Laws Pertaining to Bicyclists by Country, District, State

[vrkelley]

The laws about how cars should interact with bicycles and how a bike should be lit seems difficult to find when you need them the most. Sometimes, if you're traveling to another area, it would be helpful to know the local laws.

This thread is intended to share the latest laws and rules of the road in your area without commentary. Please post only the latest traffic statues, recommendations, and rules of the road from your area here. If you want to comment, open a thread for discussion elsewhere.

Perhaps we can make this a sticky

[vrkelley]

State of Washington Bicycle laws http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/bike/Laws.htm


State Bicycling Laws

With more people riding bicycles, following the rules of the road is especially important. A bicycle is a legal road vehicle, just like a car. This means that bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers, even though bicycles are lighter than cars and generally slower.

Here are some laws to be aware of whether you are biking or driving a motor vehicle:

* Riding on the Road - When riding on a roadway, a cyclist has all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle driver (RCW 46.61.755). Cyclists who violate traffic laws may be ticketed (RCW 46.61.750).
* Roads Closed to Bicycles - Some designated sections of the state's limited access highway system may be closed to bicycles for safety reasons. See State Highway Sections Closed to Bicycles for more information. In addition, local governments may adopt ordinances banning cycling on specific roads or on sidewalks within business districts. See City, County and Regional Contacts to get more information on a specific area.
* Children Bicycling - Parents or guardians may not knowingly permit bicycle traffic violations by their ward (RCW 46.61.700).
* Riding Side by Side - Cyclists may ride side by side, but not more than two abreast (RCW 46.61.770).
* Riding at Night - For night bicycle riding, a white front light (not a reflector) visible for 500 feet and a red rear reflector are required. A red rear light may be used in addition to the required reflector (RCW 46.61.780).
* Bicycle Helmets - Currently, there is no state law requiring helmet use. However, some cities and counties do require helmets. See Localities Requiring Bicycle Helmets.
* Shoulder vs. Bike Lane - Cyclists may choose to ride on the path, bike lane, shoulder or travel lane as suits their safety needs (RCW 46.61.770).

[o-dog]

http://www.cpabc.org/mdlaws.htm

Maryland bike laws, courtesy of the College Park Area Bicycle Coalition. I think the bell/horn requirement has been repealed though.

[N_C]

Sioux City:http://www.sioux-city.org/custom/code/chapter.asp?strURL=http://www.sioux-city.org/codemaster/Title_10/52/index.html

[jwc]

North Carolina

http://www.ncdot.org/transit/bicycle/laws/laws_bikelaws.html


BTW, go to section 10A for details of cycling laws.

[joejack951]

Delaware Rules of the Road: http://www.delcode.state.de.us/title21/c041/index.htm#P-1_0

I agree that this thread should be a sticky although it'd be nice if someone could put all the links into one post for easy access. I'll offer to do it once we get a mod to allow a sticky.

[cc_rider]

Virginia here. http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC46020000008000000000000

The rules a bicycles are split into several sections of the Motor Vehicle Code.

[vendorz]

The Oregon Department of Transportation (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/) has several bike-related resources including links to bicycle maps (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/maps.shtml), the Oregon Driver Manual 2005-7 (pdf) (http://www.odot.state.or.us/forms/dmv/37.pdf), which summarizes legal requirements and good practices, the full text of the Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) (http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/) and a:

Summary of Bike-related ORS in pdf Format (http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/docs/bike-ped_statutes.pdf)

[chipcom]

Ohio laws just changed. These two links should give an overview of the law as it was and the changes that recently took effect:

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/bike/New%20Downloads/Bike%20Laws.PDF
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/bike/New%20Downloads/BikeLaws%20Effective%2092106.doc

[Wogsterca]

Ontario, Canada has various laws regarding bicycles in the Highway Traffic Act, this is available online in English and French.

