It’s bicycle season in southwestern Minnesota, a time when people can ride around town or enjoy trails and local roads.

I have many good memories of bicycling from when I grew up in Marshall. My first solo trips were from my parents’ house on Marguerite Avenue to the Legion Field swimming pool and the Little Dairy Queen near the armory.

I later biked all the way out to the airport and then back home on Lyon County Road 7 and the Country Club Drive bike trail.

I never made it out to Camden State Park. I might have biked all the way if we would have had the off road trail that exists now.

Bike helmets were very unusual back then. They were used mainly by racers. Recreational riders almost always rode without one.

Now there’s a widespread feeling that bicyclists should wear helmets for safety reasons. It’s true that traffic is often bad in places where people ride. I think we’ve gone slightly overboard, however, with the preoccupation for safety.

I biked without a helmet for 50 years and it never hurt me at all. I suppose there was always a possibility of an accident, but for someone who rides in town at a moderate pace the possibility is pretty remote.

It’s about like the chances of getting struck by lightning. It’s about the same as the risk of getting hit downtown as a pedestrian in a crosswalk by a motorist who runs a red light. The surest way for bicyclists to play it safe is to respect motor vehicles. They shouldn’t cut in front of them. They should yield even if they have the right of way in case the motorist doesn’t realize it.

One of the worst fears of many careful drivers is that a bicyclist might do something stupid and that an accident could lead to a legal dispute.

Traffic safety on the streets and roads is everyone’s responsibility. Helmets shouldn’t be necessary for recreational riding if everyone knows how to cooperate.

I hope we never see state and local helmet mandates. They would be an added expense for riders. A seat belt in a car makes sense because they’re standard features in vehicles. People have them so they might as well use them.

I could potentially envision helmet mandates for young children who are learning to ride. It would be like car seat laws. If a mandate helps to protect little kids, it could be a good thing. Adults and older children can decide for themselves if they need a helmet. If someone feels more secure wearing one, they can go ahead and buy it.

If they can get by without one it should still be fine in 2025. Using good sense can make it unnecessary.

Bicycling is one of the safest, most affordable recreational activities. It can be enjoyed at almost any age. It’s a good thing for families and friends to do together.

Writing about it makes me want to get my front tire fixed and start riding my bicycle again. I have a good route that runs from where I live out to Southwest Minnesota State University, north to a paved trail and back up High Street.

We live in a small city where traffic is usually not bad except at the start and end of work days. It makes for safe, enjoyable bike riding.

Also Marshall has done a lot to create a city-wide trail system. Almost everyone is within easy reach of at least one trail. It’s grown as the city has expanded. We’re fortunate to have trails as a vital part of the overall transportation system. They deserve to be widely used.

— Jim Muchinski is a longtime reporter and contributor to the Marshall Independent