Up to States
The federal government has no law requiring helmets be worn by cyclists and has left that up to the states. Texas does not have such a law either, but several cities have ordinances.
Austin Struggles
The city of Austin passed an ordinance in 1996 requiring people of all ages to wear helmets. After a public outcry, the law was changed in 1997 to require only those under 17 to wear helmets.
Opposition
A cycling group in Austin says claims made about helmet safety are exaggerated, that the law discourages people from biking, and that requiring helmets is the wrong approach. They advocate teaching bike safety instead.
Dallas/Fort Worth
Dallas passed an ordinance in 1996 requiring people of all ages to wear helmets when cycling on city streets. Fort Worth passed a law that same year requiring people under 18 to wear helmets.
Houston
Houston passed the first helmet ordinance in Texas, requiring in 1995 that everyone under the age of 18 had to wear a helmet when cycling on city streets.
Other Cities
Five other cities have passed ordinances requiring helmets to be worn. Those cities are: Arlington, Bedford, Benbrook, Coppell and Southlake.
Article Written By James Jordan
James Jordan has been a writer and photographer since 1980. He has worked for newspapers in Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Kansas, winning state press association awards for writing, photography and page design. In 1995 he received his master's in Christian education and completed two years of Ancient Greek at the graduate level. Jordan holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
