The wearing of bicycle helmets and attitudes towards their use vary around the world. The effects of compulsory use of helmets are disputed [1] (see Bicycle helmet laws). Only the four countries of Argentina, Cyprus, [2] Australia, and New Zealand currently both require and enforce universal use of helmets by cyclists. In some other jurisdictions partial rules apply, such as only for children (e.g. in France), in certain states or sub-national divisions (e.g. British Columbia in Canada), or under other limited conditions. [3]
Australia was the first country to enact mandatory bicycle helmet use for all cyclists. [4] Mexico City has had mandatory cycle helmet laws repealed, and in Italy the Federazione Italiana Amici della Bicicletta managed to block a proposed helmet law. [5] Cycling UK, the largest cycling advocacy organisation in the UK, considers helmet wearing should be a personal choice rather than being mandated by legislation. [6] In 2002 an attempt was made to introduce bicycle helmet legislation in Poland but it was opposed by cyclists' organisations. [7]
Country | Age | Last change | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Argentina | All | 2004 | Mandatory. [8] Fines are collected by the provinces. |
Australia | All | 1990–92 | Compulsory for all ages in public spaces except for those older than 17 in the Northern Territory that are not using car carriageways (e.g: footpaths, cycle paths, trails). [9] |
Austria | 12 | 2011 | [10] |
Belgium | None | [11] | |
Brazil | None | 1997 | |
Canada | [note 1] | [note 2] | Legislation on the use of bicycle helmets originates from provincial and territorial legislation. As a result, laws surrounding the use of bicycle helmets varies across the provinces and territories of Canada. The use of bicycle helmets is compulsory in the provinces of British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. [12] In the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, the use of helmets is mandatory for cyclists under the age of 18 years. [13] [14] [15] [16] Use of a helmet is not mandatory in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon. [17] |
Chile | All | 2009 | Mandatory in urban zones and suggested in rural zones [18] |
Costa Rica | All | 2012 | [19] [20] |
Croatia | 16 | 2011 | Mandatory for children below 16 only if riding on a road. [21] |
Cyprus | All | 2022 | Mandatory for everyone. [22] |
Czech Republic | 18 | 2006 | [7] [23] |
Denmark | None | ||
Estonia | 16 | 2011 | [24] |
Finland | None | 2003 [25] | Not required, but recommended. [26] |
France | 12 | 2017 | Mandatory for children below 12 year old (passenger or driver), fines apply [27] |
Germany | None | ||
Hong Kong | None | In 2009, Transport Secretary announced that government had no intention of introducing mandatory helmet law, based partly on "international views that a mandatory requirement may lead to a reduction in cycling activities." [28] | |
Hungary | None | 2010 | Wearing a helmet increases the speed limit for bicycles outside populated areas from 40 km/h to 50 km/h. [29] |
Iceland | 15 | 1998 | Iceland has considered – but not pursued – extending its helmet law to adults. [30] [31] [32] |
India | None | ||
Ireland | None | [33] | |
Isle of Man | None | Cyclists "should" wear helmets, but they are not compulsory. [34] | |
Israel | 18 | 2011 | Starting from 2011, only applies under 18 years of age, in interurban ways and during sport events. [35] |
Italy | None | ||
Japan | 13 | 2008 | Article 63-11 of the Road Traffic Act requires that persons responsible for children under 13 must ensure that the children wear helmets. However, there is no penalty associated with this article. [36] |
Jersey | 13 | 2014 | Failure to comply with the Law could result in a fine being issued. [37] |
Latvia | 12 | 2014 | |
Malta | 10 | 2004 | Bicycles: Only under 10 year olds riding as passengers on an adult's bicycle are required to wear a helmet. [38] |
Mexico | None | 2010 | Mexico City repealed mandatory helmet laws in 2010. |
Namibia | All | [39] | |
New Zealand | All | 1993 | |
Netherlands | None | [40] | |
Norway | None | [41] | |
Philippines | None | 2021 | No requirement nationwide, but some cities such as Quezon City have helmet mandate laws, with non-compliance punishable with fines. [42] |
