Do side car users have to wear safety belts?

[CDImagician]

I was just looking at side cars around the web. I see none of them have belts.
One of the biggest reasons i like biking is because theres no belt required.
I've been burned about 7 times for this since 1980. It might be a tuff call for a cop. The riders not required but the passenger is. Maybe.
I even got a ticket for not wearing a safety belt in a car riding as a passenger. Thats what got me thinking.

[Goliath616]

I couldn't find anything on the net saying you HAVE to, but you should send a PM to Gummiente, a forum member that has a side car and belongs to a club of riders with side cars (although he lives in Canada, he might have some info for ya)

[rexmitchell]

I highly doubt that you would need to wear a seat belt in a side car.....I don't see any point behind that.

[briang]

I would say it's actually dangerous to do so. Bike high sides and you're stuck in the sidecar as the bike lands on you. I'm not saying being thrown though the air is any safer or that you would be thrown clear without one, but with one you'd be screwed.

[Gummiente]

There are no laws anywhere that I am aware of that require seatbelt use by sidecar passengers. However, as you live in the States, I suggest you contact the United Sidecar Association (http://www.sidecar.com/) and ask them just to be sure.

[Gummiente]

I couldn't find anything on the net saying you HAVE to, but you should send a PM to Gummiente, a forum member that has a side car and belongs to a club of riders with side cars (although he lives in Canada, he might have some info for ya)Actually, I'm the founder of the club (CURD - Canadian Ural/Dnepr Riders Group), but thanks for the recommendation. :)

[Goliath616]

hehe yeah I remembered you were the "Head Cheese" after I posted that :D

[SHTF Rat]

It's very unlikely as the law can not require you to wear a belt that's not original equipment.

If sidecars were never built with belts, they can't require you to wear them.

Same with antique cars.. if the car was originally built without seatbelts, the law usually exempts you in most states.

[iamgumby]

A side car does not change the definition of 'motor cycle'. Therefore no seatbelt; but what ever helmet law would still apply. A side car passenger is the same as any other motorcycle passenger.

[Badlands-4-2]

A side car does not change the definition of 'motor cycle'. Therefore no seatbelt; but what ever helmet law would still apply. A side car passenger is the same as any other motorcycle passenger.

I agree. All seatbelt laws deal with 4 wheel vehicles. Motorcycles and trikes are exempt. Could you imagine seatbelts on a Harley or Goldwing Trike?

[black27696]

I'm with gumby. There are three people I know of that have sidecars and they do not have seatbelts in them.

[badinfluence63]

I have an Ultra Classic with sidecar and you don't have to have a seatbelt. WTF do you have a seat belt on your motorcycle?

[frothbeast]

Can you put your baby seat in the sidecar and strap it in secure? Is your kid supposed to wear a helmet? Can I put 2 kids in there?

I believe I can put them both in the back window deck of my '65 chrysler, because there are no seat belts.

So in Canada, is there a law preventing me from driving my kids around in the sidecar(much like the coneheads)?

[frothbeast]

*taps on the mic*

Hey is this thing on?

[johnovan]

a lot of good info here. I may be in the market for a bike with side car

[Murdock7420]

I wouldn't care even if it was a law, I wouldn't wear a seatbelt on a motorcycle for the simple reason of if the bike lands on top of you, whats underneath you? THE ROAD...hmm the word sandpaper comes to mind and what if the tank gets punctured? Metal scraping on the road creates sparks and then what? Cajun fried road kill.

To Frothbeast: I read that in Texas the minimum age is 5 yrs. old, but I personally don't think you should allow a child to ride unless the child can ride a bicycle, that way it might be a little easier for the child to understand the importance of balance on a bike