As the temperature rises and the snow melts, biking is once again becoming a popular mode of transportation.
And even though in Ontario every person under the age of 18 is required by law to wear a helmet while riding a bike, not nearly enough young people abide by this rule.
Especially in the downtown core where there are many students and young professionals, it’s rare to see a young cyclist sporting a helmet on the residential streets, as well as the main arteries. Worries about comfort or style tend to trump concerns about serious head injuries.
In 1995, Ontario introduced a law requiring young cyclists to wear helmets. Youth aged 16 to 17 will be issued a $75 fine that includes a victim surcharge and court costs. For children under the age of 16, the ticket will be issued directly to their parents.
For those older than 18, while helmets are encouraged, they are not legally required.
Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as cars do on the road. As such, they are not allowed to ride on the sidewalks, and naturally, driving on the road carries far more risk.
In addition to the danger of potentially colliding with a car, serious accidents can also be the result of poor road conditions or human fault. On the side of the road, they take the chance of potentially skidding on gravel or accidentally swerving into traffic. With all of the possible dangers, it only makes sense to protect oneself.
However, a Statistics Canada study has revealed that young adults, especially boys, tend to think of helmets as unnecessary.
But we know this isn't true. Several other studies have shown that wearing a helmet can prevent a serious head injury in nearly 88 per cent of bike-related accidents. And this is a significant number considering that nearly three-quarters of all fatal bicycle accidents involved head injuries.
As the numbers of people using alternate forms of transportation – such as bicycles – increases, so should our expectations and legal standards for measures cyclists must take to protect themselves.
Just in the past three years, the percentage of adults treated in Ontario emergency rooms with head injuries has increased by about 20 per cent. Not only do these patients clog up already over-crowded emergency rooms in Ontario hospitals, but most of these injuries are also preventable.
Stricter helmet laws need to be introduced as well as more effectively policed. As it stands, it's obvious that the current helmet law is not enforced to the degree that it should be.
Although the number of children wearing helmets since 1995 has increased, teenagers are still opting to take the risk rather than face comparatively minor issues like helmet-head and slight discomfort. In doing so, they leave the onus of road safety squarely on the shoulders of vehicles and their drivers. That's irresponsible.
Young adults need to learn the hard way – by being forced to pay for their unsafe behaviour – that their safety is their responsibility.
Cyclists make a decision every time they get on their bikes without a helmet. But there’s nothing to think about – wearing a helmet should be a no-brainer.