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The Manchester city council has defeated a proposal to require helmets for children bicycling and participating in other activities, according to an article in the West County Journal:

Mary Shapiro photo/ The Manchester Board of Aldermen defeated a bill that would have required children to wear helmets when riding bikes, wearing inline skates and similar devices.

Manchester Mayor Asa Wilson has broken a 3-3 tie vote of the Board of Aldermen to defeat legislation - proposed by Police Chief John Connolly - to require Manchester children under age 13 to wear helmets when riding bikes, inline skating, roller skating, skateboarding and using similar devices. . . .

Some aldermen and the mayor had said they felt such a law could infringe on parents' rights.Connolly had told the aldermen last month that the city received a letter from St. Louis County - which was sent to all cities in the county - suggesting any communities without such a law enact one.