Younger cyclists may be required to wear helmets

FREMONT – As lawmakers discuss requiring helmets for young riders, a local bicycle shop owner said he agrees with the proposal, adding that helmets saved his life.

Dan Waggoner, owner of both Fremont Cycle and Fitness and Elmore Cycle and Fitness, said many customers are either not interested in helmets or feel they are unnecessary when riding. But when he tells skeptical customers how helmets saved his life in bike crashes, they often leave the store with a helmet.

“I have cracked about four helmets mountain biking. I wouldn’t be here without one,” Waggoner said.

Lawmakers in Ohio are proposing legislation requiring children age 16 or younger to wear helmets while riding bikes, and Waggoner supports the law because he thinks everyone should wear a helmet when riding.

The Ohio Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics estimates 70 percent of Ohio children ages 5-14 ride a bike regularly, yet only 10 to 20 percent of Ohio children wear helmets while riding bikes.

The AAP said helmets can reduce bike-related fatalities by 75 percent and reduce head injuries by 85 percent.

“We sell a lot of helmets here. I encourage everyone to wear them,” Waggoner said. “All of (the workers) ride with them.”

“Put a Lid on it!,” a campaign started in 2011, was developed to promote bike safety. Since the start of the campaign, nearly 20,000 helmets have been given to families.

“I’d say 80 percent wear helmets, especially kids,” said Elmore store mechanic Gary Ferguson. “We have kid helmets that sit low on the ear to protect their whole head.”

In other states, mandatory laws requiring the use of a helmet have decreased bicycle-related head injuries by 45 percent.

In April, Fremont City Schools was one of several schools and organizations to hand out free helmets through the program.

cshoup@gannett.com

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Twitter: CraigShoupNH