bicycle helmet laws
Bicycle helmets
(local law may require helmet use
for some or all bicyclists)
State Bicyclists covered
by state law
Alabama 15 and younger
Alaska no law
Arizona no law
Arkansas no law
California 17 and younger
Colorado no law
Connecticut 15 and younger
Delaware 17 and younger
District of Columbia 15 and younger
Florida 15 and younger
Georgia 15 and younger
Hawaii 15 and younger
Idaho no law
Illinois no law
Indiana no law
Iowa no law
Kansas no law
Kentucky no law
Louisiana 11 and younger
Maine 15 and younger
Maryland 15 and younger
Massachusetts 1 through 16 (riding with children younger than 1 prohibited)
Michigan no law
Minnesota no law
Mississippi no law
Missouri no law
Montana no law
Nebraska no law
Nevada no law
New Hampshire 15 and younger
New Jersey 16 and younger
New Mexico 17 and younger
New York 1 through 13 (riding with children younger than 1 prohibited)
North Carolina 15 and younger
North Dakota no law
Ohio no law
Oklahoma no law
Oregon 15 and younger
Pennsylvania 11 and younger
Rhode Island 15 and younger
South Carolina no law
South Dakota no law
Tennessee 15 and younger
Texas no law
Utah no law
Vermont no law
Virginia no law
Washington no law
West Virginia 14 and younger
Wisconsin no law
Wyoming no law
1Alaska\'s motorcycle helmet use law covers passengers of all ages, operators younger than 18, and operators with instructional permits.
2In Florida, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy.
3In Kentucky, the law requires that all riders younger than 21 years wear helmets, without exception. Those 21 years and older may ride without helmets only if they can show proof that they are covered by a medical insurance policy. Motorcycle helmet laws in Kentucky also cover operators with instructional/learner\'s permits.
4Motorcycle helmet laws in Maine cover operators with instructional/learner\'s permits. Maine\'s motorcycle helmet use law also covers passengers 14 years and younger and passengers if their operators are required to wear a helmet.
5Motorcycle helmet laws in Minnesota cover operators with instructional/learner\'s permits.
6North Dakota\'s motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers traveling with operators who are covered by the law.
7Ohio\'s motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first year of licensure and all passengers of operators who are covered by the law.
8Pennsylvania\'s motorcycle helmet use law covers all operators during the first two years of licensure unless the operator has completed the safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
9Rhode Island\'s motorcycle helmet use law covers all passengers (regardless of age) and all operators during the first year of licensure (regardless of age).
10Texas exempts riders 21 years or older if they can either show proof of successfully completing a motorcycle operator training and safety course or can show proof of having a medical insurance policy.
11Motorcycle helmet laws in Wisconsin cover operators with instructional/learner\'s permits.
