During an evening bike ride session along a local pond with one of my cousins, the topic of whether wearing a helmet is necessary came up.
Both of us decided that it would be stupid not to wear one even with the most minimum probability of getting into an accident.
Though we were on terms on the topic as mentioned earlier, a little confusion occurred between us.
It was because neither of us knew for a fact if wearing a helmet was mandatory while riding a bicycle in the United States.
If you’re like us and want to know the laws regarding bicycles and the compulsion of needing to wear a helmet while riding a bike, you have found the right article for you.
No, wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle is not mandatory in the United States, as the federal law enforcing the requirement of bike helmets has not been made. Although, wearing a helmet is compulsory or in more states than where wearing one is not mandatory.
Despite wearing a helmet being an essential part of riding a bicycle, there are different laws in various states.
Why don’t we jump into the entire list and their rules among all the fifty states of the U.S.?
There are no federal laws in the U.S. requiring bicycle helmets as a mandatory option.
Though, various localities and states began adopting helmet laws in 1987. Most of these laws are limited to children under 18, but there are almost 49 all-ages laws.
Additionally, 22 states have statewide rules, and more than 201 localities have local legislation.
State Wide Bicycle Helmet Laws
Following are the states where wearing a helmet is mandatory throughout the state, along with those law approval dates and specifications of those laws.
| States | Year | Specifications | Others |
| Alabama | 1995 | Mandatory for riders under 16 | Alabama consists of all age helmet rules in the case of e-bike. |
| California | 1994 | Mandatory for riders under 18 | California consists of statewide laws requiring kids under 18 to wear helmets while on Scooters and skateboards inline skates. |
| 1987 | Mandatory for passengers under 5 | ||
| Connecticut | 1993/1997 | Mandatory for kids under 16 | Connecticut consists of the state law requiring riders under 16 to wear helmets while on an e-bike. |
| District of Columbia | 2000/2004 | Mandatory for kids under 16 | District of Columbia requires an e-bike law for kids under 16 |
| Florida | 1997 | Mandatory for kids under 16 | Similarly, Florida consists of laws requiring riders under 16 to wear a helmet while on an e-bike. |
| Georgia | 1993 | Mandatory for kids under 16 | Georgia consists of a state law requiring riders under 16 to wear helmets while on an e-bike |
| Hawaii | 2001 | Mandatory for kids under 16 | Hawaii requires an e-bike law for kids under 16 |
| Indiana | Indiana consists of laws requiring riders under 16 to wear a helmet while on an e-bike, although Indiana does not have a statewide helmet law. | ||
| Louisiana | 2002 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Louisiana consists of laws requiring riders of all ages to wear a helmet while on an e-bike. |
| Maine | 1999 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Maine requires an e-bike law for kids under 16 |
| Maryland | 1995 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Maryland requires an e-bike law for kids under 16 |
| Massachusetts | 1994/2004 | Mandatory for riders under 17 | Similar e-bike rule to Louisiana. |
| 1990 | Mandatory for passengers under the age of 5 | ||
| Michigan | Michigan consists of laws requiring riders under 16 to wear a helmet while on an e-bike, although Michigan does not have a statewide helmet law. Michigan does have local helmet laws, though. | ||
| New Hampshire | 2006 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Similar e-bike rule to Hawaii. |
| New Jersey | 1992/2005 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 17 | New Jersey consists of laws requiring riders under 17 to wear a helmet while on an e-bike. |
| New Mexico | 2007 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 18 | New Mexico consists of laws requiring riders under 18 to wear a helmet while on an e-bike. |
| New York | 1989 | Mandatory for passengers under the age of 5 | |
| 1994/2004 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 14 | ||
| North Carolina | 2001 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Similar e-bike rule to Hawaii. |
| Ohio | Ohio consists of laws requiring riders of all ages to wear a helmet while on an e-bike, although Michigan does not have a statewide helmet law. Ohio does have local helmet laws, though. | ||
| Oregon | 1994 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Similar e-bike rule to Hawaii. |
| Pennsylvania | 1995 | Mandatory for riders under 12 | Pennsylvania consists of e-bike rules for riders under 12. |
| Rhode Island | 1996/1998/2007 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Similar e-bike rule to Hawaii. |
| Tennessee | 1994/2000 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 16 | Similar e-bike rule to Hawaii. |
| Virginia | Virginia consists of laws requiring riders under 16 to wear helmets while on an e-bike, although Virginia does not have a statewide helmet law. Virginia goes have local helmet laws, though. | ||
| West Virginia | 1996 | Mandatory for riders under the age of 15 | West Virginia consists of laws requiring riders under 15 to wear helmets while on an e-bike. |
Thirteen states from America have no state or local helmet legislation at all. Wearing a helmet while on a bike ride is not required, legally, for people of any age in the following states:
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- South Carolina
- Utah
- Vermont
- Wyoming
As mentioned above, almost all the states of the United States either have a state law or no laws at all. But there are many states consisting of helmet laws at the local level.
