Bicycling is a popular activity and a healthy, environmentally friendly form of transportation. However, it is also a leading cause of sport and recreational injury in children and adolescents. Head injuries are among the most severe injuries sustained while bicycling, justifying the implementation of bicycle helmet legislation by many provinces. There is evidence that bicycle helmet legislatio...

OBJECTIVE To determine why people do or do not wear helmets while bicycling. METHODS A survey was conducted from August through October 1999. Two survey areas were chosen for this study: local public schools and paved bicycle trails. For the school arm of the study, 3 public elementary, middle, and high schools were selected from 3 different regions of Rochester, Minnesota, for participation ...

On the 3 September, British Columbia's new mandatory bicycle helmet law came into effect. All cyclists on public roads and highways are now required to wear a bicycle helmet that meets one of the following standards CAN/ CSAD1 13.2-M89, Snell B-90, B-90S, B-95 and N-94, ASTM F1447-94, ANSI Z90.4-1984. The implementation of this law largely reflects the unremitting efforts of Glenna Ayerst, Dire...

BACKGROUND Bicycling injuries claim more than 900 lives each year in the United States, and the major cause of deaths is head injuries. Bicycle helmets can prevent head and brain injuries, yet helmet use rate remains low. Helmets are expensive, and their cost can be prohibitive. This study asks the question, "If bicycle helmets are made affordable, will they be worn?" METHODS A multifaceted b...

OBJECTIVE To estimate ownership and use of bicycle helmets among children in the US in 1994. METHODS As part of a 1994 national telephone survey of 5,238 randomly dialed households, adult respondents reported data on bicycle helmet ownership and helmet use among 1,645 child bicyclists. Data were weighted to provide national estimates. RESULTS It is estimated that 72.7% of children 5-14 year...

OBJECTIVES AND SETTING To address helmet wearing by 13-17 year olds this study posed the following research questions: 'Do education programs continue to be necessary even after the community wearing rate has increased?' and 'Are helmet laws more effective in encouraging wearing among certain age groups?' Victoria was the first place in the world to introduce bicycle helmet legislation. Experie...

OBJECTIVE To compare the distribution and observation of helmet use patterns among 4 common childhood leisure activities-bicycle riding, in-line skating, skateboarding, and scooter riding-in a setting with no helmet use legislation. DESIGN A cross-sectional, unobtrusive, direct observation of children engaged in 1 of the 4 activities was conducted during an 8-week period. SETTING Eight comm...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of state helmet laws in increasing the use of bicycle helmets by children and adolescents under age 16. SETTING United States. METHODS A cross sectional study of factors associated with the likelihood of helmet use by children and adolescents. Data were derived from a national random digit dial telephone survey of bicycle riders. A multiple logistic r...

A bicycle helmet program was evaluated in three middle schools using a multiple baseline across schools design. Two of the three schools had histories of enforcement of helmet use. During baseline many students riding their bikes to and from school did not wear their helmets or wore them incorrectly. A program that consisted of peer data collection of correct helmet use, education on how to wea...