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Page_2_ Insight/California State University, Fresno September 22,1993 Helmet law could put the brake on cyclists By Jenny Steffens Staff Writer This is the first of a two-part series. To Bardia Bchnica. a sixth-grader at Vinland Elementary School, looking ridiculous is worse than crashing his bike into a tree. "I've fallen off my bike and hit my head on a few things before, but it didn't hurt me," Bchnica said. "But if I have io get a bicycle helmet, I'll look like a mushroom." Though Behncia said none of his friends wear bicycle helmets, he may be seeing all of them start to resemble "mushrooms" by the time he reaches high school. A pending decision by Gov. Pete Wilson could force school-aged children to wear an approved bicycle helmet when riding on public streets, bikcways and trails. The proposed legislation, authored by Assemblyman Louis Caldcra, D- Los Angeles, and sponsored by die California Coalition for Children's Safety & Health, calls for all youths 18 years and under, to wear a bicycle helmet when operating a bicycle or when riding on a bicycle as a passenger- Existing California law requires only children undcr4 ycarsoldor less lhan 40 pounds to weara helmet when riding as a passenger. Currently six stales— Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee—have mandatory helmet laws for children, as well as specific counties in Maryland. If Gov. Wilson approves the proposed bill by Oct. 10, or does not veto il by that date, die proposed legislation will become law, commencing Jan. 1,1994. Violations ofthe law would result in warnings only die first year, widi maximum violation fines of $25 beginning in 1995. "It would be a great burden finan cially and visibly," said Eric Atherton of ihe proposed law. A 17-year-old junior at Hoover High School, he added, "I really don't want to keep track of a helmet and carry it around, and who's going to buy it for me?" According toCaldera'sSacramento office, the majority of revenues generated from fines would be used for bicycle safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining helmets for Iheir children. "It's crazy to expect cops to chase down children on bicycles and give them tickets." — David Snyder Aside from the financial responsibility of purchasing helmets, many opponents are voicing further concerns. Government intrusion into private lives, illogicality and police enforcement lop their lists. "It won't work in promoting safely for children," said David Snyder, executive director of ihe San Francisco Bicycle Coalition who emphasized that two out of three bicycle clubs in California oppose the proposed law. "It's crazy to expect cops to chase down children on bicycles and give ihem tickets, Snyder said. "And I'm afraid mis law will tell parents that the most important thing is helmets, not how to ride safely." "It is also illogical," Snyder said. "Adultsas well aschildrcnarc subject to head injuries." But advocates like Judy Barrett Miller of the California Coalition of Children's Safety & Health believe that more adults are wearing helmets lhan children and dial a mandatory helmet law could prevent bicycle related injuries and deaths. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 17,800 California children were trcaLed in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related head injuries in 1991. And according to a 1989 New England Journal of Medicine study, bicycle helmets can reduce die risk of serious head injuries by as much as 85 percent. Head injuries are not an uncommon result of bicycle accidents. At Valley Children's Hospital in Fresno, of die 75 bicycle-related injuries since January 1992, 14wereclas- sificd as head injuries. An additional 15 patients sustained concussions and/ or skull fractures. To demonstrate thai a helmet law can effectively reduce injuries, advocates also point to a bicycle helmet law in Victoria, Australia. According to a study released by Dr. Peter Vulcan at the Second World Conference on Injury Control in May, after 10 years of helmet use promotion in Victoria, usage increased io 35 percent. But after one year of a mandatory law, helmet usage rates rose to 70 percent. Aside from usage, the reduction of head injuries after ihc 10 year program was 17 percent, while the reduction of head injuries after the law was 66 percent. "There is little argument in helmets preventing injuries," said Alan Wachtel, government relations director of the California Association of Bicycling Organizations, which is neutral about the bill. "Wc don't think it's harmful so we don't oppose it," Wachtel said. "And we would support it if il were for bi- See HELMETS, page 6 Statistics on bicycle and