“The law and public awareness of the creation of the law helped change behavior and norms,” Mr. McDermott said. “And 30 years later, it’s important that we reevaluate our intended goals when we passed the helmet law and the unintended consequences of passing it.”
Helmet use in the city is as high as 91 percent among private cyclists. according to one study. In nearby Portland, Oregon, repeal supporters noted: usage is equally highdespite the fact that the city does not have a helmet law for all ages.
Access to helmets is a particular problem for low-income people: according to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, people with the lowest incomes were about half as likely to wear a helmet on all trips as those with the highest incomes. .
But Mr McDermott said he doubted those inconsistencies accounted for the degree of disproportionate application of the rule. And he said the county can eliminate disparities without the police: The county recently provided more than $200,000 to buy helmets and expand cyclist safety education.
Across the country, other types of cycling regulations have also been found to be applied in a discriminatory manner.
A Chicago study found that cyclists were ticketed eight times more often in black-majority areas of the city. Investigation The U.S. Department of Justice found that 73 percent of bike stops in Tampa, Florida between 2014 and 2015 involved black cyclists, despite blacks making up 26 percent of the population.
“The data showed that the stops did not reduce crime or lead to any other positive outcomes,” such as a reduction in bike accidents or injuries, the report said.
“The best investment in keeping people safe while cycling is building safer streets and safer transportation systems,” said Bill Nesper, director of the League of American Bicyclists. “These are the kinds of investments that will make people safer for pedestrians and cyclists in our communities, instead of investing in laws like this that can be a barrier to people riding bikes and that can be applied in a discretionary and discriminatory way.” .