Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
Hopefully off for a little pedal around Southern Spain for a few weeks mid Feb to end March. I am aware that helmets are required, but not always, so a bit confusing.
As I understand it, helmets not needed: outside urban areas; in hot weather; climbing steep hills; ???. All this a bit subjective, but I presume there are guidelines to what is an urban area, when it is hot, what is steep hill.
Anyone any thoughts and also, what is enforcement like?
As I understand it, helmets not needed: outside urban areas; in hot weather; climbing steep hills; ???. All this a bit subjective, but I presume there are guidelines to what is an urban area, when it is hot, what is steep hill.
Anyone any thoughts and also, what is enforcement like?
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
I cannot answer much of your question, so I will respond anyway.
I ride much of the year in hot weather, so I find wearing a mesh peaked cap under the helmet helps absorb the sweat so it doesn't run into my eyes.
I agree it is nice to ride sans helmet at times - wind blowing through ones hair (assuming you still have hair) is quite pleasant, but since you are touring (?) you still have to carry the helmet, so why not on your head?
I ride much of the year in hot weather, so I find wearing a mesh peaked cap under the helmet helps absorb the sweat so it doesn't run into my eyes.
I agree it is nice to ride sans helmet at times - wind blowing through ones hair (assuming you still have hair) is quite pleasant, but since you are touring (?) you still have to carry the helmet, so why not on your head?
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Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
I have not been in Spain since a few weeks before the first lookdown so I am not current. However prior to that since the helmet law came in I have cycles the mainland and Mallorca quite a lot. In all that cycling I have never worn an helmet but I have had one fastened to my rear rack in a prominent position.No one has ever told me to put my helmet on and that includes many police.
Last edited by bikepacker on 22 Jan 2022, 4:17pm, edited 1 time in total.
There is your way. There is my way. But there is no "the way".
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
A thread that ran up to November 2020 with some experiences and a link to the revised regulations from Chris Juden:
viewtopic.php?t=133455
Jonathan
viewtopic.php?t=133455
Jonathan
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
Thanks for the link, Jonathan. It starts off well and ends well, but goes off on the usual pro/anti debate in the middle.
One interesting point raised is whether it could affect your insurance. My travel insurance says "includes using any appropriate safety equipment" but only specifies a helmet for specific things, eg MTBing (and e-scooter, etc). Normally I consider this is OK not to wear if not specified by law, but as Spain do specify, well maybe??
Pretty crazy that helmets are needed on a quiet rural road, but not in an urban area, seems rather counterintuitive.
Edit Corrected J's name.
One interesting point raised is whether it could affect your insurance. My travel insurance says "includes using any appropriate safety equipment" but only specifies a helmet for specific things, eg MTBing (and e-scooter, etc). Normally I consider this is OK not to wear if not specified by law, but as Spain do specify, well maybe??
Pretty crazy that helmets are needed on a quiet rural road, but not in an urban area, seems rather counterintuitive.
Edit Corrected J's name.
Last edited by simonhill on 22 Jan 2022, 7:17pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
That sounds likely: they could well be more interested in the law than in custom and practice...simonhill wrote: ↑22 Jan 2022, 6:30pmOne interesting point raised is whether it could affect your insurance. My travel insurance says "includes using any appropriate safety equipment" but only specifies a helmet for specific things, eg MTBing (and e-scooter, etc). Normally I consider this is OK not to wear if not specified by law, but as Spain do specify, well maybe??
Jonathan
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Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
I ride in Mallorca without and only once ridden past a Policeman who tapped his head indicated I should put my helmet on, strangely this was in a built up area where they are supposed to be exempt...the majority of local cyclists don't wear a helmet; Children, Ladies and Gents off shopping etc.
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
Maybe if pottering down to the shops.
But my experience in mainland Spain is that most local road cyclists do wear helmets. In fact, most cyclists in Spain are usually dressed in the full cycling regalia of lyrca, helmet, cycling shoes and even those aerodynamic sunglasses. Decathlon must be delighted!
I fully understand you not wanting to wear a helmet, they can be uncomfortable. I used to be the same but get one from Rudy Project and you will hardly know you're wearing one - super comfortable.
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
Have recently come back from Gran Canaria and a lightbulb moment was the realisation that if you have the straps really loose a helmet is less noticeable. Who knew?
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Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
I did a tour in the Pyrenees last autumn and as I rode across the border into Spain I realised I didn't have a helmet with me. 3 days later when I crossed back into France, no-one had said anything. It was cold so I was wearing a hat - don't know whether that threw people off the scent, but I did have several police cars overtake me.
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Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
The OP asked for experiences of it being enforced, I did not ask for a lecture thank you.. please leave that for the helmet debate threads.jacobean wrote: ↑23 Jan 2022, 3:09pmMaybe if pottering down to the shops.
But my experience in mainland Spain is that most local road cyclists do wear helmets. In fact, most cyclists in Spain are usually dressed in the full cycling regalia of lyrca, helmet, cycling shoes and even those aerodynamic sunglasses. Decathlon must be delighted!
I fully understand you not wanting to wear a helmet, they can be uncomfortable. I used to be the same but get one from Rudy Project and you will hardly know you're wearing one - super comfortable.
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
Some friends rode flew to Malaga then rode from there back through France in 2017. They'd planned a back roads route but soon found the back roads were largely gravel and the main roads were largely empty, so followed those. On their very last day in Spain, they got stopped by a police officer, who said they should be wearing helmets. One of them had one in his saddlebag, and that seemed to satisfy the officer; the others were told to buy helmets in the next town. As they were only a couple of hours from the border, they just rode into France...
Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
A somewhat clumsy effort to target sports cyclists and not utility cyclists I'd figure.
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Re: Helmets in Spain - The Law and the Reality - Please.
Only hearsay (picked up from when on a group tour in Mallorca) but if you are involved in an accident and you aren't wearing a helmet the medical team may look less favourably on you. Same probably applies to insurers (Spanish driver's insurers, rather than your own).
Chris F, Cornwall