March 27, 2000, Board Meeting:
    I proposed that Ada look at surrounding communities helmet ordinances in hopes of implementing such an ordinance in Ada. No one other than Trustee Baker and myself seemed interested.

April 10, 2000,  Board Meeting:
    I again brought up the possibility of a helmet ordinance to protect bike riders and in-line skaters from unnecessary injuries. The response was the same and no action was taken.

April 24, 2000, Board Meeting:
    Once more I raised the subject with no response. However, the Grand Rapids Press reporter Mr. Tom Blossfeld asked me a couple of questions after the meeting concerning helmet ordinances.

May 5, 2000, Board Meeting:
    Township Planning Director, Jim Ferro forwarded copies of the Cascade, and East Grand Rapids current ordinances.

May 22, 2000, Board Meeting:
    Apparently after seeing that the Press was possibly interested, suddenly Trustee Baker and myself had company. After enduring some long political statements and grandstanding by certain members of the Board it was decided to send the proposal to committee. After I volunteered to serve on this committee, Supervisor Haga immediately changed direction and decided it should be sent to the Public Safety Committee, of which I am not a member. It is customary that if you propose an ordinance you serve on the steering and development committee. It appears to me that this is a form of political game playing during an election year. I am however, thankful that Trustee Baker is a member of the Public Safety Committee as he has supported this ordinance from the beginning.  The most important issue here is that the helmet ordinance be written and adopted. The Public Safety Committee was directed to have the ordinance ready for finalazation at the July 10, 2000 Board Meeting. While I would like to see adults wearing helmets, I don't believe it needs to be included in the helmet ordinance. I personally wear a helmet by choice and it encourages my children to wear theirs. My sole intention is to help avoid unnecessary head injuries.

July 10, 2000
    Unable to complete this task as directed the Public Safety Committee delays this ordinance until August 14, 2000.
Here's the text of the article that appeared in the Grand Rapids Press on 05/24/00:

Ada Township safety panel weighs bike helmet ordinance
By Tom Blossfeld
The Grand Rapids Press

  As an Ada Township firefighter and emergency medical technician, Matt Nygren assisted on a call this spring in which a teen-age biker fell on the township bicycle path, hit her head and was knocked unconscious. The girl was treated and released at a local hospital. Although she was not seriously injured, Nygren wondered why she was not wearing a helmet and what he could do to encourage their use.

    As a township trustee, Nygren recently proposed an ordinance requiring everyone - regardless of age - to wear a helmet while biking on the Ada Township path system. The ordinance is pending before the Ada Township Board. "I just want everyone to wear bicycle helmets," he said. "There's nothing sadder than an unnecessary head injury that affects someone for the rest of his life."

    Township Clerk Deborah Ensing Millhiff said she thought the ordinance was a good idea but questioned how easy it would be to enforce. "What's the point if we can't enforce the legislation?" she asked.

    The Board Monday voted to send the issue to it's Public Safety Committee, comprised of Supervisor George Haga, Treasurer Carloyn Soderberg, Trustee Paul Baker, Fire Safety Chief Jim Duvall and Township resident Darwin Ellist. The committee was told to review the merits of the ordinance with fire and police officials, and the township attorney and residents and make a recommendation by the July 10 meeting.

    Nygren asked that the ordinance be written to also include those who use in-line skates. He is not swayed by arguments against the idea. "Even if we only put up a few signs on the path, it will make everyone aware of the law and encourage helmet use," he said. "Even if it's never enforced, it may help avoid injuries."

    Modeled after similar ordinances in East Grand Rapids and Cascade Township, the ordinance would require bicycle helmets for all riders on all local roads and bike paths, he said. Ada Township has a bike path along Ada Drive from Spaulding Avenue to Ada Elementary School, with plans to extend the path into the village as early as this year. It also connects to the Cascade Trail near Spaulding and, eventually, additional locations throughout the township. "All paths will be connected," Nygren explained. "We should have a uniform law that continues with the paths."

    Cascade Manager Jay Cravens said he believes his township's ordinance is worthwhile. "I believe it has helped to cut down on serious injuries, but there's no documentation," Cravens said. Most people riding on the Cascade path now wear helmets, he noted.

    Unlike Cascade's ordinance, which allows those age 14 and older to ride without helmets, Ada's law would include adults. "I believe we should lead by example," Nygren said. "Children will wear helmets when they see adults wearing helmets."

    Nygren, who is running for Ada Township clerk in the Aug. 8 primary election, said he would like to see an ordinance on the books by this summer.

Michigan:
Thursday, May 25
Ada Township - A Kent County firefighter is proposing mandatory
      bike helmet use in his community. Matt Nygren, also an Ada Township
      trustee, hopes an ordinance requiring every cyclist to wear a helmet will
  be on the books by this summer. Nygren got the idea after helping a
teenager who was knocked unconscious in a fall on a bicycle path.