If you have an ebike, please read

[Frosty]

I bet I'm one of the few that can say a boat hit me when I was riding my bike!

That must be a fairly exclusive club, sheesh.

 

[Mac2]

Ive posted these pictures before, but thought it was worth mentioning again. I have these helmets staged for rough conditions, or if I have to scuba dive under the boat to fix a fouled prop in bumby conditions. One of my big fears is bumping my head and falling into the water unconscious (including wife).

 

[Jklotz]

FYI: my buddy didn't make it. He was taken off life support last night.

 

[Mac2]

So sorry to hear that. Thank you for posting this. I was hunting on my ebike last weekend and was constantly thinking of your friend. Im sure you have saved someone this same fate.

 

[Frosty]

I'm so sorry to hear that.

 

[READY]

Devastating news. So sorry but hopefully at least some who read this thread will decide a helmet is prudent.

It is amazing to me that particularly with the rapid adoption of ebikes that there is little to no public effort to promote helmet use for all ages.

 

[nwh10]

That is just awful, JK. Very sorry to hear this.

 

[Pprior]

How awful. One of the workers at the boatyard in Mexico where I am now had a similar accident as a passenger in a small motorcycle two months ago - including a coma. He was carrying his helmet. He's up and moving these days but has a permanent crook in his neck and some loss of brain capacity.

When I was riding motorcycles, I never wore a helmet. Before Hurricane Helene took my ebike, I always wore a helmet and a vest along with flashing lights for visibility. I felt pretty geeky but would certainly reduce chances of a serious accident.

Peter

ATGATT.

 

[swav8tor]

Interesting thread. I agree on helmet usage. It saved my son’s life. On December 30 an 88 yo pulled out in front of my son on his motorcycle. Fortunately he was only doing 30-40, but he was wearing his helmet. It’s the only thing that saved his life, besides the amazing people, police, paramedics, nurses and doctors that helped save his life. 26 days in ICU and step down trauma in Sarasota and 4.5 months at Shepherd Center in Atlanta. He got a severe DAI traumatic brain injury among the broken hips and wrist. His recovery has been amazing. But, there is always a but…his and our lives have been changed forever. He said my life my problem. Well doesn’t exactly work like that. Suppose it could if we didn’t love or care for him but he is our son. We are very blessed to have him in our lives still.

Lessons learned….
*Wear a helmet, if not for you do it for those that love and care about you.
*Durable power of attorney, only applies in a case where you can’t speak on your behalf
*Dont wait for the “right time “ to chase your dreams, you’ll be gone before you do it. That’s why I’m on this forum, after our sons accident we bought the boat, 2004 Mainship 390. It will be good rehab for him and us.

Bless those who are going through this type of journey, have gone through it, and those that will in the future.

 

[captmikem]

Motorcycle must have helmet.

Bicycle / scooter must have under 18, over option.

The states that currently have bicycle helmet laws are:

• Alabama – Bike riders under 16 must wear helmets statewide.
• Alaska – Cities in Alaska vary between requiring helmets for riders under 18 and for riders under 16.
• Arizona – No state-wide law, but certain cities in Arizona require bike riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• California – State law requires riders under 18 to wear helmets, including when riding skateboards, scooters, and skates. Bicycle passengers under five must wear helmets.
• Connecticut – State law requires bike riders under 16 to wear helmets.
• Delaware – Delaware requires riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• District of Columbia – The law throughout D.C. requires riders under 16 to wear helmets.
• Florida – Helmets are required for all riders under 16 statewide.
• Georgia – Riders under 16 statewide must wear a helmet.
• Hawaii – Riders under 16 throughout the state must wear helmets.
• Illinois – Laws vary by city. Chicago, for example, requires messengers and delivery riders of all ages to wear helmets.
• Kansas – No statewide law exists, but the city of Lawrence requires riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• Kentucky – No statewide law exists, but Louisville parks require riders under 18 to wear helmets.
• Louisiana – Helmets are required for children under 12 years of age.
• Maine – Maine requires those under 16 to wear helmets when riding a bicycle.
• Maryland – Maryland laws require riders under 16 to have helmets.
• Massachusetts – Bike riders under 17 are required to wear helmets statewide.
• Michigan – No statewide law exists, but certain cities have varying laws.
• Mississippi – No statewide law exists, but some municipalities have all-age helmet laws.
• Missouri – No statewide law exists, but several municipalities have all-age laws or require riders 16 and younger to wear helmets.
• Montana – No statewide law exists, but Billings requires those under 16 to wear helmets.
• Nevada – Certain Indian reservations require bike riders under 17 to wear helmets.
• New Hampshire – State law requires riders under 16 years old to wear bicycle helmets.
• New Jersey – Riders 16 years of age and younger statewide must wear helmets.
• New Mexico – Riders under 18 must wear bike helmets.
• New York – State law requires riders 13 and younger to wear helmets.
• North Carolina – State law requires that riders under 16 wear helmets while riding.
• Ohio – No statewide law exists, but several municipalities hold their own age-specific requirements.
• Oklahoma – No statewide law exists, but Norman and Oklahoma City have age-specific laws.
• Oregon – State law requires riders under 16 to wear helmets while riding.
• Pennsylvania – Children under 12 years old statewide must wear helmets.
• Rhode Island – Riders under 16 must wear bicycle helmets.
• Tennessee – State law requires riders under 16 to wear helmets.
• Texas – No statewide law exists, but many municipalities have their own age-specific laws.
• Virginia – No statewide law exists, but several municipalities require riders under 15 to wear helmets.
• Washington – No statewide law exists, but several cities have helmet laws for riders of all ages.
• West Virginia – State law requires riders 14 years of age and younger to wear helmets.
• Wisconsin – No statewide law exists, but Port Washington requires helmet use for riders under 17.

 

[DebbieO]

I worked in head injury rehab for a number ber of years. All of the staff wore helmets when participating in any sport where helmets were suggested. Enough saidl

 

[OldDan1943]

If you decide to ride without helmet, make sure you sign you donor’s card

 

[crew2447]

Seen on the whiteboard at the nurses station in the ER in Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Portland, OR:
Days without a Lime Scooter accident -- 0

(Lime Scooters are rentable e-scooters. Common in Portland and Seattle.)

 

[ben2go]

Natural selection

 

[dannc]

Up thread we were discussing the NL, biking and helmet use.

In our trips to the NL, we saw very few people wearing helmets when riding a bike. A day or two back, I was reading a discussion about riding bikes in the NL and helmets and bikes came up. One comment I thought was interesting. A man said he could not wear a bike helmet because his friends would severely tease him. He did not think helmets were needed in any case but it was the social aspect of wearing the helmet that stood out to me.

 

[Seevee]

We have no helmet law in Florida, except kids under 16.
My old girlfrends kid rode with his motorcycle buddies without helmets, often over 100 mph at night over the bridges. They'd loose one every year. Just can't fix stupid, but we don't need to be scraping dead kids off the highway.
I fortunately learned to use a helmet for all risky activities, snowboarding, windsurfing, bikes and when arguing with my old girlfriend.