Bike Helmets in Poland 2026: Mandatory Under 16, Fine Up to 100 zł
Short answer: Since 3 June 2026 everyone under 16 must wear a helmet on a bicycle, e-bike or e-scooter in Poland, and children up to 7 carried on a bike too. The fine is up to 100 zl.
Since 3 June 2026, children and teenagers in Poland must wear a helmet when they ride a bicycle, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter or a personal transport device. The rule affects every family with a child under 16, including visitors and new residents who rent a bike or borrow a scooter. This guide sets out what the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Ministry of the Interior and Administration say about who must wear a helmet, what applies to small children carried on a bike, what a helmet should meet, and what the penalty is. Both official pages are dated 3 June 2026.
Who must wear a helmet
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, from 3 June 2026 anyone under 16 who rides a bicycle, an electric bicycle, an electric scooter or a personal transport device must use a protective helmet. The rule applies whether the young person uses their own vehicle or a rented one.
The same obligation covers a child up to 7 years old who is carried on a bicycle, an assisted bicycle, a bicycle trolley or a bicycle trailer, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure page. The Interior Ministry page says a child up to 7 may be carried on a bicycle only in a helmet and a special safety seat.
There is one exception on the Interior Ministry page: a helmet is not required in special bicycle carts with belts if their construction makes it impossible to put on a helmet. The two pages describe the carrier types a little differently, so if you use a trailer or a cart, check the product instructions and ask the police or the road safety office in your area if you are unsure.
What about adults and older teenagers?
For people over 16, wearing a helmet is not mandatory, but the Ministry of Infrastructure recommends it for safety reasons. It says research shows a clear link between not wearing a helmet on a bicycle or electric scooter and traumatic brain injury.
The ministry says the obligation was introduced in a way similar to the rule on ski slopes, where children under 16 also need a helmet.
Why the rule was introduced
The Interior Ministry says the change responds to a rise in accidents, especially on electric scooters. According to its page, the number of accidents involving them rose by more than half in 2025, and more than 50 percent of the victims were children and young people aged 7 to 17. It also cites figures that a helmet lowers the risk of a head injury by 40 percent on a scooter and by more than 70 percent on a bicycle.
What helmet to buy
The Ministry of Infrastructure explains that technical conditions for a bicycle helmet are set by the European standard PN-EN 1078, which applies across the EU. A helmet that meets it must, among other things:
- protect the upper part of the head by absorbing the energy of an impact;
- have a safe design without parts that could cause injury;
- have an effective fastening system, with chin straps;
- pass the resistance and cushioning tests set by the standard;
- be correctly marked.
You can recognise a compliant helmet by the marking on the product or label. It should show the manufacturer's name or trademark, the mark "EN 1078" or "PN-EN 1078", and usually also the CE mark. The ministry advises checking before purchase that the producer declares conformity with EN 1078 and that the helmet is properly marked.
What is the penalty
The Interior Ministry states that the police can fine a parent or guardian up to 100 zł for not following the new rules. The fine is aimed at the adult responsible for the child, not at the child.
Free helmets through schools
The Ministry of Infrastructure says it signed an agreement on 24 April 2026 to buy 65,000 bicycle helmets for children, financed from the EU programme Fundusze Europejskie na Infrastrukturę, Klimat, Środowisko 2021-2027. The helmets are to go to schools across the country, which will hand them to pupils who pass the bicycle card exam. If your child is preparing for the exam, ask the school how this works.
Tips for expat families
- If your child rides a rented bike or scooter on holiday, the helmet duty applies as well, so bring one or ask the rental company whether it supplies helmets.
- Check the EN 1078 marking on any helmet you buy, including second-hand ones.
- If a child under 7 rides in a bike seat, plan for a helmet and a proper safety seat.
- For scooters, the age and licence rules are separate from the helmet rule. Our guide to e-scooter rules covers them.
The facts above are as of 16 October 2026 and come from two ministry pages dated 3 June 2026. Rules and fine amounts can change, so confirm anything unclear with the police or your municipality.
* Photos: Bicycle path in Poznań (CC0) and a rental bicycle child carrier in Trégastel, France (CC0), both Wikimedia Commons, illustrative.
Frequently asked questions
Do children need a helmet on a bike in Poland?
Yes. Since 3 June 2026 anyone under 16 must wear a helmet on a bicycle, electric bicycle, electric scooter or personal transport device, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure.
What is the fine for no helmet?
The Interior Ministry says the police can fine a parent or guardian up to 100 zł.
Do adults have to wear a helmet?
No. Over 16 it is not mandatory, but the Ministry of Infrastructure recommends it.
