Why are there no safety rules regarding children on bikes?

[Anonymous]

If a child is in a car, they have be strapped into a car seat that meets federal safety standards or they have to be seat belted in.

But if that child is on a bike, on the very same road, then no safety rules apply at all? How can this be?

[Anonymous]

They don't even have to wear helmets. No bicyclist in DC is required to wear helmets.

[Anonymous]

There are no laws for kids on scooters either. Or pedestrians. Or in rural areas, tractors/snowmobiles/four-wheelers/etc. (Or if there are zero people I knew growing up cared.) The short answer: because no organized political group has decided it’s dangerous enough to merit legislation.

[Anonymous]

I saw a small child in the lap of someone on an ebike going probably 20 mph. neither had helmets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They don't even have to wear helmets. No bicyclist in DC is required to wear helmets.

It's hard to have a serious conversation with someone who is so wrong on facts. Please educate yourself before talking.

https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/bikes-and-helmet-safety

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a child is in a car, they have be strapped into a car seat that meets federal safety standards or they have to be seat belted in.

But if that child is on a bike, on the very same road, then no safety rules apply at all? How can this be?

Cars go 60-70mph. Bikes don't, especially people biking with kids.

It would be great to have a real conversation about safety standards but that's going to happen with people who actually care about kids and are looking at data. Not whiny drivers who just don't want bicyclists in their way.

[Anonymous]

Each year about 100 children die from bike related incidents.
Each year over 1000 children die in car accidents, and that's even with all the safety improvements over the last several decades.


https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=accident-statistics-90-P02853

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/813122#:~:text=As%20shown%20in%20Figure%202,2010%20to%201.74%20in%202019.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a child is in a car, they have be strapped into a car seat that meets federal safety standards or they have to be seat belted in.

But if that child is on a bike, on the very same road, then no safety rules apply at all? How can this be?

Cars go 60-70mph. Bikes don't, especially people biking with kids.

It would be great to have a real conversation about safety standards but that's going to happen with people who actually care about kids and are looking at data. Not whiny drivers who just don't want bicyclists in their way.

The speed of the bike is irrelevant. The issue is what happens when a 4,000 pound car hits a bike with a child on it who has essentially nothing protecting them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They don't even have to wear helmets. No bicyclist in DC is required to wear helmets.

It's hard to have a serious conversation with someone who is so wrong on facts. Please educate yourself before talking.

https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/bikes-and-helmet-safety

Under 16 required in Maryland too

https://roads.maryland.gov/mdotsha/pages/Index.aspx?pageid=599#:~:text=Maryland%20law%20requires%20all%20bicyclists,Allegany%20County%20%E2%80%93%20under%2016

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a child is in a car, they have be strapped into a car seat that meets federal safety standards or they have to be seat belted in.

But if that child is on a bike, on the very same road, then no safety rules apply at all? How can this be?

Cars go 60-70mph. Bikes don't, especially people biking with kids.

It would be great to have a real conversation about safety standards but that's going to happen with people who actually care about kids and are looking at data. Not whiny drivers who just don't want bicyclists in their way.

The speed of the bike is irrelevant. The issue is what happens when a 4,000 pound car hits a bike with a child on it who has essentially nothing protecting them.

Or a pedestrian. Yeah, it's not ok. But it's not about making us walk or bike around in protective metal cages.

It's about the cars and the people driving them being safer. Here are things that other countries are doing that we won't because we like to sacrifice and maim people in the US:
1. Speed governors in cars. Impact speed is a huge factor. Even before that, speed is a huge factor in being able to respond in time to avoid hitting someone.
2. Impact standards for people *outside* the car. Right now, we have great ratings for what happens to people inside the car in a collision but nothing for people being hit by cars. Higher front ends of trucks and SUVs are far more dangerous than smaller sedans. Other countries are seeing standards. Why not us?
3. Visibility requirements. You can't actually see kids 10' in front of your monster truck? Then why is it street legal? Use it on construction sites only with other safety measures.

[Anonymous]

Oh, and we already have speed governors on *scooters* in DC, but not cars. So don't tell me it's not possible.

[Anonymous]

easy solution: don't put your kids on a friggin bike. it's really dangerous!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:easy solution: don't put your kids on a friggin bike. it's really dangerous!

"Or walk anywhere either!"*

*This message has been brought to you by drivers. Drivers, ruining the environment and your everyday life for their convenience and whim.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If a child is in a car, they have be strapped into a car seat that meets federal safety standards or they have to be seat belted in.

But if that child is on a bike, on the very same road, then no safety rules apply at all? How can this be?

Cars go 60-70mph. Bikes don't, especially people biking with kids.

It would be great to have a real conversation about safety standards but that's going to happen with people who actually care about kids and are looking at data. Not whiny drivers who just don't want bicyclists in their way.

The speed of the bike is irrelevant. The issue is what happens when a 4,000 pound car hits a bike with a child on it who has essentially nothing protecting them.

Which is why we need better bike infrastructure, including protected bike lanes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:easy solution: don't put your kids on a friggin bike. it's really dangerous!

"Or walk anywhere either!"*

*This message has been brought to you by drivers. Drivers, ruining the environment and your everyday life for their convenience and whim.

eh. maybe it's not a good idea to wander out into traffic on a bike, especially with a child in tow. seems like common sense.