On January 21, 2010 a bill was introduced in the Illinois Senate that would require all children under the age of 16 to wear helmets while bicycling. Senate Bill 2627, were it to become law, would also require bicycle passengers weighing less than 40 pounds to travel in a bicycle safety seat. The law would make it unlawful for the parent or legal guardian "of a person below the age of 12 to permit the person to operate or be a passenger on a bicycle in violation" of either of these requirements. A person in violation of the law would be subject to a penalty "not exceeding $2".
The bill was introduced by Senator Ira I. Silverstein (D) of Springfield, Illinois who has four children of his own.
I'm all for this. A lot of parents today already require their children to wear helmets when bicycling. More than anything, this law would help compel everyone else to get on board with what seems to me to be a no-brainer. Let me anticipate commentary to this post by noting that simply strapping a helmet on your child is not enough. Children should be taught proper cycling technique and how to anticipate and avoid dangerous situations.
