WASHINGTON – Maryland lawmakers are proposing a bike helmet requirement for all cyclists, but it’s not getting support from where some might expect.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association says the proposed mandate puts it in an “awkward position,” according to The Washington Post.

The group’s executive director says they want to promote the safety benefits of helmets, but worry the requirement would deter more people from riding.

The head of the nonprofit Bike Maryland says her group is neither supporting nor opposing the bill.

The measure’s lead sponsor — Delegate Maggie McIntosh (D-Baltimore City) — says she is surprised by the reaction.

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