Helmet law not fully enforced

6-year-old's death puts spotlight on safety

A law requiring young bicyclists, skaters and others to wear a helmet isn’t being fully enforced – nearly two years after it was approved by the Lawrence City Commission.

Days after 6-year-old Bryce Olsen was killed after being struck by a car while riding his scooter, city officials confirmed Friday that Lawrence police officers and firefighters haven’t yet handed out helmet vouchers to children they see riding without head protection.

“We have spent a lot of time working out the nuts and bolts” of the voucher program, said Division Chief Rob Kort, of the Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical Department. “When the ordinance first came out, people were concerned we were going to be arresting and putting handcuffs on 10-year-olds. That’s not how it works at all.”

And, officials said, the city does give away more than 2,000 helmets a year through a related program.

The ordinance, approved in March 2004, has been generating new discussion following the death of Bryce, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of Monday’s accident. His father, Bret, sent a statement to media outlets Friday urging parents to remember the importance of helmets. Bryce’s helmet had been lost during a recent move.

“I just wanted to let the families of Lawrence know that all children must wear their safety helmets, even riding their scooters,” Bret Olsen wrote.

City law requires anyone younger than 16 to wear a helmet while riding a bike, scooter, skateboard or skates. But the ordinance doesn’t have a penalty provision. Instead, it requires officials to hand out the helmet vouchers to violators.

Liam Reynolds, a fifth-grader at Woodlawn School, 508 Elm St., put on his helmet after school Friday before riding his bike home for the weekend. Safety officials hope to encourage all children to wear helmets while riding bikes or scooters.

Kort said the department does offer free helmets at any Lawrence fire station seven days a week. He estimated that the department gives away between 2,000 and 2,500 helmets per year at the stations and at safety events.

Police and fire officials do tell helmetless riders to get a helmet at one of the stations. But because the voucher system hasn’t been implemented, there are no records indicating how many times officers make contact with violators.

“Officers are aware of the law,” said police spokeswoman Kim Murphree. “We have officers who are making them aware that they need a helmet.”

The voucher programs should be implemented this spring.

“We need to get parents taking the stance with their children that they can’t get on their bikes without a helmet,” Kort said.

Some safety advocates, though, wonder if stiffer penalties are needed

“If it was just up to me, I would prefer that we fine the parents when a child isn’t wearing a helmet,” said John Drees, executive director of Safe Kids Douglas County.

Kort said he would rather that the city continue to focus on educating violators instead of issuing fines.

“What we want to do is make it so cool to wear a helmet that kids will feel out of place if they aren’t wearing a helmet,” Kort said.

Kort said the city buys helmets in five different colors to appeal to each child’s taste. The city spends about $15,000 a year on helmet purchases, with part of the costs being underwritten by sponsorships from area businesses.

Lawrence elementary schools have stepped up their efforts to remind students of the helmet law since Monday’s accident. Several schools sent home fliers reminding students and parents about the city law.

Sunflower School sixth-grader Josh Song fastens his bike helmet before heading home from school Friday afternoon. A city ordinance requires children to wear helmets, but it has no penalty for not doing so.

FREE PROTECTION

¢City law requires anyone younger than 16 to wear a helmet while riding a bike, scooter, skateboard or skates. Free helmets are available at any Lawrence fire station seven days a week.