SWK Helmets required

[BMX Crisis]

The new bulletin board at the first parking lot has an official Oswegoland Park District poster. It includes a map with their color marker nomenclature,and several user type "RULES"
The mountain bike rules are the longest.

#1 Wear a Helmut. REQUIRED
#2 Other safety equipment RECOMMENDED
......#7

Personally I wear a helmet all the time including the unicycle and motorcycle. As a land manager the OPD has the right to set these rules, unlike the motorcycle, where it takes a law to enforce common sense.
Yet. I have seen potential Darwin award recipients.

[Seanbikes]

Smart move by the OPD. I haven't taken any nasty spills at SWK but can't imagine riding helmetless out there.

[Principal (Snake) Skinner]

#8 If you fall into a horse hoof crater, tell Lassie to go get help.

[longhairmike]

wear a what??

[tihsepa]

I wont ride with anyone not running a skid lid. Not because i dont want them to get hurt but beacuse I dont want to have to move a body off the line.

There you have it.

[tihsepa]

They should outlaw pedal reflectors.

That place is littered with them.

[johnjr75]

Good move by the park district. As a kid, I recall some dirt jumps being closed after head injuries abounded. All it takes is some kid, spilling his cranial contents all over colossus, for the possibility of trail closures, or revisions of trails to make them 'safer'.

How or IF the pd will enforce this rule, is another story.

[BMX Crisis]

I'll give them a short tour to the nearest lot and tell them how to get to Walmart for a $20.00 lid.

Even though the pd would have a difficult time enforcing the rule, one can suggest to those without helmets with a little more to back up the suggestion.
Last week Wednesday and Thursday, 3 late teen/ early 20s riders were out without helmets. I had mentioned it to them every time I went past them. On Thursday, they were on the launch hill of the table top and I mentioned it again. Then demonstrated why Did an unexpected one footer, landed it, avoided two trees and slid down at the base of the final hill. I heard them say "We believe". Just a flesh wound. (shin skin)

[BMX Crisis]

They should outlaw pedal reflectors.

That place is littered with them.

Makes the night rides more interesting when the high beams are on.

[castillo89]

Glad i saw this, my first time there i Didn't wear a helmet. now I should go buy one

[Ballickarkingofthefairies]

Doesn't matter where you ride, you should always have one.

[AerixJ]

The helmet has saved me a couple of times at Saw Wee Kee -- including the Sunday before last when I wiped out pretty badly on Anaconda, tearing down the big hill and nearly crashing into another rider. He did everything he could to get out of the way, but I had to shoulder that tree at the bottom and went flying. Landed on my side and the helmet took a big hit. Scrapes and bruises all over my body -- but the noggin unscathed.

This year I've been bugging guys without helmets to get them. Stupid to ride out there without one. Of all places.

-- Eric