§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]



 



Cross References



 



  County regulation of commercial bicycle tours, see §46-16.3.