Why Are Helmets Mandatory at WABA-Sponsored Rides?

[bcdc]

Just asking. Last I checked riding without a helmet was legal in DC. So why would there be a liability issue, if that’s the reason?

I was planning to go to the New Year’s Resolution Ride tomorrow, but seems I’m not allowed without a helmet.

Bill
District Citizen Cycling
http://www.dccycling.blogspot.com

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[CCrew]

@bcdc 1777 wrote:

Just asking. Last I checked riding without a helmet was legal in DC. So why would there be a liability issue, if that’s the reason?

I was planning to go to the New Year’s Resolution Ride tomorrow, but seems I’m not allowed without a helmet.

Bill
District Citizen Cycling
http://www.dccycling.blogspot.com

Bill, not speaking for WABA, but in my experience with organizing events you have to carry liability insurance and it’s more than likely the helmet requirement is an offshoot of the insurance underwriting. Lower the (perceived) risk on the part of the insurance company the lower the premium. If it saves WABA money that they can put to other causes I can live with it.

I have to carry a $1m bond on one of my teams just to get access to a building..

[gregbilling]

As you guessed it, helmets are required by our event insurance company. This has always been the case at WABA events and will be for the foreseeable future. All major cycling events that carry insurance (Nation’s Tri, Bike DC, etc.) require helmets per their insurance. It’s not an issue of legality but of liability.

Nevertheless, we hope this doesn’t keep people attending our events.

Greg Billing
WABA Outreach Coordinator

[Author]

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