UTGB Vol 5.pdf - Robson Hall Faculty of Law

Bill210:
The Highway Traffic Amendment Act
(Bicycle Helmets)
LANA JACKSON
I. INTRODUCTION
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cording to current Manitoba law, it is illegal to ride a bicycle on the
sidewalk. Under s. 145 (8) of The Highway Traffic Act, all cyclists;
ncluding children, are to ride only on public roads and highways with
the other traffic, unless the rear diameter of the bicycle wheel is less than
410 mm. Common sense would seem to dictate that when sharing the roads
with motor vehicles, a reasonable bicyclist would wear a helmet. Nevertheless,
in Manitoba this is not the case. Despite a concerted government effort
promoting bike helmet usage over the past 15 years, only 28% of Manitobans
wear bike helmets. 1 In an attempt to substantially increase the use of bicycle
helmets in Manitoba, Dr. Jon Gerrard, the MLA for River Heights, introduced
legislation to the Manitoba Legislature with ltivate Members' Bill 210, The
Highway Traffic Amendment Act (Bicycle Helmets). Essentially, Bill 210 required
anyone riding a bicycle on a highway or bicycle path to wear a proper protective
helmet.
The following paper will examine the circumstances surrounding the Manitoba
Legislature's consideration of Bill 210. Areas that will be explored are: the
discussion of the bill in the Legislature, the debate surrounding whether or not
mandatory bicycle helmet legislation is necessary, where Manitoba currently sits
in terms of its need and support of helmet legislation contrasted with those who
oppose it, how other provinces have dealt with this issue, and why Bill 210
ultimately did not pass in the Manitoba Legislature.
Manitoba, Legislative Assembly, Debates and Proceedings, VoL LVI No. 538 (26 May 2005)
at 3008-3009.