Current bicycle helmet laws in Los Angeles only apply to bicyclists below the age of 18. However, if Mayor Anthony Villaraigosa has his way, there may soon be a rule requiring that all adult bicyclists in Los Angeles wear helmets while riding.This week, the Mayor hosted a bike safety summit in Los Angeles. Among those who participated were representatives of bicycle safety groups in Los Angeles and scores of bicyclists. The event addressed some of the concerns that Los Angeles bicyclists have about their safety. For instance, the Mayor expressed his support for a proposed California bill that would require motorists to keep a gap of at least 3 feet between their car and a bike. He also said that the Los Angeles City Council will invest in developing more than 1,600 miles of bike lanes in Los Angeles. More bike lanes in the city mean more convenience and safety for bicyclists. The mayor noted that between 1977 and 2010, Los Angeles only built 372 miles of bike lanes. That is an average of 8 to 10 miles a year. The mayor hopes to increase that to an average of 40 miles of bike lanes per year.
He also promised a series of public service announcements to educate the public about bicyclist rights in Los Angeles, and called for a mandatory bicycle helmet law that makes it mandatory for all adult bicyclists over the age of 18 to wear helmets.
The Mayor's recommendation comes from personal experience. Last month, he was the victim of a bicycle accident in Los Angeles that left him with a fractured elbow. Fortunately, there were no head injuries involved because the mayor was wearing a helmet at the time. Bicyclists involved in accidents are at a higher risk of head and brain injuries when they hit the ground
Unfortunately, to Los Angeles bicycle accident lawyers, it seems like the mayor has been overly cautious in the kind of rules he has proposed. Mandating bicycle helmets for all adult bicyclists is a good idea, but there must be more focus on getting motorists to respect bicyclists’ rights too. Education has its place and purpose, but legislation can accomplish more.
