No law was found in North Carolinathat requires persons opening the door of a motor vehicle to do so in a reasonably safe manner that does not interfere with the movement of traffic. Source: Office of the State Traffic Administration (OSTA) 14-298-238. 42-4-1301; 42-1-102. Wisconsin does not require that bicyclists use any lane or path other than a normal vehicular traffic lane. a bicycle operated in a highway lane with other vehicle types shall keep to the right unless: 1. In addition, no person shall leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers. Stat. New York does not offer Share the Road license plates at this time. Ride without a reasonable safety margin on the right-hand side of the roadway. The District of Columbia currently has the following laws aimed at distracted driving, subject to limited exceptions: Source: D.C. Code 50-1731.02; 50-1731.03; 50-1731.04; 50-1731.05. ), available here http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/45. 541.201(23); 551.101. The District of Columbia's law prohibiting driving while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is written so that it applies to all vehicles and therefore applies to bicyclists. In Nebraska bicycles are not vehicles according to the statute that defines vehicles, but a person riding a bicycle has all of the rights and duties of the driver of a vehicle under Nebraskas Rules of the Road, except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Louisiana does not require that bicyclists use any lane or path other than a normal vehicular traffic lane. North Carolina requires that any person under the age of 16 riding a bicycle, as an operator or passenger, must wear a protective bicycle helmet. Rev. Pennsylvania's law prohibiting driving while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is written so that it applies to all vehicles and therefore applies to bicyclists. Washington Department of Transportation Bicycle law resources: Bicycle Alliance of Washington Bicycle law resources: Washington Bike Law Highlights of the law: A person may not drive or operate a motor vehicle on a public street or highway while: Using a cell phone or other electronic communications device, unless the use is accomplished by hands-free equipment; A holder of a level one instruction permit who is under the age of eighteen years shall be prohibited from using a wireless communication device while operating a motor vehicle; and. In South Carolina bicycles are not vehicles according to the statute that defines vehicles, but a person riding a bicycle has all of the rights and duties of a driver of a vehicle under Chapter 5 of Title 56 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, except for special regulations specific to bicycles and those provisions that by their nature can have no application. Bicycle, electric-assisted bicycle, and motorized bicycle. Rev. Source: N.Y. Veh. ), available here: http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/tncode/. 47 47-1-186; 47-11-1202. West Virginia does not have a statute that specifically authorizes or prohibits the operation of a bicycle upon a sidewalk. (a) A motorized bicycle may be operated under either a driver's license or a motorized bicycle permit issued under section 171.02, subdivision 3. Source: Ind. Virginia provides that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a bicycle rider approaches an intersection that is controlled by a traffic light, the rider may proceed through the intersection on a steady red light if, and only if, the rider: Virginia provides that any locality may, by ordinance: The ordinance shall require the license plates, tags, or adhesive decals to be provided by and at the cost of the locality. The legislature then modified its motorized bicycles definition by stating that such device is one that operates in excess of 20 MPH with a maximum motor-powered speed of 28 MPH. Iowa does not provide any modifications to the requirement to come to a complete stop when directed to stop by traffic control devices and does not authorize bicyclists to disobey traffic lights that fail to detect bicyclists. 55-8-136(b); 55-8-199; 55-50-311; 55-9-105. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that would make it unsafe to continue along near the right-hand curb or edge, including those caused by traffic lanes too narrow for a bicycle or and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane. Except for a bicycle or device propelled by human power, a person may not operate a vehicle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area other than on a driveway. Iowa does not define who is a "vulnerable road user," but protects bicyclists by providing that: A person who commits either above offense commits a simple misdemeanor. [effective 8/1/21]. However, in 2000, in State v. Carr, 761 So.2d 1271 (2000),the Louisiana Supreme Court held that this law was not applicable to a bicycle because both the interpretation and intention of the law was ambiguous in its application to bicycles. Stat. Delaware defines a "vulnerable user of a public right-of-way" as: Delaware protects vulnerable road users by providing for specific additional penalties for any person found guilty of careless driving if that offense contributed to the serious physical injury of a vulnerable user lawfully in the public right-of-way. Of which, at least eight, including Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming, have enacted specific e-bike laws without such