motor vehicle-related injuries among children (January 1992-August 1993) 35 r 30 25 20 - Number of injuries w ni m mm l Head Injury Concussion (14) and/or skull fracture (15) Total sustained bicycle-related injuries; 75 Male: 58 Female: 17 Mechanism of injury: Motor vehicle-related: 23 Bicycle only: 52 Classification of Injury Age range: 4 months to 16 years old Frequency of iniurv: 4 months-5 years: 12 5 years- 10 years: 27 10 years- 15 years: 34 15 and over: 2 Source: Valley Children'* Hospital Trauma Department Motorcyclists use their heads Motorcycle deaths have decreased since law was passed. By Jenny Steflens Staff Writer Though Gov. Pete Wilson has not taken a stand on the mandatory bicycle helmet bill, Jim Gelb, chief of staff io Assembly member Louis Caldcra, D-Los Angeles, said. "We're very hopeful ihc governor will sign." "Wc have some sense he is not hostile to ihc bill," Gclb said. "He did sign ihe motorcycle helmet law." Since the California motorcycle helmet law was implemented in January 1992, dramatic increases in helmet usage have occurred. According to statistics obtained from the California Highway Patrol, 512 motorcyclists were killed in 1991. Of that number, only 19.3 percent were wearing helmets. In 1992. after the law took effect, the number of motorcycle deaths decreased to 327, with helmet usage jumping to 70.3 percent. As for bicyclists deaths, the CHP reports 115 people died in 1991 and 122 in 1992. Respectively. 108 and 110 of those bicyclists killed were not wearing helmets. Construction poses roadblock for the disabled By Aimee L. Fisher Staff Writer Trenching and construction work on and around CSUF is making disabled students' trek to class longer and more difficult this semester. While disabled students are hoping for quick completion of the INSIGHT CSUF, Fresno. CA 93740-0010 projects. Facilities and Planning officials say construction will go on throughout the fall semester. According to Weldon Percy, coordinator of Disabled Student Services, ofthe 105 students with mobility limitations, 20 to 30 have complained about the barricaded walkways and parking lots. Access to bl ue curb or handicapped parking spaces has been the main concern, said Percy, who has used a wheelchair for ihc past 45 years. He said handicapped parking near the North Gym is unusable at this time. Many blind students are also having difficulties because il is harder for them to find an alternative once they are accustomed to a certain path, Percy said. Steve Duley, who uses a wheelchair, said not only are the barricades and detours inconvenient, but the rocks and dirt surrounding construction areas make pushing his wheelchair more difficult. "They need to clean up the rocks and dirt around (construelion arcasi," said Duley, a senior international business major. "Thai would make it a loi easier, especially around the North Gym." Duley said he has been late toclass more often due to ihc long detours he must lake toavoid blocked walkways. "When you get to class late, die teachers look at you funny," Duley said. "They haven't said anything; ihcy just give you a look like, "OK, you're late again.'" Duley said he has 1 ittie trouble wheel - See DISABLED, page 6 News: 278-2892 Advertising: 278-3934 Editor-in-Chief Deborah Miller Managing Editor Inger Sethov Graphics Editor Jennifer Lewis Sports Editor Tony Altobelli Arts <Sc Entertainment Editor Rebecca Boyd Christina Fonseca Advertising Manager Camilla Cederquist Advertising Production Manager Jennifer Lewis Photographers Sieve Fuji mo to Karen Toth Tommy Monreal Assistant Copy Editors M. Cristina Medina Olivia Reyes Custom ,__<. "Bridal < -f:f 0-(ave the veif ^§§7i6S@^'-|',\ ' . J[- ' of you dreams 221-6631 ♦ Kennel Bookstore ♦ High Performance Aflileticwean At the High Performance Athletic Store. Hill «re %m wf* 278-4267 A Course In Econoi Students can get great haircuts from professional stylists at everyday low prices. And you never need an appointment. At MasterCuts we trim prices, not quality $1.00 Off Haircut With student ID reg.S8.95 MasterCuts j i $5.00 Off: 20% Off PGUP! ' A"Haircare With student ID | | aoogtivivcxxri j With student ID •rCuts^j L^4astErCuts j MasterCuts family halrcutters Manchester Mall #226-6675 Offers a Wide Variety of Services. . . ♦ Course Material ♦ Quality Black & White Copies ♦ Quality Color Copies ♦ Resumes ♦ Bindings and more Instore Self-Service Copies 5c each Self-Service Copiers Also Available: ♦ Commons Lodge ♦ Peter's Business Building ♦ University ^Student Union FAX SERVICE Fax # (209) 278-4671 Copy Center Hours Mon.-Thure. 7:45 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Friday 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Closed Sat. & Sun.
