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Bike helmets and bicycle safety
Staying safe while bicycling
Every day, King County residents get on their bikes for lots of different reasons – for fun, for camaraderie, for physical exercise, for transportation to work or other places, and to protect the environment. Although riding a bike still comes with some risk, government, local agencies, and advocacy groups are working hard every day to improve the comfort and safety for people riding bikes.
In 2023 in King County:
- Six bicycle riders died due to crashes with motorists, a 200% increase from 2014 when there were two deaths. All were males ranging in age from 25 – 70 years old.1
- There were 546 police reported crashes between bicyclists and motorists . Of those, 63 bicyclists sustained serious injuries, representing a 37% increase since 2014 when there were 46 serious injuries.2
- According to the 2023 Harborview Medical Center Trauma Registry, 160 bicycle riders were treated at Harborview, the highest number of patients per year over the past six years. This represents an 11% increase from 2022, when there were 144 bicyclist traumatic injuries.3
- Emergency Medical Services (calls to 911) treated 752 bicycle injuries. In general, most injuries were in people 25 – 64 years old, and males were 3 times more likely than females to be injured.4
- In 2023 alone, societal costs from bicycle crashes added up to over $407 million.5
Bicycle helmet observation studies conducted in King County in 2022 and 2023 showed that King County residents understand the importance of wearing a helmet when riding a bike or scooter, with an average of 85% of observed riders wearing a helmet. However, helmet use among those riding electronic ride-share bicycles was much lower and decreased from 45% in 2022 to 7% in 2023.6
1 Washington Traffic Safety Commission data dashboard
2 WA State Department of Transportation crash data portal
3 Harborview Medical Center Trauma Registry, received 2024 via Shauna Carlson
4 King County Emergency Medical Services, received 8/2024 via King County EMS
5 WA State Dept. of Transportation by special request
6 King County Bicycle Helmet and Safety Project 2023 Final Report (109 KB)
To stay safe, follow Washington's bicycling laws and always wear a helmet! Visit the Washington state Department of Transportation's Bicycle Laws page to learn more about bicyclist responsibilities and state laws.
For safety tips, check out King County Sheriff's Department Bike Safety page.
Bike riders! Whatever your age or how much you ride, your safety matters
Most of us, whether in a car or on a bike, agree that we all share a responsibility for the safety of ourselves and others on our roads. When riding, you help make the road safer for yourself and others with these safety practices.
Download 2-page posters/tip sheets below:
Choosing the right helmet
- Look for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) certification sticker inside the helmet. That guarantees that the helmet meets U.S. safety standards.
- Get a new helmet when you grow out of it or within 4 years, whichever comes first.
- Replace your helmet after a crash or if it has a crack.
Bike helmets need to fit properly
- The helmet should fit snugly and securely. If needed, use extra pads.
- The straps should fit snugly around your ear and under your chin. The straps should form a "V" under your ears.
- Leave enough room for one finger to fit between your chin and the strap.
- The helmet should rest flat on your head, not too far forward or backward. The helmet should rest low on the forehead, no more than two finger widths above your eyebrows.
Does your helmet fit properly? Take the Helmet Fit Test
Download a poster/tip sheet below: