If you're interested in hitting the great outdoors on a motorcycle with your child in Pennsylvania, you'll be glad to know Pennsylvania has no minimum age for child riders. Motorcyclists are left to their own discretion when deciding whether to allow children, no matter what the age, to ride on a motorcycle. For safety and in order to avoid Pennsylvania motorcycle accidents, however, officials recommend that the rider is tall enough that his feet reach the pegs before allowing him or her to ride.
Pennsylvania law does require motorcycle helmets for all riders under the age of 21. Additionally, riders over the age of 21 are required to wear a helmet with a few exceptions.
Motorcycle riders 21-years old and older are exempt from helmet wearing if the rider has been licensed to ride a motorcycle for two full years, or has completed a motorcycle-safety course approved by PennDOT or the Motorcycle Safety Foundation."
Another safety requirement in Pennsylvania, which is often ignored, is an eye-protective device. This must be worn by anyone riding on the bike, whether the driver or the passenger, at all times. The age of the rider is irrelevant, and there are no exemptions for years of experience or course completion. Shatterproof eye protection is recommended, but is not required.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers several tips on keeping motorcycle passengers safer. First and foremost, all state laws pertaining to passengers on motorcycles must be followed. These laws are designed with passenger safety in mind, so it is important they are not ignored. Additionally, some state motorcycle passenger laws pertain specifically to safety equipment, so the driver must be sure not to overlook any of these equipment requirements.
When dealing with child passengers in particular, the driver must make sure the child is mature enough to handle the responsibility of riding on the back of the bike. Additionally, the child should be tall enough to reach the footrests, wear the required protective or safety gear, and the adult driver must make sure the safety gear fits the child correctly and is worn properly.