Poland | None | [7] | |
Portugal | None | 2013 | No requirement |
Russia | None | 2014 | No requirement (except for users of electric power-assisted bicycles with more than 250W engine or electric powered speed excess 25 km/h) [43] |
Singapore | All | Since 2018, all cyclists (power-assisted or not) must wear a helmet. | |
Slovakia | 15 | Only cyclists under 15 years of age (no fines apply) [44] | |
Slovenia | 15 | 2000 | [7] |
South Africa | All | 2004 | Compulsory for all cyclists but in practice the law is not enforced. No fine had been agreed. [45] |
South Korea | 13 | 2006 | |
Spain | All (interurban roads) / 16 (urban areas) | 2015 | In urban areas helmet is only required for under 16 years old riders (Art. 47 of "Ley sobre Tráfico, Circulación de Vehículos a Motor y Seguridad Vial") [46] The city of Mollet del Vallès in Catalonia has voted and approved in 2020 mandatory helmet to ride a bicycle for anyone of any age on local bylaw, quote of Art. 18 "Those who ride a bicycle on urban streets in Mollet del Vallès will have to use a helmet, whether they are older than legal age or minor." [47] |
Sweden | 15 | 2005 | No penalty for children cycling alone who do not obey the law. Also applies to Segway use. [48] |
Switzerland | None | [28] | |
Togo | All | 2013 | Mandatory helmet policy was enacted by the National Assembly of Togo, since 1975 but the enforcement by the National Police only started in Jun 2013 upon enactment of a new road code. [49] [50] |
UAE | All | 2010 | Dubai [30] |
Ukraine | None | ||
United Kingdom | None | [28] [51] | |
United States | [note 3] | [note 4] | |
Uruguay | None | 2015 | [52] |
Cycling, also known as bicycling or biking, is the activity of riding a bicycle or other type of cycle. It encompasses the use of human-powered vehicles such as balance bikes, unicycles, tricycles, and quadricycles. Cycling is practised around the world for purposes including transport, recreation, exercise, and competitive sport.
Utility cycling encompasses any cycling done simply as a means of transport rather than as a sport or leisure activity. It is the original and most common type of cycling in the world. Cycling mobility is one of the various types of private transport and a major part of individual mobility.
A bicycle helmet is a type of helmet designed to attenuate impacts to the head of a cyclist in collisions while minimizing side effects such as interference with peripheral vision.
Bicycle Network is an Australian charity, one of the largest cycling membership organisations in the world, whose mission is to have More People Cycling More Often. Before 2011 it was known as Bicycle Victoria.
Cycling in Melbourne is an important mode of transport, fitness, sport and recreation in many parts of the city. After a period of significant decline through the mid to late 20th century, additional infrastructure investment, changing transport preferences and increasing congestion has resulted in a resurgence in the popularity of cycling for transport. This is assisted by Melbourne's natural characteristics of relatively flat topography and generally mild climate.
Bicycle safety is the use of road traffic safety practices to reduce risk associated with cycling. Risk can be defined as the number of incidents occurring for a given amount of cycling. Some of this subject matter is hotly debated: for example, which types of cycling environment or cycling infrastructure is safest for cyclists. The merits of obeying the traffic laws and using bicycle lighting at night are less controversial. Wearing a bicycle helmet may reduce the chance of head injury in the event of a crash.
An electric bicycle is a motorized bicycle with an integrated electric motor used to assist propulsion. Many kinds of e-bikes are available worldwide, but they generally fall into two broad categories: bikes that assist the rider's pedal-power and bikes that add a throttle, integrating moped-style functionality. Both retain the ability to be pedaled by the rider and are therefore not electric motorcycles. E-bikes use rechargeable batteries and typically are motor-powered up to 25 to 32 km/h. High-powered varieties can often travel more than 45 km/h (28 mph).
