For parents of children who regularly ride bicycles or
skateboards around Hollister, the hardest challenge remains
convincing kids that safety outweighs style.
For parents of children who regularly ride bicycles or skateboards around Hollister, the hardest challenge remains convincing kids that safety outweighs style.
Or, somehow, that helmets are stylish.
Jerry Muenzer, owner of Muenzer’s Cyclery in Downtown Hollister, said kids have lowered their resistance toward buying helmets in recent years. If they do buy them, the helmets’ look is still more important to kids than other features, he said.
“Half the battle is getting a helmet a kid likes,” Muenzer said.
Regardless, most safety helmets are stronger and safer these days. They’re wider, lighter, longer lasting.
Muenzer’s has a store policy requiring parents to be present when kids are buying bikes. Parents have to sign a form, he said, specifying their kids will follow all helmet laws.
Around this area, Muenzer’s and general department stores, such as Target, are some of the only places to purchase safety equipment for skateboarding and bike riding. Cherry Boards, formerly a specialty shop downtown, recently closed.
Residents can travel north and shop for equipment at Downtown Skate Shop in Gilroy or South Valley Bikes in Morgan Hill.
South Valley Bikes owner Mark Silva believes safety helmets are “getting a lot cooler.”
“If you get a kid a nice helmet, he’s going to wear it,” Silva said.
Contrary to the past, most modern helmets can be used for either bike riding or skateboarding, store owners said. The equipment, though, must first pass Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.
The top-of-the-line brands these days are TSG, Vigor and Pro-Tec, Silva said. Prices of all helmets at his store, he said, range from $10 to $40. At Muenzer’s, they range from $20 to $45. And on the Internet at such sites as Amazon.com, consumers can buy top brands for $35 to $46.
Muenzer’s is located at 221 Fifth St. in Hollister. Downtown Skate Shop is at 7490 Monterey Road in Gilroy. South Valley Bikes is at 17395 Monterey Road in Morgan Hill.
Kollin Kosmicki can be reached at 637-5566, ext. 331 or at
kk*******@fr***********.com.
