How old do you have to be to ride your bike without a helmet?

Well I've already done it, but I was wondering because my brother is 16 and I thought that you had to be 18 but he insists not, though I am not convinced.

Hey Alice,

Age requirements depends in which state (or country) you live in. Here in California anyone under the age of 18 years of age has to wear a helmet while riding any bicycle, scooter, skates or skateboard on any PUBLIC roadway, highway, bicycle path or street. The key word is Public. If your neighborhood is located on a private roadway then the law does not apply on private land. Here is the California Vehicle Code section:

21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. This requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer towed by the bicycle.

Hope this helps you. Good luck.

Kimber

You are never too old to wear a helmet. I had always not bothered until I was hit by a car. That soon changed my thinking and I now feel undressed if I cycle without one. So I never do.

When you're dead....

Well, anybody's life is their business. Helmets do protect a head on several possible accidental situations. It doesn't matter if you're 10 yrs old or 90 yrs old, if you crash and hit your head, it's going to be nasty.

the day before you die. so u only die one day earlier if u get head injuries. anyway, whats the fuss about a wearing a helmet? isnt it better to feel safe and ride safe?

ANYTIME YOU GET ON THE BIKE!!!

94% of all FATAL accidents involving bikes are with riders that left the helmet at home.

VERY BAD IDEA!!!

98.... ;-)
If you can ride at 98, you don't have to wear a helmet.
Seriously - you need to ask your local police department as regulations vary.
Having said that - there is nothing to be gained by NOT wearing a helmet. Minor accidents that can result in scratches and bruised egos can be very distasrous if you hit your head without a helmet. Remember your skull is fragile and it's contents very precious.
There is nothing cool about not wearing a helmet. All the pros do (or should) and so should you. Start a trend - don't worry about what people say - think for yourself and in the process, protect the thing that allows you to think....
To Paraphrase Jerry Seinfeld "a brain that's not functioning well enough to try to protect itself isn't probably worth protecting."
Be safe....

hey... there is no excuses in riding your bike without helmet. You MUST wear a helmet.

Safety First!!!