kokaku

can anyone tell me bike laws from other states? like if i can get on the interstate or not. if I'm able to camp out in a wooded patch or an abandoned park for the night.

i heard in Mississippi, you will be arrested without warning for traveling on the interstate.

harleyfrog

League of American Bicyclists has a list of state laws.

John E

The shoulders of several stretches of California freeways, including parts of I-5, are open to cyclists, because there is no reasonable alternate route.

SonataInFSharp

How would one from out of state know this? Is there appropriate signage?

UmneyDurak

I think there is a lack of signage. All the freeway entrances have "no pedestrians, etc" signs. No sign = you can ride (doesn't mean it's a good idea).

CB HI

Be careful using their information.

Here is what LAB says HI state law is for section 291C-145:
"291C-145: Riding on roadways and bikeways

(a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride as near to the right-hand curb, on the edge of the roadway, or the shoulder off the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.

(b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride in single file; provided that where the flow of traffic is unimpeded, riding two abreast upon bicycle lanes and bicycle paths shall be permitted when such lane or path is of sufficient width to allow riding two abreast unless otherwise prohibited by rule or ordinance adopted by the director of transportation or by the counties.

You have to have one hand on the handle bars at all times. You can't carry anything that prevents you from using both hands to control your bicycle."


Here is what the actual law says:
"§291C-145 Riding on roadways and bikeways.
(a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride as near to the right-hand curb, on the edge of the roadway, or on the shoulder off of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction; except under any of the following situations:

(1) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway, except where prohibited by official traffic-control devices;

(2) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including but not limited to fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb, on the edge of the roadway, or on the shoulder off of the roadway. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane; or

(3) When a roadway is designated and signposted to carry traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, a person operating a bicycle may ride as near to the left-hand curb, on the edge of the roadway, or on the shoulder off of such roadway as practicable.

(b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall ride in single file; provided that where the flow of traffic is unimpeded, riding two abreast upon bicycle lanes and bicycle paths shall be permitted when such lane or path is of sufficient width to allow riding two abreast unless otherwise prohibited by rule or ordinance adopted by the director of transportation or by the counties.

(c) Whenever a usable bicycle lane has been provided on a highway, any person operating a bicycle at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride within such bicycle lane, except that such person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if such overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane;

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; or

(3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.

(d) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the event that any vehicle may be affected by the movement.

(e) No person shall operate or ride a bicycle within a bicycle lane in any direction except that permitted of vehicular traffic traveling on the same side of the highway. Upon all bicycle paths of sufficient width and providing for two-way movement of bicycle traffic, bicycles proceeding in opposite directions shall pass each other to the right.

(f) The director of transportation by rule and the counties by ordinance may with respect to bikeways under their respective jurisdictions restrict or prohibit the use of such bikeways by mopeds.

(g) No person shall ride a bicycle equipped with a motor on any sidewalk. The counties may, by ordinance, post bicycle lanes and bicycle paths to prevent persons riding a bicycle equipped with a motor from using them. [L 1971, c 150, pt of §1; am L 1974, c 133, §5; am L 1976, c 148, §4; am L 1977, c 9, §1; am L 1978, c 30, §2 and c 175, §13; am L 1984, c 273, §12; am L 1998, c 29, §1; am L 1999, c 42, §1]"

pueblonative

What I would do is to go on a state-by-state basis depending upon where you're traveling. In Colorado, for instance, there's https://bicyclecolo.org/page.cfm?pageID=27. A long way may check to see whether or not your state has its laws and rules published online. Happy biking

Nick The Great

I think in Iowa any vehicle under 40mph is not allowed on the Interstates.

Law is mainly meant for farm equipment and horses, but I reckon it applies to bicycles too.

The Human Car

In MD no bikes on the interstates and there are generally no signs posted prohibiting bikes, you are just supposed to know that.

harleyfrog

I was checking out the Code of Ordinances for the City of Gulfport and what it said about bicycles when I came across this:
Hmmm, guess I need to bell for Fredkenstein.