Healthy Living and Seniors Minister Deanne Crothers was joined today by more than 1,300 staff and students from local schools to attempt to break the existing Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing helmets. The attempt at the record was to mark the 10th anniversary of the province’s Low-Cost Bike Helmet Initiative in style.
“Cycling is a fun, healthy and environmentally friendly way to get around, whether you’re going to work, school, running errands or just out for a ride, but safety is rule number one,” said Minister Crothers. “I’m proud the province has helped keep Manitoba cyclists safe by providing more than 104,000 low- or no-cost helmets to families across the province since 2005.”
The current Guinness World Record stands at 1,263 participants wearing helmets in the same place at the same time for a minimum of five minutes. Today’s event will be reviewed by Guinness World Record officials to verify Manitoba’s record-setting attempt. The celebration and world-record attempt held today also marked Clean Air Day and Bike to School Month.
“This Guinness World Record attempt is a fun way to celebrate and bring renewed awareness to the Low-Cost Bike Helmet Initiative,” said Colin Mathieson, RBC Olympian and four-time Canadian Paralympian wheelchair racer. “We want to encourage youth to remain safe as they engage in a life of healthy and active living – whether it be on the playground or in pursuing the top of the podium.”
Every year, about 165 cyclists end up in the hospital from cycling-related injuries in Manitoba, with some injuries causing death. About 40 per cent of those injuries happen to cyclists under the age of 18. Statistics show that bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by up to 85 per cent and the risk of brain injury by up to 88 per cent, the minister said, adding that helmet use among Manitoba children and youth has increased significantly since the province enacted new bicycle helmet legislation in 2013 that requires cyclists under the age of 18 to wear helmets.
Minister Crothers confirmed the province’s Low-Cost Bike Helmet Initiative will continue this year and will start in the fall. Details for the 2015-16 program will be shared with schools and child-care facilities in the fall.
Details on the Guinness World Record attempt will be released when available. Find more information on the Low-Cost Bike Helmet Initiative.
