Bicycle Helmet Laws in British Columbia
- Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring children under 16 wear helmets.child and his bicycle image by jc from Fotolia.com
Bicycling in British Columbia offers both recreation and transportation for citizens and tourists. Per British Columbia's Motor Vehicle Act, "cyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers of vehicles." There are several laws specific to bicycle operation that cyclists must remember, the most prominent of them being the helmet law. Fortunately, the law is straightforward. - According to the British Columbia Bicycle Operator's Manual, all cyclists are required to wear an approved helmet when operating or riding as a passenger on a bicycle. The helmet must clearly display a CSA, ANSI, ASTM or SNELL standards approval. Helmets designed for other sports are not acceptable for cyclists because they are created for different types of impacts. Additionally, parents and guardians of anyone under the age of 16 must enforce this law for the minor. A violation of the helmet law can result in fines of up to $100.
When choosing a helmet, you should check with the owner of the shop to find out how to properly adjust your helmet. The helmet should be worn forward on the head rather than tilted toward the back, as illustrated in "Bike Sense," the British Columbia Bicycle Operator's Manual. - Pedicab operators are exempt from the bicycle helmet law and are not required to wear helmets during operation.
- Riding on sidewalks is against the law in British Columbia. All cyclists must employ hand signals to indicate turns. Also, bike brakes must be in good working order.
- Riders are required to take precautions to improve their visibility. From 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after sunrise, bicycles must have a working white front light with 150 m visibility, a working red rear light with 100 m visibility, and a red rear reflector to aid in visibility.