requirements. Montana does not provide any modifications to the requirement to come to a complete stop when directed to stop by traffic control devices and does not authorize bicyclists to disobey traffic lights that fail to detect bicyclists. Sign up to receive our e-news in your inbox. Source: Okla. Stat. The driver proximately causes the death, great bodily harm, or substantial bodily harm of a vulnerable user of a public way. It is legal for all persons of any age to operate a bicycle without wearing a helmet unless otherwise provided by a municipal regulation. Texas, in conjunction with the Texas Bicycle Coalition Education Fund, offers Share the Road license plates. We update laws as we work with our member advocacy organizations to pass better laws and as advocates or the public tell us about changes. Illinois Department of Transportation Bicycling Laws site: Illinois Bicycle Rules of the Road pamphlet: Compilation of laws by League of Illinois Bicyclists: A person may not use a telecommunications device to: type a text message or an electronic mail message; transmit a text message or an electronic mail message; or. 21-1207.1, Maryland, in conjunction with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, offers Share the Road license plates. In Minnesota bicycles are vehicles according to the statute that defines vehicles and a person riding a bicycle has all of the rights and duties of the driver of a vehicle as provided in Chapter 169 of the Minnesota Statutes, except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Kansas requires that wherever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway. Stat. Arkansas does not require that bicyclists use any lane or path other than a normal vehicular traffic lane. Nevada authorizes a person on a bicycle to proceed through a red light after coming to a stop if the person waits for two complete cycles of the lights or lighted arrows and the signal does not change because of a malfunction or because the signal failed to detect the presence of the bicycle. Stat. Source: N/A, Authorization for Local Regulation of bicycles, Alabama does not specifically provide for local authorities to regulate the operation of bicycles or require registration of bicycles, although such authorities may regulate the operation of bicycles through the exercise of their other legal powers. All Rights Reserved. read a text message or an electronic mail message; while operating a moving motor vehicle unless the device is used in conjunction with hands free or voice operated technology, or unless the device is used to call 911 to report a bona fide emergency. Bicycles are also subject to the rights and duties applicable to vehicles and must therefore drive upon the right half of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction. Oregon requires that a bicyclist must use a bicycle lane or bicycle path when a bicycle lane or bicycle path is adjacent to or near a roadway, except that a bicyclist is able to safely move out of the bicycle lane or path for the purpose of: However, a person is not required to comply with this law unless the state or local authority with jurisdiction over the roadway finds, after public hearing, that the bicycle lane or bicycle path is suitable for safe bicycle use at reasonable rates of speed. North Carolina offers Share the Road license plates. There are currently no national standards for laws protecting vulnerable road users, but the League of American Bicyclists has drafted a Model Vulnerable Road User statute,which you can findhere. Nebraska provides that a local authority may by ordinance regulate the operation of bicycles and may provide for the registration and inspection of bicycles. Illinois requires that a bicyclist, traveling at a speed less than the speed of traffic, must ride as close as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway except under any of the following circumstances: Illinois allows bicycles to operate on sidewalks subject to the following rules: Illinois does not require that bicyclists use any lane or path other than a normal vehicular traffic lane. At the federal level, a 2002 law enacted by Congress,HB 727, amended the Consumer Product Safety Commission definition of e-bikes. 18 1200; 1201. It is legal for all persons of any age to operate a bicycle without wearing a helmet unless otherwise provided by a municipal regulation. Arkansas does not have any vulnerable road user laws at this time. A person shall not drive a bicycle or motor vehicle upon any highway while wearing earphones or a headset. Persons less than eighteen years of age from using a wireless telephone while operating a motor vehicle. Stat. Roller skates;6. When treating a stop sign as a yield sign, a bicyclist must slow down to a reasonable speed and yield the right of way to any vehicle in or approaching the intersection so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard. Priority is given to existing vehicle-activated traffic control signals for which complaints relating to bicycle detection have been received or otherwise identified as having a detection problem. Oregon's law prohibiting driving while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is written so that it applies to all vehicles and therefore applies to bicyclists. Code), available here http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/title9/. Source: Tex. Source: Md. Rev. Att'yGen. Bicycles should not be operated while intoxicated and operating a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances may result in severe punishments. The Alabama Bicycling Coalition has a compilation of laws relevant to bicycles which provides direct links to the Alabama Code and is more comprehensive than this page, it is available here: http://www.alabike.org/code.html, Alaska does not have a law that sets a specific distance for a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle. In Florida bicycles are vehicles according to the statute that defines vehicles and a person riding a bicycle has all of the rights and duties of the driver of a vehicle as provided in Chapter 316 of the Florida Statutes, except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. 