(New England Diary editor Robert Whitcomb is chairman of The Boston Guardian)

“BlueBikes in Boston may be skirting state regulations meant to ensure bike safety, fulfilling a helmet availability requirement by selling them on their online storefront.

“State law requires all bike rental businesses to make helmets available to customers as well. Yet if you pay for a ride at a BlueBike rack, you won’t see any helmet being offered.

“That’s because the company fulfills its legal obligation by selling branded helmets on its website, ensuring all customers have the option of safety so long as they’re willing to walk the bike home, wait for the helmet to be shipped to them, and only then ride to their destination.

“That’s if customers can even find the storefront. The BlueBikes Website does not include a link in the top banner, tucking the sole mention of a store all the way at the bottom of the page next to the privacy statement and career board….’’

To read the whole article, please hit this link.

Cullen Paradis is a Boston Guardian reporter