*** Bicycle helmets soon could be required within Seattle ***

Seattle, Washington (AP) -- 05/19/2003
Like its surrounding suburbs, Seattle could soon
require helmets on anyone who rides bicycles on its roads.

The King County Board of Health is considering amending a
regulation that would extend helmet requirements to Seattle residents.

Helmets have been required on all county residents outside
Seattle since 1994. At the time, Seattle had its own health
board and, thus, was not covered by the county regulation.

However, the Seattle and county health boards merged in 1996,
and since then, members have being trying to align disparate
regulations.

Twelve suburban cities have adopted their own helmet regulations,
including the first, Des Moines, in 1978. It also has the biggest fine
for failing to wear a helmet, $95.

The 26 other cities in the county are covered by the county
health board regulation, which applies to everyone who rides
a bike. Under the proposed change, the fine would jump from
$30 to $42, although officials say police have tried to educate
riders rather than issue tickets.

Tony Gomez, manager of injury and violence prevention for
Public Health -- Seattle and King County, said that education
has gone about as far as possible in convincing people to wear
bike helmets.

Millions of dollar are spent treating and rehabilitating
bike riders who have been injured in falls or accidents, he said.

``This is a fairly simple thing to prevent -- wearing a helmet,''
Gomez said.

Today, about 60 percent of all bike riders in King County wear helmets.
What concerns health officials is that only about 30 percent of teenage
riders wear them. Teens tend to ride faster and take greater risks,
they say.

The county regulation doesn't cover skateboards,
scooters or in-line skates, although there's talk of
adding those modes of transportation after more
research is done.

Pro- and anti-helmet forces turned out at the health board
meeting Friday to present their arguments. The testimony ran long,
and the board put off a decision until June.

The board was told helmets save lives and prevent serious injuries,
including debilitating ones to the brain. Foes say helmets will
dissuade some from riding bikes, including those who need
exercise to improve their health and to control their weight.

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