Arizona Bicycle Helmet Laws

Arizona does not have a statewide bicycle helmet law for any age group. No place in the state requires adults to wear a helmet while cycling. However, a handful of cities mandate bike helmets for riders under 18, and two cities require them for riders of electric-assisted cycles under 18.

Key Arizona Bicycle Helmet Laws at a Glance

• No statewide law. Arizona has no mandatory requirement for adults or minors at the state level.
• No adult requirement anywhere. No city or county requires adults (18+) to wear one while cycling.
• Local ordinances for minors. A handful of jurisdictions require riders under 18 to wear one. See the full table below for details, including Flagstaff, Oro Valley, Scottsdale (electric-assisted cycles), and Glendale (electric-assisted cycles).
• E-bike regulations. Scottsdale and Glendale mandate helmets for riders of electric-assisted cycles under 18. Glendale’s ordinance (effective January 9, 2026) also prohibits those under 14 from operating these vehicles.
• Motorcycle cross-reference. ARS § 28-964 separately requires DOT-certified gear for motorcycle riders and passengers under 18.
• Brain injury reduction. Wearing a helmet reduces the risk of head injury by 48%, serious cranial harm by 60%, and traumatic brain damage by 53% (Hoye, 2018).
• Insurance impact. Not wearing one at the time of a crash can reduce your settlement price under Arizona’s pure comparative negligence system (ARS § 12-2505). Several factors affect your ability to recover the full value.
• National context. 22 states and the District of Columbia have enacted statewide helmet laws for minors. No U.S. state has an all-ages mandatory requirement.

Where Are Bike Helmets Required in Arizona?

Arizona delegates regulation to local authorities. In the following jurisdictions, local laws mandate protective gear for those under 18:

Tucson enacted its ordinance in 1993, making it the first place in Arizona with a mandatory cycling regulation for minors.

If a parent or legal guardian allows a child under 18 to ride without protection in a jurisdiction with a local ordinance, the parent can be fined.

For a full overview of Arizona cycling regulations, see our Arizona cycling laws page.

E-Bike Requirements in Arizona

E-bike riders are not required by state statute to use protective gear. ARS § 28-819 does not contain such a requirement, but local ordinances are beginning to address protective gear for young riders of electric-assisted cycles.

Motorized Bicycle Requirement

Tucson has a separate ordinance (Sec. 5-8) covering motorized cycles, which mandates that those under 18 wear one within municipal limits. This is separate from the general ordinance (Sec. 20-29).

Glendale E-Bike Ordinance (Effective January 9, 2026)

Glendale enacted one of Arizona’s first mandatory regulations for operators of electric-assisted cycles:

• All operators under 18 must wear CPSC-certified protective gear within Glendale municipal limits.
• Those under 14 are prohibited from operating these vehicles entirely.
• Repeated violations carry fines of $50 to $500.

Scottsdale E-Bike Rules

Scottsdale mandates helmets for riders of electric-assisted cycles under 18 and prohibits those under 16 from operating Class 3 models on municipal property.

Injuries involving young riders of electric-assisted cycles have risen significantly nationwide. For details on Arizona’s e-bike classification and operating rules, see our Arizona e-bike laws page.

Standards and Certification

All helmets mandated by local ordinances must meet recognized standards.

A properly fitted one sits level on the head with the front edge no more than one inch above the eyebrows. Several Arizona local ordinances specify “properly fitted” as a legal compliance requirement.

Usage Statistics

Arizona bicycle helmet laws have not changed at the state level, and usage rates remain low. According to research compiled by BHSI:

• Fewer than 2% of elementary school bike riders in Arizona wear helmets
• Approximately 10% of college students wear helmets while cycling
• In states with mandatory laws, 51% of young bicyclists comply

ADOT data shows 48 cyclist fatalities in 2022 and approximately 44 in 2024.

Legislative History

Arizona has never enacted a statewide requirement. HB 2052, which would have required all bicyclists to wear one, failed in committee. No statewide bill is pending in the current Arizona legislative session.

