Barack Obama rides without a bicycle helmet and many people are outraged and believe that Barack Obama should wear a bike helmet to set an example for the kids. At least Barack Obama was not being criticized for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk towards traffic.

Obama was cycling with his friends and family on Martha's Vineyard while on a vacation. During the presidential campaign Barack Obama was photographed while riding a bicycle in jeans and wearing a helmet. Later Obama said

"I had an internal debate. I knew that the AP was going to take a picture, and they were trying to portray it like Dukakis wearing that tank helmet. But I wanted to make sure that the children who saw that picture knew that even the Democratic nominee for president wears a helmet when he goes biking.”