Bicycle Helmets

Question

Jill asked:  As an adult, am I required to wear a helmet while riding my bicycle?  Our traffic rules are the same as we observe on the roads and highways.  However, there is less traffic and a more relaxed attitude.  People ride bicycles in the street and on the walking paths.

Answer

We recommend that everyone wear helmets when cycling, but helmets are required only for children under 16 years of age.

FS 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations

(d)  A bicycle rider or passenger who is under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet that is properly fitted and is fastened securely upon the passenger’s head by a strap, and that meets the standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z 90.4 Bicycle Helmet Standards), the standards of the Snell Memorial Foundation (1984 Standard for Protective Headgear for Use in Bicycling), or any other nationally recognized standards for bicycle helmets adopted by the department. As used in this subsection, the term “passenger” includes a child who is riding in a trailer or semitrailer attached to a bicycle.