Following are the states that only consists of local or county laws but do not have a statewide helmet law:
| States | Number of counties | Age Ranges | Other |
| Alaska | 5 | Two counties require riders under the age of 16 to wear a helmet on a bicycle. Three counties require riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet on a bike. | Counties in Alaska started adopting helmet laws in 2004 with Bethel county and Kenai County. |
| Arizona | 5 | All five counties of Arizona require riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. | In 1993 Tucson introduced the helmet laws in Arizona. |
| Illinois | 6 | Three counties require riders under the age of 16 to wear a helmet on a bicycle. One state-county requires riders under the age of 17 to wear a helmet on a bicycle. One county requires riders of all ages to wear a helmet on a bicycle. | Helmet laws for bicycles were first introduced in Illinois in 1997. |
| Kansas | 1 | Lawrence county requires riders under the age of 16 to wear a bike helmet. | In 2004, Lawrence county introduced its helmet laws. |
| Kentucky | 1 | Riders under the age of 18 need to wear a helmet in parks in Louisville. Extreme Parks in Louisville require riders of all ages to wear a helmet. | Though no local laws have been implemented in Kentucky, laws requiring riders to wear helmets in parks was introduced in 2002 |
| Michigan | 4 | Each of the four counties has a different age requirement, under 15, under 16, under 18, and all ages. | Helmet law was introduced in East Grand Rapids in 1995 for the first time in Michigan. |
| Mississippi | 4 | Helmet laws were introduced in Mississippi in 2010. | |
| Missouri | 3 | Two counties require riders under the age of 16 to wear a helmet on a bicycle. One county has multiple age requirements as per local area rules. | Helmet laws were introduced in Missouri in 2001, amongst various parks and hills in St Louis. |
| Montana | 1 | Billings require riders under the age of 16 to wear helmets while riding in a bike. | Billings introduced helmet laws in 2001. |
| Nevada | 2 | Both the counties in Nevada with helmet laws require riders under the age of 17 to wear helmets. | In 2001, helmet laws were introduced in Duckwater. |
| Ohio | 24 | Eight counties from Ohio require the rider under the age of 16 to wear a helmet. The rest of the counties have age ranges from the age of 12 to the age of 19. | Beachwood implemented the helmet law in 1990, for the first time in Ohio. |
| Oklahoma | 2 | One county requires kids under the age of 18 to wear helmets. The other one requires riders of all ages to wear a helmet. | Oklahoma City introduced the helmet law in 1999 for the first time in its state. |
| Texas | 9 | Five counties from Texas require riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. Two counties require riders under the age of 16 and 17 to use helmets while on a bike. Two counties from Texas require riders under the age of 15 to wear a helmet. | Houston introduced helmet laws in 1995 for the first time in Texas. |
| Virginia | 31 | All 31 counties of the U.S. require bike riders under the age of 15 to wear a helmet. | Bike helmet laws were first introduced in Virginia in 1993. |
| Washington State | 35 | Thirty-three counties from the washing state require riders of all ages to wear a helmet. One county from Washington needs riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet. One county from Washington requires riders under the age of 17 to wear a helmet. | Washington State introduced helmet laws in 1993 for the first time in Des Moines. |
| Wisconsin | 1 | Port Washington requires riders under the age of 17 to wear helmets while riding in a bike. | In 1997, Helmet laws were introduced in Port Washington, Wisconsin. |
Finally, if you were in such a dilemma about the compulsion of helmets in your state, I hope you find out the law in your area and act accordingly.
Even if wearing a helmet is not mandatory in your condition, I hope you realize the benefits of wearing a helmet and use them regularly for your own sake, along with your kids and your loved ones.
Read More about Bicycle Helmets
