Updated: Thu Nov. 04 2004 11:31:21 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

The Ontario legislature is considering a bill that would require bicyclists, rollerbladers and skateboarders to wear helmets when they're travelling on public roads.

NDP MPP Michael Prue fought back tears as he spoke in favour of the bill, recalling his brother's death from a bicycling accident. He was not wearing a helmet.

"There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about him," Prue said. "There isn't a day goes by that I don't see someone on the streets in Toronto -- an adult without a helmet on their head."

Prue spoke in support of a private members bill put forward by Liberal MPP John Milloy, who lost a friend who died of head injuries after an inline skating accident.

Consumer Minister Jim Watson also spoke to personal experience, with a friend who was one of the first Canadians to die after an inline skating accident.

"Regrettably he was not wearing a helmet, and his skates got caught up in some gravel and in a matter of seconds he hit his head on the pavement and he was immediately knocked unconscious," Watson said. "I had the sad task of identifying Carl, and it was a moment that I will never forget."

It's likely that all parties will unite to support Bill 129, which would apply to cyclists, skaters, skateboarders and people using muscle-propelled vehicles such as scooters.

As the law stands now, only bicyclists under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet. The new law would apply to all ages.