Object Description
Title | 1993_09 Insight September 1993 |
Alternative Title | Insight (California State University, Fresno) |
Publisher | Dept. of Journalism, California State University, Fresno. |
Publication Date | 1993 |
Description | Weekly during the school year. Vol. 1, no. 1 (Oct. 8, 1969)-v. 29, no. 23 (May 13, 1998). Ceased with May 13, 1998, issue. Title from masthead. Merged with Daily collegian. |
Subject | California State University, Fresno Periodicals |
Contributors | California State University, Fresno Dept. of Journalism |
Coverage | October 8, 1969 – May 13, 1998 |
Format | Microfilm reels, 35mm |
Technical Information | Scanned at 600 dpi; TIFF; Microfilm ScanPro 2000 “E-image data” |
Language | eng |
Description
Title | Insight Sep 22 1993 p 2 |
Alternative Title | Insight (California State University, Fresno) |
Publication Date | 1993 |
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Page_2_
Insight/California State University, Fresno
September 22,1993
Helmet law could put
the brake on cyclists
By Jenny Steffens
Staff Writer
This is the first of a two-part series.
To Bardia Bchnica. a sixth-grader
at Vinland Elementary School, looking ridiculous is worse than crashing
his bike into a tree.
"I've fallen off my bike and hit my
head on a few things before, but it
didn't hurt me," Bchnica said. "But if
I have io get a bicycle helmet, I'll look
like a mushroom."
Though Behncia said none of his
friends wear bicycle helmets, he may
be seeing all of them start to resemble
"mushrooms" by the time he reaches
high school.
A pending decision by Gov. Pete
Wilson could force school-aged children to wear an approved bicycle helmet when riding on public streets,
bikcways and trails.
The proposed legislation, authored
by Assemblyman Louis Caldcra, D-
Los Angeles, and sponsored by die
California Coalition for Children's
Safety & Health, calls for all youths
18 years and under, to wear a bicycle
helmet when operating a bicycle or
when riding on a bicycle as a passenger-
Existing California law requires
only children undcr4 ycarsoldor less
lhan 40 pounds to weara helmet when
riding as a passenger. Currently six
stales— Georgia, New Jersey, New
York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee—have mandatory helmet laws
for children, as well as specific counties in Maryland.
If Gov. Wilson approves the proposed bill by Oct. 10, or does not veto
il by that date, die proposed legislation will become law, commencing
Jan. 1,1994.
Violations ofthe law would result
in warnings only die first year, widi
maximum violation fines of $25 beginning in 1995.
"It would be a great burden finan
cially and visibly," said Eric Atherton
of ihe proposed law. A 17-year-old
junior at Hoover High School, he
added, "I really don't want to keep
track of a helmet and carry it around,
and who's going to buy it for me?"
According toCaldera'sSacramento
office, the majority of revenues generated from fines would be used for
bicycle safety education and for assisting low-income families in obtaining helmets for Iheir children.
"It's crazy to
expect cops to
chase down
children on
bicycles and
give them
tickets."
— David Snyder
Aside from the financial responsibility of purchasing helmets, many
opponents are voicing further concerns. Government intrusion into private lives, illogicality and police enforcement lop their lists.
"It won't work in promoting safely
for children," said David Snyder, executive director of ihe San Francisco
Bicycle Coalition who emphasized
that two out of three bicycle clubs in
California oppose the proposed law.
"It's crazy to expect cops to chase
down children on bicycles and give
ihem tickets, Snyder said. "And I'm
afraid mis law will tell parents that the
most important thing is helmets, not
how to ride safely."
"It is also illogical," Snyder said.
"Adultsas well aschildrcnarc subject
to head injuries."
But advocates like Judy Barrett
Miller of the California Coalition of
Children's Safety & Health believe
that more adults are wearing helmets
lhan children and dial a mandatory
helmet law could prevent bicycle related injuries and deaths.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 17,800 California
children were trcaLed in hospital emergency rooms for bicycle-related head
injuries in 1991. And according to a
1989 New England Journal of Medicine study, bicycle helmets can reduce die risk of serious head injuries
by as much as 85 percent.
Head injuries are not an uncommon result of bicycle accidents.
At Valley Children's Hospital in
Fresno, of die 75 bicycle-related injuries since January 1992, 14wereclas-
sificd as head injuries. An additional
15 patients sustained concussions and/
or skull fractures.
