In Buffalo Grove, bicyclists of all ages still can ride without wearing a helmet, even though village officials recently weighed whether to fine cyclists who don’t use the protective gear.
Since November, village board members have been looking into writing an ordinance that would require all bicyclists to wear helmets on streets or sidewalks after a resident suggested to officials that they look into the idea.
While trustees said a potential ordinance had some safety benefits, they decided Monday against creating the ordinance largely because Buffalo Grove police questioned how they could reasonably enforce fines on riders who don’t wear helmets, especially children, and what that would do to community relations.
“It’s not going to do much good to give a 10-year-old a $25 ticket,” said Meghan Hansen, Buffalo Grove community officer for research and engagement. “Their parents are going to have to pay it.”
During the board meeting Monday, trustees agreed that the ordinance could create challenges for police.
Village President Beverly Sussman noted how community events on bike safety are just as effective with encouraging residents to be safe when riding their bikes. The police department holds a “rodeo” event every May for young riders, who learn about safety techniques and how to fit helmets properly, she said.
“It’s very successful,” Sussman said, adding how she was concerned the community efforts would lose meaning if parents or kids feared letting an officer see them riding bikes without helmets.
Hansen said she also worried that a helmet requirement in the village would weaken the chance for parents and police officers to explain to kids why helmets are important to wear.
Other state laws related to transportation safety, such as seat belt and baby car seat requirements, really are designed to fine adults, Hansen explained. But if a child gets fined for riding without a helmet, they may be discouraged from riding their bike again or parents may take the bike away as a form of punishment, she said.
Since cycling has many health benefits, police should be doing all that they can to encourage safe cycling, not discouraging it, Hansen said.
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In researching whether to create a helmet ordinance, Community Development Director Chris Stilling told trustees he surveyed 17 neighboring municipalities and found most of them do not have helmet ordinances.
A town that does fine younger riders who don’t wear helmets is Barrington, although Assistant Police Chief John Burke said officers in Barrington rarely use it.
Unlike the request in Buffalo Grove, Barrington’s ordinance pertains only to riders 16 and younger — a demographic that has a penchant for speeding down hills near the downtown, Burke said.
He said his officers mostly give kids warnings unless they come across kids who they have warned before about wearing helmets but have refused to do so.
“They’re pretty rare, but it’s there for the officers,” Burke said. “It might give the kid a good learning experience.”
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