him to obey laws. He knows the risks. He chooses not to care. Here my own children don't wear them. But they don't ride bikes on streets. Actually they probably ride once or twice a year for 300-600 feet. Mostly between campsites. We walk and hike more.

It is a law here. We actually have bicycle cops!! LOL!!! Yes, they ride around town on bicycles and give people tickets for not wearing helmets or for riding on the sidewalk or not using proper signals....
and yes, as kids we would out ride them every time....... but none the less they are still here and are still enforcing bicycle safety all over town!

They even wear a uniform! Black bicycle shorts and uniform shirts with police looking badges and helmets to match! I'm sorry I am laughing but we always looked at it like a joke but that was when I was a kid a looooong time ago and now days it is important and a serious thing so I am glad we have them.

[daycare]

I would never ask them not to come due to lack of a helmet.

I would ratehr them walk if they don't have the proper riding equipment.

I am not so worried that it is a law, that is their decision to break the law, however, there is nothing OK with a 4 year old riding a bike on a busy street without the correct gear.

My husband works for the fire dept as a medic as well as in the ER at the hospital. He has had to lay kids to rest due to lack of proper gear when riding bikes, skateboards and etc.

I did talk to the mom this morning and she was not even aware that the DCD and DCK were riding bikes to the house and when she found out.............opppsss DCD is in the doghouse...........
DCM said that helmet or not, she did not want them riding their bikes here becuase of the streets that they must travel on to get here....

so I guess that i don't have to worry about it any more...