English: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/English/90h08_e.htm
French: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/DBLaws/Statutes/French/90h08_f.htm

[Frankenbiker]

Illinois bicyle rules (http://www.state.il.us/kids/isp/bikes/law/default.htm)
Illinois bicycle rules of the road (PDF (http://www.sos.state.il.us/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a1433.pdf))

[CB HI]

Links to State Laws (http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/bikelaw.htm)
Hawaii laws summary (under renovation right now (http://www.hbl.org/rights_respon.html)

Hawaii State laws:
HRS_0291C-0141 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0141.htm)
HRS_0291C-0142 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0142.htm)
HRS_0291C-0143 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0143.htm)
HRS_0291C-0144 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0144.htm)
HRS_0291C-0145 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0145.htm)
HRS_0291C-0146 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0146.htm)
HRS_0291C-0147 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0147.htm)
HRS_0291C-0148 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0148.htm)
HRS_0291C-0149 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0149.htm)
HRS_0291C-0150 (http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/vol05_ch0261-0319/hrs0291c/HRS_0291C-0150.htm)

City of Honolulu - see Article 18 (http://www.honolulu.gov/refs/roh/15a10_20.htm)

[ubernier]

Gainesville, Florida--

Florida:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/ped_bike/laws/ped_bike_bikeLaws1.htm

[The Human Car]

All US State laws concerning cycling: http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/statelaws.htm

Maryland Code: http://198.187.128.12/Maryland/lpext.dll?f=templates&fn=fs-main.htm&2.0
Under Transportation, Title 21, Subtitle 12 (search for-> )
SUBTITLE 12. OPERATION OF BICYCLES AND PLAY VEHICLES

DC: http://weblinks.westlaw.com/toc/default.aspx?Abbr=dc%2Dst&Action=ExpandTree&AP=DC010483467&ItemKey=DC010483467&RP=%2Ftoc%2Fdefault%2Ewl&Service=TOC&RS=WEBL6.11&VR=2.0&SPa=DCC-1000&fragment#DC010483467


Maryland bike laws, courtesy of the College Park Area Bicycle Coalition. I think the bell/horn requirement has been repealed though.

The wording was changed last year to “a person may operate” … a bike with a bell.

[The Human Car]

I just noticed you want by county and districts as well:

Baltimore, MD: http://cityservices.baltimorecity.gov/charterandcodes/Code/Art%2031%20-%20Transit&Traff.pdf
(Nothing really new just lists the fines for offences.)

I will note that Montgomery County is the only county in Maryland that I am aware of where sidewalk riding is legal (sorry I don’t have a web source on that.)

[JRA]

Missouri
Missouri Revised Statutes--Title XIX--Motor Vehicles, Watercraft And Aviation

Most of the bicycle specific laws are in
Chapter 307 - Vehicle Equipment Regulations (RSMo-C307)
- available online either as the entire chapter (http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/chapters/chap307.htm) or as individual sections (http://www.moga.state.mo.us/STATUTES/C307.HTM).

See especially the folowing sections:
307.180 bicycle defined
307.183 brakes required
307.185 lights and reflectors
307.188 rights and duties
307.190 riding to right
307.191 operating on shoulder (not required)
307.192 required to give hand or mechanical signals
307.193 penalty for violation

See also
Chapter 304 Traffic Regulations (chapter (http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/chapters/chap304.htm) / sections (http://www.moga.state.mo.us/STATUTES/C304.HTM))

More resources can be found on the Missouri Bicycle Federation website:
mobikefed.org/statutes.html (http://mobikefed.org/statutes.html)

Also, Chapter 7 - Sharing the Road (pdf (http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/dlguide/chapter7.pdf)) of The Missouri Driver's Guide (http://www.dor.mo.gov/mvdl/drivers/dlguide/) discusses bicycles.

As far as local laws go--lot's of luck! It's every municipality for itself. The Model Traffic Ordinance (RSMo-C300: chapter (http://www.moga.state.mo.us/statutes/chapters/chap300.htm) / sections (http://www.moga.state.mo.us/STATUTES/C300.HTM)) may have been adopted locally.

[chipcom]

All US State laws concerning cycling: http://www.massbike.org/bikelaw/statelaws.htm

This site isn't current, at least for Ohio.

[vrkelley]

State of WI

http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/vehicle/bicycle/rules.htm
http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/vehicle/bicycle/docs/bikelaws.pdf

[noisebeam]

This is very relevant and has links to state laws as well:

Bicycles and the Traffic Law: A Guide to Improving U.S. Traffic Laws Pertaining to Bicycling (http://www.bicycledriving.com/trafficlaw.htm)

Al

[Choccy]

I have found this for the UK.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069837

[Pscyclepath]

State statutes pertaining to bicycles, both bike-specific and the traffic code; also the city codes for those communities which have stricter bike ordinances than what's provided for under state law:

http://www.geocities.com/capitalguards/ARBikeLaws.pdf