motorized bicycle laws by state

Ann. Stat. Nevada began offering Share the Road license plates in 2015. In addition, the North Carolina Drivers Handbook does not advise motorists on the dangers of opening a door into traffic, although there is a chapter about sharing the road with bicyclists and other vehicles: http://www.ncdot.gov/download/dmv/handbooks_ncdl_english.pdf. Arizona does not offer Share the Road license plates at this time. Governor's Highway Safety Office Legal Resources: Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization Handbook for Motorists & Bicyclists: A person under 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device; A person under 17 years of age who holds a restricted motorcycle license or moped license may not operate a motorcycle or moped while using a wireless communications device; An operator may not use a wireless communication device while operating a passenger bus with a minor passenger on the bus unless the passenger bus is stopped; and. In Oklahoma, a person operating a bicycle approaching a stop shall shall: slow down; if required to avoid an immediate hazard, stop at the stop sign before entering the intersection; and cautiously enter the intersection and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection. Maine requires that no person open the door of a motor vehicle on the side of moving traffic unless opening the door is reasonably safe to do and can be done without interfering with the movement of traffic. E-bikes may also provide a more attractive and feasible choice to take short trips. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while engaging in text messaging. The net proceeds of the program are used by the Fairhope Cycling Project to promote, educate, and help make the communities of Alabama bicycle and pedestrian friendly.Source: COA 32-6-64, Alabama does not have any vulnerable road user laws at this time. California Department of Motor Vehicles Safety Tips for Bicyclists and Motorists: California Department of Transportation Bicycle Codes, Laws, and Regulations: California Highway Patrol Bicycle Riding brochure: Compilation of laws by Sacramento Area Bicycling Advocates: Compilation of laws by Los Angeles Department of Transportation: Compilation of laws by California Bicycle Coalition: Any person who knowingly projects any object or substance at or against a bicyclist commits a class 2 misdemeanor. New Hampshire does not require that bicyclists use any lane or path other than a normal vehicular traffic lane. Any person convicted of the above offense shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than thirty days. Delaware currently has the following laws aimed at distracted driving, subject to limited exceptions: Sources: Del. Source: Office of the State Traffic Administration (OSTA) 14-298-238. When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction; or. Mississippi currently has the following laws aimed at distracted driving, subject to limited exceptions: Source: Miss. It is legal for all persons of any age to operate a bicycle without wearing a helmet unless otherwise provided by a municipal regulation. 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. North Dakota requires that no person open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic. Oklahoma requires that when overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction, a person driving a motor vehicle shall: 1) exercise due care; 2)If there is more than one lane for traffic proceeding in the same direction, move the vehicle to the lane to the immediate left if the lane is available and moving into the lane is reasonably safe; and 3)If there is only one lane for traffic proceeding in the same direction, the driver shall not overtake or pass a bicycle at a distance of less than three (3) feet. Law 1225-c; 1225-d; New York City Administrative Code (NEW) 19-537. Source: R.I. Gen. Laws 31-19-11; 31-19-12. A motor-assisted bicycle doesn't qualify for a registration as a motorcycle, moped or ATV and doesn't have the same equipment. New York requires that no person open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic. In addition, no person may leave a door open on a side of a vehicle adjacent to moving traffic for a period of time longer than is necessary to load or unload passengers. In New Mexico it is a misdemeanor for any person to open the door of a vehicle on the side near moving traffic unless: it is reasonably safe to do so; and the door can be opened without interfering with the movement of traffic. The failure to wear a required helmet shall not be used as evidence of contributory negligence in any civil action. ), whose maximum speed on a paved level surface, when powered solely by such a motor while ridden by an operator who weighs 170 pounds, is less than 20 mph. The federal law permits e-bikes to be powered by the motor alone (a throttle-assist e-bike), or by a combination of motor and human power (a pedal-assist e-bike). A pedestrian, including an individual who is lawfully: (i) actively working on a highway or utility facility along a highway; (ii) providing emergency services on a highway; or (iii) on a sidewalk or footpath; An individual who is lawfully riding or leading an animal on a highway, shoulder, crosswalk, or sidewalk; or. Have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances. Don't go straight in a lane marked "right-turn only." Source: N.M. Stat. However, the Iowa Drivers Manual does advise that motorists should be careful when opening vehicle doors because road widths can force bicyclists to ride close to parked vehicles where they may be injured by an opening door: http://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/ods/dlmanual/dlmanual.pdf. Source: Haw. It is legal for all persons of any age to operate a bicycle without wearing a helmet unless otherwise provided by a municipal regulation. South Dakota requires that no person open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic. The laws regulating the operation of bicycles in the District of Columbia are generally found in the District of Columbia Municipal Code (D.C. Mun. The person is operating a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes, in which case they may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway. Source: Utah Code Ann. 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. 