JJ: Helmet Law

Racer
Originally uploaded by jjactive.

The other day I let my four-year-old pedal his bike out of our garage without wearing his helmet. But I hooked his helmet strap over my handlebars and followed him up the driveway. A few minutes later, he asked me to race about 100 yards, to the neighbor's garage door. After I convinced him that Lance always wears helmet during a race, the newly helmeted racer rang his Power Ranger bell to signify the race start ("On your market, get set, go!) and began furiously pedaling toward the finish-line door. As I coasted behind him, I watched his feet slip off the pedals--so he had no brakes. Seconds later, the front tire of his mini-Gary Fisher bike crashed into the garage door at full speed and his body flew forward, with his head smashing into the door. After a brief pause, he turned and gave me a semi-shocked smile. "That's why we wear helmets, right Dad?" - John