National

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 62% of bicyclists killed in 2023 were not wearing any protective gear (usage was unknown for an additional 23%). FARS data showed a consistent 62.2% unhelmeted figure in 2022.

A 2018 meta-analysis of 55 studies published in Accident Analysis and Prevention (Hoye, 2018) found that wearing one reduces the risk of cranial harm by 48%, serious cranial harm by 60%, and traumatic brain damage by 53%.

22 states and the District of Columbia have enacted statewide laws for minors. No U.S. state has an all-ages mandatory law. Arizona is one of 28 states without any statewide legislation.

Arizona’s Comparative Negligence System

Arizona follows a pure comparative negligence system (ARS § 12-2505). If you were not wearing protection at the time of a crash, you can still file a claim and recover compensation for your injuries. The insurance company may argue that your failure to wear one contributed to the severity of your harm.

Your total compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you. If the courts determine that not wearing one contributed 15% to the severity of your harm, your award is reduced by 15%. In practice, this can also affect the overall price of your settlement.

Wearing a helmet protects both your well-being and your claim value. If you were wearing one, the insurer cannot use non-use to reduce your compensation. If you were not, an experienced attorney can counter the insurer’s comparative negligence argument and present options for recovery.

Unlike Pennsylvania, which has a statute (§ 3510(c)) explicitly prohibiting the use of non-use as negligence evidence, Arizona has no such statutory protection. Non-use is a permissible argument in Arizona bicycle accident claims. A lawyer familiar with these cases can help. Use our settlement calculator to estimate your case value.

Other Equipment Requirements

Arizona statute requires the following for all cyclists, regardless of local ordinances:

• Front light. A white light visible from at least 500 feet, required for nighttime operation (sunset to sunrise) (ARS § 28-817)
• Rear reflector. A red reflector visible from 50 to 300 feet (ARS § 28-817)
• Fixed seat. All bicycles must have a permanently attached seat.

Bike riders in Phoenix AZ and across Arizona may also benefit from using a designated bike path when one is available, especially on busy road sections. Combining proper lighting, reflectors, and protective gear provides the strongest protection on the road.

Resources

• ADOT Active Transportation
• AZ Bike Law — Mandatory Helmet Laws in Arizona
• BHSI
• IIHS – Bicyclist Fatality Statistics
• Hoye (2018) — Meta-Analysis
• Cochrane Review — Helmets for Preventing Head and Facial Injuries
• Tucson Municipal Code — Sec. 20-29
• Bicycle Tucson Legal Guide (PDF)
• CPSC Bicycle Helmet Standards
• GOHS — Bicycle Safety
• Heads Don’t Bounce — State Helmet Laws

Get the Legal Help You Deserve

If you have been involved in a bicycle crash in Arizona, our Phoenix, AZ lawyers can help you understand your options. Whether or not you were wearing one, every person has the legal right to pursue compensation. Each case is different, so speaking with an experienced attorney is the best place to start.

Our practice handles bicycle, electric-assisted cycle, and e-scooter claims exclusively, backed by over $1 billion recovered for victims nationwide. Our lawyer and attorney team has the ability to evaluate your claim at no price to you.

Call 888-521-6377 for a free evaluation. There are zero upfront costs and no fees unless we win the compensation you deserve.

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re a cyclist who has been in an accident, call today for a free initial consult about your legal claim. We’re here to help with your legal questions. Contact our law firm for coast-to-coast bike accident and personal injury representation.

Start Your Free Evaluation

Posted by Robert Goldwater

Since his academic days at the UC Berkeley School of Law, Robert Goldwater has remained a committed advocate for victims of other people’s negligence. His tort law background, together with his unquenchable thirst for justice, helped young Robert found a now-successful law firm – Bicycle Accident Lawyers Group, gathering same-minded and promising attorneys from all over the country.

All articles by Robert Goldwater