General Cycling Discussion - what are the bike/ road laws in your area?

This might belong in the road section, but I often ride my mtn bike from trail to trail via highways/ roads, and I thought it might get more replies here. I ride mostly in AR and OK. I have heard that a bike is recognized as any other vehicle by law in OK, but that is only hearsay. I do remember a couple years ago in Tulsa, a small group of roadies were hit by a car. One of them died. The lady that hit them was passing in a no-passing zone and was held liable, if I remember right. Maybe 1oldroadie will see this and confirm.

How are your laws? And how can I find out for certain the laws in OK and AR?

There is a week long ride here in OK every summer called "Freewheel", usually about 2,000 riders and 500-600 miles. It is usually escorted by a Highway Patrol, and the last time I did that tour the officer made us (actually tried to make us) ride single file. I've also heard the law states no more then two riders abreast.

For bicycling laws for each state & Canadian province (and a few European countries), try this site:

http://www.bikehighway.com/cyclinglaws.htm

It doesn't link to the laws in my state (Vermont), though. I know I've seen another site similar to this one that has all 50 states and more links.

Here's another one:
http://www.ibike.org/education/laws.htm

In Oklahoma

"Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this act, except as to special regulations in this article and except to those provisions of this act which by their nature can have no application."

Also 2abreast except when being passed. Stay to the right unless it is is unsafe and if it is unsafe the bicycle has rights to the full lane.

I knew some of the riders that was hit by that car. They were southbound in a paceline on a paved backroad.

The car was driven my a young lady north bound and impatient so she passed a pickup in front of her on a blind curve.

The inside front rider saw her coming and threw himself into the other riders trying to knock them off the road. He did well, all lived.

She was cited and arrested for reckless driving, improper passing, etc. No citations to any of the riders.

Out here in T.O. cyclist are considered equal user of the road and as such they have the same rights and obligation as a motor vehicle, unless, they have change the law out here

In Quebec the laws are written in French and English. I remember reading that there was a difference between the two versions in the section on passing where there is a double white line in the centre of the road. In the English version you are not allowed to pass except to pass a slowmoving agricultural tractor. In the French version you are not allowed to pass except to pass a slowmoving vehicle such as an agricultural tractor.

Bicycles are not allowed to be driven on sidewalks unless the wheels are 20" or smaller. However enforcement of this is almost nonexistent. I dont know if the laws have anything to say about driving other vehicles on the sidewalks.

Here's another link:
http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/bikelaw.htm

In Manitoba they basically state you are a vehicle, stay as far to the right as practical and ride single file. There are also provisions for lights, white on front, red (can be a reflector)in back, after dark.

As far as I know in my local area, the laws are, in a nutshell, 'same rights as a motorist, but also same responsibilities'.
The spooky thing is that about 90 percent of the people I meet have never known this. These are also the same people honking and flipping me off for being on "their" side of the road, or for that matter, being on the road at all. The state driver's license written test has two or three questions that deal with cyclists and you'd be amazed to know how many people miss em.

Aside from the legal standpoint, my biggest beef is with those folks who don't think you and your two wheels deserve your rightful place in line at a stopsign or light. I guess they see it as arrogance when you refuse to get off to the shoulder....or sidewalk.

Same in Virginia. Like Manitoba, most US states also include the requirement that cyclists ride as far to the right as practicable (whatever that means), and single file in the presence of other traffic. Also, in most states, bicycles are not allowed on interstates. It's allowed in some western states. I think the rule of thumb is that they are allowed on interstates if there is no adjacent road that can be used instead. I've also heard of individuals getting some kind of license which individually excepts them from that restriction. I have no idea how.

Here in Queensland (and I'm pretty sure in all other Australian states) a bicycle is recognised as a vehicle the same as any other, although there are some roads (motorways and such) that we're not allowed to use (I've heard this is just a Queensland thing, in Melbourne we're apparently allowed to use them).

The biggest problem we have here is the one mentioned by Psycholist above, i.e. a lack of knowledge of this among the general public.

Originally posted by MikeOK
What are the bike/ road laws in your area?
For Atlanta, Georgia, USA, very simple and easy to remember:

1. Have a close personal relationship with God.

2. Don't expect anyone to do the smart thing, but be prepared for it in case it happens anyway.

3. Learn how to be a little bit crazy. It helps, it really does.

Mike, it's the unwritten laws that really matter.
Mssr Clark has summed them up quite nicely and I will not add to them.

Originally posted by Pete Clark
...
1. Have a close personal relationship with God.
2. Don't expect anyone to do the smart thing, but be prepared for it in case it happens anyway.
3. Learn how to be a little bit crazy. It helps, it really does.