
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994                   TAG: 9406180005
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By STEPHEN FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

NOT USING BICYCLE HELMET IN BLACKSBURG? YOU'LL HAVE TO NOW|

For Terry Simon and Matthew Simmons, two 13-year-old bicyclists, the question of whether to wear a helmet while riding around hasn't been much of a question. Their moms make them.

Now, though, there'll be another authority enforcing that rule: the Blacksburg Police Department.

Town Council unanimously passed an ordinance Tuesday night requiring all bicyclists 14 years old and younger to don the protective head ware. The ordinance goes into effect July 1.

Town Councilman Lewis Barnett, a proponent of virtually all things bicycle-related, cast his vote with a hearty "aye" - and the momentary donning of his own helmet which had been stashed under the table. Anything to "have bicycle riding as safe as possible," he said.

Simon and Simmons, two Blacksburg Middle School seventh-grade biking buddies, said the law will help.

"I think it's pretty good," said Simon. "If you fall off you hurt your head pretty bad."

Wearing a helmet "doesn't really cause any problem," Simmons said. Although, "a lot of [kids] don't like to because [they think] it makes them look like nerds."

Each year, about 500 bicyclists under the age of 15 die from head trauma, and another 200,000 receive concussions or other injuries from bicycle accidents, according to the League of American Bicyclists. Only 1 percent to 2 percent of children wear helmets, and the league estimates that up to 80 percent of all bike fatalities caused by head injury could be avoided if the victims wore helmets.

Tim Myers, president of the New River Valley Bicycle Club, was pleased with the ordinance, although he questioned the age requirement. "I'm in favor of all bicycle riders, regardless of age, protecting themselves."

A similar law for Fairfax County had been on the books since last year, said Town Attorney Richard Kaufman, and council enlisted Del. Jim Shuler's help in persuading the General Assembly to adjust the law so that it could apply to Blacksburg.

Blacksburg Police Chief Bill Brown said the ordinance will be a "user-friendly" one, in that it will be enforced informally with phone calls or visits to a child's parents.

Offenders will probably not have to pay the $25 fine if they can show purchase of a helmet by the time a case is heard, although Brown said, "I doubt that you will see ... a violator in court."

by CNB