NEWPORT BEACH : Push for Bike Helmet Law to Be Expanded

Community residents who are working toward a state law mandating bicycle helmets for children are planning to take their efforts countywide this week.

Newport Beach residents are scheduled to meet with members of the county’s Injury Control Coalition on Thursday to explore forming a group to study the proposed bicycle helmet law and other bicycle safety issues.

“We had been approached by a number of people to take this to a county level,” said Karen Evarts, a Newport Beach resident who has organized bike safety events at schools.

Evarts has collected signatures from residents throughout the county on a petition that calls for a mandatory bicycle helmet law for those younger than 18.

“A certain small percentage of people don’t like another government thing,” she said. “I think, like with seat belts and child safety seats, it probably has to become an area where the government has to get involved.”