HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-01-26 Public Comment - M. Bateson - Public Safety - Bike HelmetsFrom:Mary Bateson
To:Douglas Fischer; Bozeman Public Comment; Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Bike Helmets - Public Safety
Date:Thursday, April 30, 2026 9:33:49 AM
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Dear Deputy Mayor Douglas Fischer,
I have just read your editorial in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (April 30, 2026 edition). I am having a
hard time believing what I have read:
“On a warm evening not long ago, I watched three kids on bikes — maybe 15 years old — turn
onto my street, pop wheelies, and pedal furiously down the block. No helmets, no worries, just
confidence the world would hold together long enough for them to make the corner at East
Lincoln.
It’s a small thing. But it’s also the kind of moment people talk about when they say they want to
“protect Bozeman.””
You just spoke at the April 28 commission meeting about the importance of your responsibilities as a
City Commissioner to the entire community. That one of your priorities as a commissioner would bepublic safety, which I certainly applaud. But then, this column appears, glorifying kids not wearing
helmets. This is a pretty basic public safety measure that has taken years of work to change people’s
attitudes, so that wearing helmets becomes second nature. Not a small thing. I am horrified that
not wearing helmets is the example you come up with to explain Bozeman’s character as a great
place to live.
You continue in the column, saying “Bozeman’s challenges aren’t limited to a few neighborhoods.
We’re working to improve public safety…” While I am under no illusion that any 15-year-old kid will
be reading your column, the parents of children might be reading this, and feel more comfortable
not getting their kids to wear helmets. Please think about this.
You are our Deputy Mayor and will be our Mayor. You have influence. Please take the responsibility
seriously.
Sincerely,
Mary Bateson, Bozeman Resident
From:Mary Bateson
To:Emma Bode; Bozeman Public Comment; Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Public Safety - Bike Helmets
Date:Thursday, April 30, 2026 11:15:03 AM
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Dear Commissioner Emma Bode,
I have just read the editorial in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle (April 30, 2026 edition) by Deputy
Mayor Douglas Fischer. I am having a hard time believing what I have read:
“On a warm evening not long ago, I watched three kids on bikes — maybe 15 years old — turn
onto my street, pop wheelies, and pedal furiously down the block. No helmets, no worries, just
confidence the world would hold together long enough for them to make the corner at East
Lincoln.
It’s a small thing. But it’s also the kind of moment people talk about when they say they want to
“protect Bozeman.””
I am very concerned about the lack of understanding this demonstrates about public safety. I have
been a cyclist most of my life, and know that in 1979, when I was cycling 12 miles to and from the
Stanford campus, I was not wearing a helmet. That was really stupid, and I am really lucky that I did
not crash and burn going down the La Honda road at speeds the same as the cars. That was then,
and luckily times have changed. Wearing helmets is a pretty basic public safety measure that has
taken years of work to change people’s attitudes, so that wearing helmets becomes second nature.
While I am under no illusion that any 15-year-old kid will be reading his column, the parents of
children might be reading it, and feel more comfortable not getting their kids to wear helmets. Not
wearing a helmet as a child turns into not wearing one as an adult, and not only on pedaling bikes,
but motorcycles. Accidents cause serious harm, and cost money for not just individuals, but for
society (I am thinking both medical costs borne by society and unnecessary casualties). I am
horrified that not wearing helmets is the example Deputy Mayor Douglas Fischer came up with to
explain Bozeman’s character as a great place to live.
I know that you are a bike rider yourself and a champion of public safety. I would implore you to
reach out to your fellow commission member and our future Mayor and talk some sense into him
concerning this public safety issue. You might have some influence. Thank you for considering this.
Sincerely,
Mary Bateson, Bozeman Resident