13 02.130, Alaska 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. The laws regulating the operation of bicycles in the state of Kansas are generally found in Chapter 8, Article 15 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated (Kan. Stat. Thus, many states still have their own laws that categorize e-bikes with mopeds and other motorized vehicles, require licensure and registration, or do not enable them to be used on facilities such as bike lanes or multi-purposetrails. According to U.S. Department of Transportation survey data, half of all trips in the U.S. are three miles or less in length, a distance widely regarded as bikeable for most adults and even more feasible for electric bicycle riders. It is important to note that "highway" refers to most roads in Kentucky and does not mean that these regulations only apply to limited-access or high-speed roads. Stat. Maryland 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. However, it isn't without some risk. When the driver is passing a person operating a bicycle on the person's right side and the person operating the bicycle is turning left. West Virginia requires that the driver of a vehicle overtaking a bicycle traveling in the same direction shall pass to the left of the bicycle at a distance of not less than three feet at a careful and reduced speed, and may not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken bicycle. Source: N.D. However, North Carolina's traffic law requires that the driver of any vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at least two feet to the left thereof, and shall not again drive to the right side of the highway until safely clear of such overtaken vehicle. An individual lawfully operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk has all of the rights and responsibilities applicable to a pedestrian using that sidewalk or crosswalk. Source: Vt. Stat. Mississippi 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. New Hampshire prohibits any vehicle from driving upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except when a permanent or authorized temporary driveway crosses the sidewalk area. Source: N.D. Vermont does not offer Share the Road license plates at this time. Vehicles and horses generally cannot go on sidewalks, but bicycles are not vehicles under New Jersey law. When necessary to avoid hazardous conditions, including those caused by a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side in the lane. These include: Massachusetts currently has the following laws aimed at distracted driving, subject to limited exceptions: Source: Mass. In fact a new law was passed in 2000 which specifically addresses law enforcement interactions with bicyclists who are under the influence. These devices must still register with the state Motor Vehicle Commission and riders must also be at least 15, have a valid license, insurance and wear a helmet. ), available here: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/prefaces/toc. Stat. A bicycle using a roadway that has a width of not more than one lane of traffic in each direction. Compilation of laws by Bicycle Advocacy of Central Arkansas: Compilation of laws by North Little Rock Parks & Recreation: A person under the age of 18 years shall not drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone, even if equipped with a hands-free device, or while using a mobile service device. Transp. A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk or while crossing a roadway in a crosswalk shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances, except that the bicyclist must yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk or crosswalk. 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. Washington allow bicycles to proceed through a triggered traffic control signal after one cycle if that triggered traffic control signal fails to operate due to the size or composition of the bicycle. Regs. Source: Alaska Stat. The proceeds of Share the Road license plates benefit Bike Walk Montana. Rev. Nevertheless bicycles should not be operated while intoxicated. Continuing straight at an intersection where the bicycle lane or path is to the right of a lane from which a motor vehicle must turn right. 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. In Illinois 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 as provided in the Illinois Vehicle Code, except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. In Montana 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 in Chapters 7, 8, and 9 of the Montana Code, except for certain enumerated regulations and as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. When any town license is required, the license shall be in lieu of any license required by any county ordinance. Unsafe conditions include any lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane. 56-5-120; 56-5-3420. The child possesses a bicycle helmet; or. Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee and D.C. require riders under age 16 to wear a helmet. Vermont has no helmet law. When operating upon a one-way highway having 2 or more lanes available for traffic may ride as near the left-hand edge or curb of the roadway as practicable. 4511.07; 4511.711. As of June 2015, all but three states have motorcycle helmet laws in place (GHSA, Helmet Laws, 2015). Ohio provides that no person shall drive any vehicle, other than a bicycle, upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway. Maine's law prohibiting driving while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is written so that it applies to motor vehicles and therefore does not directly apply to bicyclists. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle that is proceeding in the same direction; When reasonably necessary to avoid hazardous conditions including a lane on the roadway that is too narrow for a bicycle and vehicle to travel safely side by side; When operating within a city as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of a roadway that is designated to allow traffic to move in only one direction along the roadway; When operating a bicycle alongside not more than one other bicycle as long as the bicycles are both being operated within a single lane and in a manner that does not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic; and. nor shall any person ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in any area outside of the Central Business District if it is expressly prohibited by Order of the Mayor and appropriate signs to such effect are posted. The laws regulating the operation of bicycles in the state of New Hampshire are generally found in Chapter 265 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes (N.H. Rev. When a bicyclist is operating on a sidewalk or crosswalk a bicyclist shall have the rights and duties of a pedestrian in the same circumstances. A person riding a bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances. No pedals if powered solely by electrical energy (CVC 406 (a)). Iowa's law prohibiting driving while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is written so that it applies to motor vehicles and therefore does not directly apply to bicyclists. 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