13 02.385. No operator of a motor vehicle shall use a mobile telephone, or any handheld device capable of accessing the internet, to manually compose, send or read an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle; No person under 18 years of age shall use a mobile telephone, hands-free mobile telephone or mobile electronic device while operating a motor vehicle on any public way; and. Georgia's law prohibiting driving while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is written so that it applies to all vehicles and therefore applies to bicyclists. The laws regulating the operation of bicycles in the state of Oklahoma are generally found in Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes (Okla. 14-300i; 14-242(f); 14-212c. Codified Laws), available here: http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/index.aspx. A person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk, or on a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal when necessary before overtaking and passing any pedestrian; No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district unless permitted by local authorities. Louisiana does not define who is a "vulnerable road user," but protects bicyclists by providing that: Louisiana currently has the following laws aimed at distracted driving, subject to limited exceptions: Source: La. If the violation results in the death of another person, the person shall be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000.00, in addition to any other penalties prescribed by law. Regs. Code), available here: http://search.leg.wa.gov/. The electric motor may not have a power output more than 750 Fifty percent of the amount of such fine is to be deposited into a school zone safety account. give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian; A person may not operate a bicycle on a sidewalk, path, trail, or across a roadway in a crosswalk, where prohibited by a traffic-control device or ordinance; A person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, path, trail, or across a roadway on a crosswalk may not operate at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the existing conditions, giving regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing; Except as otherwise provided, a person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, path, or trail, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances; and. Nevertheless bicycles should not be operated while intoxicated and a bicyclist may potentially be charged with a DUI because bicyclists are subject to the duties applicable to vehicles. However, Montana does include distracted driving in its traffic education curriculum. See our privacy policy. 20137.4A; 20137.3; 20137.3. Oklahoma requires that no person shall the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so. However, if the driver of a motor vehicle cannot pass a bicycle at a distance of three feet or greater, the driver may slow and pass if doing so will not endanger the safety of the operator of the bicycle. Any driver of a motor vehicle who, in a careless and imprudent manner, drives the vehicle unnecessarily close to, toward, or near a bicyclist is guilty of the offense of careless driving, which is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense. A person under the age of 19 years who holds an instruction permit, or a person under the age of 19 years who holds a graduated license, may not drive a vehicle on a roadway while using a wireless phone; A person, regardless of age, may not use a wireless telephone at any time while operating a motor vehicle on a roadway in a school speed zone, or in a roadway work zone; A person may not operate a motor vehicle on a roadway while using an electronic communication device to compose, send, or read an electronic message; A school bus driver may not operate a school bus while using a cellular radio telecommunication device; and, A commercial motor vehicle operator may not use a hand-held mobile phone or engage in texting while driving. Source: N.C. Gen. Stat. Signs indicating such prohibition shall be conspicuously posted in general areas where the riding of bicycles, is prohibited; No person shall ride a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, where such use of bicycles is prohibited by official traffic control devices; A person riding a bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian; and. When necessary to avoid hazardous conditions, including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, surface hazards, opening doors of parallel-parked vehicles, and those caused by a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle or roller skier and a vehicle to travel safely side by side in the lane. 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