Many countries have enacted electric vehicle laws to regulate the use of electric bicycles, also termed e-bikes. Some jurisdictions have regulations governing safety requirements and standards of manufacture. The members of the European Union and other regions have wider-ranging legislation covering use and safety.
Cycling is the second-most common mode of transport in the Netherlands, with 36% of Dutch people listing the bicycle as their most frequent way of getting around on a typical day, as opposed to the car (45%) and public transport (11%). Cycling has a modal share of 27% of all trips nationwide. In cities this is even higher, such as Amsterdam which has 38%, and Zwolle 46%. This high frequency of bicycle travel is enabled by excellent cycling infrastructure such as cycle paths, cycle tracks, protected intersections, ample bicycle parking and by making cycling routes shorter and more direct than car routes.
Motorcycling advocacy is activism for motorcyclists seeking to establish and protect their rights, and to influence issues of interest to the motorcycling community. This includes lobbying organizations that work to influence laws, and groups or individuals who influence public attitudes.
Bicycle helmets have been mandatory for bicycle riders of all ages in New Zealand since January 1994.
Cycling in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia takes place for recreation, commuting and as a sport. Sydney has a hilly topography and so may require a slightly higher level of fitness from cyclists than flatter cities such as Melbourne and Canberra. Sydney depends heavily on motor vehicles where traffic and public transport operate at capacity. This means that cyclist are often competing with motorists for limited space on busier roads, and for limited government resources for expenditure on road infrastructure. In its favour, Sydney has a generally mild climate and there are active cycling groups.
Cycling in New York City is associated with mixed cycling conditions that include dense urban proximities, relatively flat terrain, congested roadways with stop-and-go traffic, and streets with heavy pedestrian activity. The city's large cycling population includes utility cyclists, such as delivery and messenger services; cycling clubs for recreational cyclists; and increasingly commuters. Cycling is increasingly popular in New York City; in 2018 there were approximately 510,000 daily bike trips, compared with 170,000 daily bike trips in 2005.
Cycling in Australia is a common form of transport, recreation and sport. Many Australians enjoy cycling because it improves their health and reduces road congestion and air pollution. The government has encouraged more people to start, with several state advertising campaigns aimed at increasing safety for those who choose to ride. There is a common perception that riding is a dangerous activity. While it is safer to walk, cycling is a safer method of transport than driving. Cycling is less popular in Australia than in Europe, however cyclists make up one in forty road deaths and one in seven serious injuries.
Australia was the first country to make wearing bicycle helmets mandatory. The majority of early statistical data regarding the effectiveness of bicycle helmets originated from Australia. Their efficacy is still a matter of debate.
Some countries and lower jurisdictions have enacted laws or regulations which require cyclists to wear a helmet in certain circumstances, typically when riding on the road or a road-related area. In some places this requirement applies only to children under a certain age, while in others it applies to cyclists of all ages.
Cycling in Canada is experienced in various ways across a geographically huge, economically and socially diverse country. Among the reasons for cycling in Canada are for practical reasons such as commuting to work or school, for sports such as road racing, BMX, mountain bike racing, freestyle BMX, as well as for pure recreation. The amount and quality of bicycle infrastructure varies widely across the country as do the laws pertaining to cyclists such as bicycle helmet laws which can differ by province.
Cycling infrastructure is all infrastructure cyclists are allowed to use. Bikeways include bike paths, bike lanes, cycle tracks, rail trails and, where permitted, sidewalks. Roads used by motorists are also cycling infrastructure, except where cyclists are barred such as many freeways/motorways. It includes amenities such as bike racks for parking, shelters, service centers and specialized traffic signs and signals. The more cycling infrastructure, the more people get about by bicycle.
Bicycle law is the parts of law that apply to the riding of bicycles.
Cycling in the United Kingdom has a long history, since the earliest days of the bicycle, and after a decline in the mid-20th century has been undergoing a resurgence in recent decades.
All bicycle riders under the age of 18 are required to wear an approved bicycle helmet when travelling on any public road.
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