To demonstrate thai a helmet law
can effectively reduce injuries, advocates also point to a bicycle helmet
law in Victoria, Australia.
According to a study released by
Dr. Peter Vulcan at the Second World
Conference on Injury Control in May,
after 10 years of helmet use promotion in Victoria, usage increased io 35
percent. But after one year of a mandatory law, helmet usage rates rose to
70 percent. Aside from usage, the
reduction of head injuries after ihc 10
year program was 17 percent, while
the reduction of head injuries after the
law was 66 percent.
"There is little argument in helmets preventing injuries," said Alan
Wachtel, government relations director of the California Association of
Bicycling Organizations, which is
neutral about the bill.
"Wc don't think it's harmful so we
don't oppose it," Wachtel said. "And
we would support it if il were for bi-
See HELMETS, page 6
Statistics on bicycle and motor vehicle-related injuries among children
(January 1992-August 1993)
35 r
30
25
20 -
Number
of injuries
w
ni m mm l
Head Injury Concussion
(14) and/or skull
fracture
(15)
Total sustained bicycle-related injuries; 75
Male: 58
Female: 17
Mechanism of injury:
Motor vehicle-related: 23
Bicycle only: 52
Classification of Injury
Age range: 4 months to 16 years old
Frequency of iniurv:
4 months-5 years: 12
5 years- 10 years: 27
10 years- 15 years: 34
15 and over: 2
Source: Valley Children'* Hospital Trauma Department
Motorcyclists use their heads
Motorcycle deaths
have decreased since
law was passed.
By Jenny Steflens
Staff Writer
Though Gov. Pete Wilson has not
taken a stand on the mandatory bicycle helmet bill, Jim Gelb, chief of
staff io Assembly member Louis
Caldcra, D-Los Angeles, said.
"We're very hopeful ihc governor
will sign."
"Wc have some sense he is not
hostile to ihc bill," Gclb said.
"He did sign ihe motorcycle helmet law."
Since the California motorcycle
helmet law was implemented in January 1992, dramatic increases in helmet usage have occurred.
According to statistics obtained
from the California Highway Patrol,
512 motorcyclists were killed in
1991.
Of that number, only 19.3 percent
were wearing helmets.
In 1992. after the law took effect,
the number of motorcycle deaths decreased to 327, with helmet usage
jumping to 70.3 percent.
As for bicyclists deaths, the CHP
reports 115 people died in 1991 and
122 in 1992.
Respectively. 108 and 110 of
those bicyclists killed were not wearing helmets.
Construction poses roadblock for the disabled
By Aimee L. Fisher
Staff Writer
Trenching and construction work
on and around CSUF is making disabled students' trek to class longer
and more difficult this semester.
While disabled students are hoping for quick completion of the
INSIGHT
CSUF, Fresno. CA 93740-0010
projects. Facilities and Planning officials say construction will go on
throughout the fall semester.
According to Weldon Percy, coordinator of Disabled Student Services,
ofthe 105 students with mobility limitations, 20 to 30 have complained
about the barricaded walkways and
parking lots.
Access to bl ue curb or handicapped
parking spaces has been the main
concern, said Percy, who has used a
wheelchair for ihc past 45 years.
He said handicapped parking near
the North Gym is unusable at this
time.
Many blind students are also having difficulties because il is harder for
them to find an alternative once they
are accustomed to a certain path, Percy
said.
Steve Duley, who uses a wheelchair, said not only are the barricades
and detours inconvenient, but the
rocks and dirt surrounding construction areas make pushing his wheelchair more difficult.
"They need to clean up the rocks
and dirt around (construelion arcasi,"
said Duley, a senior international business major. "Thai would make it a loi
easier, especially around the North
Gym."
Duley said he has been late toclass
more often due to ihc long detours he
must lake toavoid blocked walkways.
"When you get to class late, die
teachers look at you funny," Duley
said. "They haven't said anything;
ihcy just give you a look like, "OK,
you're late again.'"
Duley said he has 1 ittie trouble wheel -
See DISABLED, page 6
News: 278-2892
Advertising: 278-3934
Editor-in-Chief
Deborah Miller
Managing Editor
Inger Sethov
Graphics Editor
Jennifer Lewis
Sports Editor
Tony Altobelli
Arts |