Helmet laws???

Searching the internet, I found this much information:

231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride,
propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears,
and having one or more wheels. Persons riding bicycles are subject
to the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and
21200.5.



467. (a) A "pedestrian" is any person who is afoot or who is using
any of the following:
(1) A means of conveyance propelled by human power other than a
bicycle.
(2) An electric personal assistive mobility device.
(b) "Pedestrian" includes any person who is operating a
self-propelled wheelchair, motorized tricycle, or motorized
quadricycle and, by reason of physical disability, is otherwise
unable to move about as a pedestrian, as specified in subdivision
(a).
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2008, deletes or extends
that date.


This information all came from http://tinyurl.com/f8kh



So I was wondering, does this mean you are not legally forced to wear a
helmet while unicycling?

A pedestrian doesn't have to wear a helmet to walk, and a unicyclist is
technically a pedestrian so should you have to wear one to ride a
unicycle? (Oh, just to make things clear, these are the California
state laws...sorry Canadians)


Any help/answers you can give me is appreciated, as I want to ride my
uni in town today, but my helmet is currently broken.


Thank you!


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munifreaker wrote:
Searching the internet, I found this much information:

231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride,
propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears,
and having one or more wheels. Persons riding bicycles are subject
to the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and
21200.5.



467. (a) A "pedestrian" is any person who is afoot or who is using
any of the following:
(1) A means of conveyance propelled by human power other than a
bicycle.
(2) An electric personal assistive mobility device.
(b) "Pedestrian" includes any person who is operating a
self-propelled wheelchair, motorized tricycle, or motorized
quadricycle and, by reason of physical disability, is otherwise
unable to move about as a pedestrian, as specified in subdivision
(a).
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2008, deletes or extends
that date.


This information all came from http://tinyurl.com/f8kh



So I was wondering, does this mean you are not legally forced to wear a
helmet while unicycling?

A pedestrian doesn't have to wear a helmet to walk, and a unicyclist is
technically a pedestrian so should you have to wear one to ride a
unicycle? (Oh, just to make things clear, these are the California
state laws...sorry Canadians)


Any help/answers you can give me is appreciated, as I want to ride my
uni in town today, but my helmet is currently broken.


Thank you!



Yeah, it seems like we wouldnt have to wear helmets... But cops are
stupid
I was riding my unicycle at the park at night with my friend and cousin
and a cop pulled me over and said I would have to pay a $100 fine if I
dont have lights on my unicycle..
(Im in Oregon BTW)


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munifreaker wrote:

231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride,
propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears,
and *having one or more wheels*. Persons riding bicycles are subject
to the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and
21200.5.




I'm confused. It seems pretty clear that a unicycle would be considered
a bicycle by this statute.

Huh?

Wear your helmet!


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munifreaker wrote:
231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride,propelled
exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears,
and having one or more wheels. Persons riding bicycles are subject to
the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and 21200.5.



That to me does not include unicycles other than giraffes or gunis, and
it seems pretty specific about it too.

It's certainly a whole less wooly than the English equivalent of what
is not allowed to ride on the pavement; "bicycle, tricycle, velocopede
*or similar*" which would leave it up to a court to decide if a
unicycle was -similar -to a bicycle or not.

However, for your own personal safety, there's very little excuse for
not wearing a helmet.

STM


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munifreaker wrote:
Searching the internet, I found this much information:

231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride,
propelled exclusively *by human power through a belt, chain, or
gears,*
and having one or more wheels. Persons riding bicycles are subject
to the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and
21200.5.


It would seem that this does exclude *most* unicycles... as most are
Direct Drive without belts, gears, or chains...


munifreaker wrote:
467. (a) A "pedestrian" is any person who is afoot or who is using
any of the following:
(1) A means of conveyance propelled by human power other than a
bicycle.
(2) An electric personal assistive mobility device.
(b) "Pedestrian" includes any person who is operating a
self-propelled wheelchair, motorized tricycle, or motorized
quadricycle and, by reason of physical disability, is otherwise
unable to move about as a pedestrian, as specified in subdivision
(a).
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2008, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2008, deletes or extends
that date.


What I find more interesting is that 'Pedestrians' in (b) are NOT
required to wear any protective gear... as they would be near
completely unable to protect themselves in a fall or other mishap... as
others would.


munifreaker wrote:
So I was wondering, does this mean you are not legally forced to wear a
helmet while unicycling?


I would tend to agree with you... unless you are riding anything other
then a very basic unicycle...
However... it is just a good idea to wear a helmet and other protective
gear just to keep your brains and body intact...

munifreaker wrote:
A pedestrian doesn't have to wear a helmet to walk,...


and sadly there are those that should...


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munifreaker wrote:
Searching the internet, I found this much information:

231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride,
propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears,
and having one or more wheels. Persons riding bicycles are subject
to the provisions of this code specified in Sections 21200 and
21200.5.



This is what the new law will probably say:


231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride, propelled
exclusively by human power and having one or more wheels. Persons
riding bicycles are subject to the provisions of this code specified in
Sections 21200 and 21200.5.


We (unicyclists) need to be careful about observing the spirit/intent
of the laws or we will get classified as bicycles and I don't think we
want that.


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munifreaker wrote:

231. A bicycle is a device upon which any person may ride,
propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears,
and having one or more wheels.
Thank you!


Doesnt it mean US "one or more wheel" or do we have to have one of the
following belt, chain, or gear??


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smee56 wrote:
Doesnt it mean US "one or more wheel" or do we have to have one of the
following belt, chain, or gear??


Well that's means, we all get free giraffe unicycles then.


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FWIW, in PA, pedalcycle is defined as a vehicle operated solely by human
pedalling (no mention of gears or chains or anything specific).
Helmets mandatory for 12 and under.

See chapter 31 he
http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/vehicle_code/index.shtml (search for
"pedalcycle," the document is really long)


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Helmet laws differ all over the country, depending on the state.
California has a lot of laws that other states don't have, partially
due to it having a rather unique population.


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