Why don’t the new downtown parking enforcement officers wear helmets when they’re zipping around downtown on their chariots?

Carlton Chenault, an outrider with LEXPARK showed off the new Chariot on Main Street in Lexington, Ky., Thursday, July, 3, 2008.

Gary Means, executive director of the Lexington Fayette County Parking Authority explains: the three-wheeled vehicle that the enforcement officers use are not prone to tipping over like a bicycle or motorcycle, so consequently are more stable. After a discussion between the staffs of the parking authority and Republic Parking (who actually employs the outriders), it was decided that the vehicles are safe enough to not require a helmet. Kentucky state law only requires protective headgear for anyone under the age of 21,  has an instructional permit or has had their motorcycle license for less than one year. Operators of three-wheeled vehicles are not required to wear a helmet. Republic Parking has experience with other cities using the vehicles and has not any problems operating the chariots without a helmet.

Filed under: Lexington info