Bicycle Laws

When both drivers and cyclists know the law, everyone on the street is safer.

After reading the basics in this artcle, you may want to download the guide Utah State Codes Relevant to Avid Cyclists. This easy-to-print one page guide was prepared by Provo Bicycle Committee member Jordan Englund. It cites relevant laws and is carried by many cyclists in the valley. Carrying one in your wallet can help you educate local residents or even officers that may not be particularly familiar with the law.

You may also be interested in downloading UDOT’s Utah Bicycle Commuter Guide which includes a summary of state bike laws on the back.

Top 10 Utah and Provo Bicycle Laws

There are dozens of laws that relate to bicycling in the valley. However, a few stand out as the most important statutes beginning cyclists need to know. By familiarizing yourself with the ten bicycling laws below, you’ll be prepared for just about any situation you encounter on the road.

1. Get a Provo bike license in case of theft (just $1 at 351 W. Center St.)

“No person shall ride or propel any bicycle on any public place unless and until such cycle shall have been licensed…This license shall remain in effect until the bicycle is sold or otherwise transferred to a new owner.” (Am 1986-30, Am 1994-97, Am 2006-15)

2. Ride on the road facing the same direction as traffic and staying as far to the right as practicable

“(1)  A person operating a bicycle … on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic …shall ride as near as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway except when: (a)  overtaking and passing …(b) preparing to make a left turn …(c) traveling straight through an intersection …or (d)  reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe … including: (i)  fixed or moving objects; (ii)  parked or moving vehicles; (iii) bicycles; (iv)  pedestrians; (v)  animals; (vi)  surface hazards; or (vii)  a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.” (41-6a-1105)

3. Obey all rules of the road (lights, stop signs, yield signs, etc.)

“(1) …a person operating a bicycle… has all the rights and is subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the operator of any other vehicle.” (41-6a-1102)

4. Use hand signals (left turn = left arm extended, right turn = right arm extended, stop = left arm extended downward)

“(1) (a)  A person may not turn a vehicle …until: …an appropriate signal has been given …continuously for at least the last two seconds preceding the beginning of the movement.” (41-6a-804)

5. Take the entire lane of traffic if it would be unsafe to ride side-by-side with a car or if road conditions require it. Cars can only pass bicyclists if there is a 3-foot buffer between them (the “3-foot rule”)

“An operator of a motor vehicle may not knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly operate a motor vehicle within three feet of a moving bicycle, unless the operator of the motor vehicle operates the motor vehicle within a reasonable and safe distance of the bicycle.” (41-6a-706.5)

6. Only ride 2-abreast if it will not impede traffic

“A person riding a bicycle … on a roadway may not ride more than two abreast with another person except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. (b) …a person riding two abreast with another person may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and shall ride within a single lane.” (41-6a-1105)

7. Use lights and reflectors after dark (white headlight, red taillight or reflector, and side reflectors, all visible from at least 500 feet)

“(1)  Every bicycle in use at the times described in Section 41-6a-1603 {“ from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise”} shall be equipped with a: (a)  lamp … on the front emitting a white light …and(b) (i)  red reflector … to the rear …OR (ii)  red taillight …emitting flashing or nonflashing light …(2)  Every bicycle when in use at the times described in Section 41-6a-1603 shall be equipped with: (a)  reflective material …to be visible from both sides … OR … a lighted lamp visible from both sides …{This means a white light in the front, a red light or red reflector in the back, and reflectors or lights visible from the sides. The rear light may be flashing.}” (41-6a-1114)

8. Avoid cycling on the sidewalk in designated areas (University Ave. between 400 North and 100 South, Center Street between 100 East and 500 West, or anywhere that posts notice)

“No person shall ride a bicycle, skateboard or roller skates upon a sidewalk contiguous to University Avenue between 400 North Street and 100 South Street, and on a sidewalk contiguous to Center Street between 100 East Street and 500 West Street.

The City Traffic Engineer is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon by any person and when such signs are in place no person shall disobey the same.” (Am 1987-58)

9. If you ride on the sidewalk, yield to pedestrians and let them know you’re passing with a bell or friendly yelp.

“Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.” (Am 1987-58)

10. Always, always  have fun. (Ok, so this one might not technically be on the books…)

Want to know more? You can find laws relating to bicycling in the Utah State Code and the Public Peace and Safety section of the Provo City Code.

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Leyes para los ciclistas

 Cuando tanto los conductores como los ciclistas conocen la ley, todos en la calle están más seguros.

Después de leer los conceptos básicos de este artículo, es posible que desee descargar la guía Códigos del estado de Utah relevantes para ciclistas ávidos. Esta guía, fácil de imprimir de una página, fue preparada por Jordan Englund, miembro del Comité de bicicletas de Provo. Se menciona  leyes relevantes y es llevado por muchos ciclistas en el valle. Llevar uno en su billetera puede ayudarlo a educar a los residentes locales o incluso a los oficiales que pueden no estar particularmente familiarizados con la ley.

También puede estar interesado en descargar la Guía para viajeros en bicicleta de UDOT, que incluye un resumen de las leyes estatales sobre bicicletas en la parte posterior.

Las 10 principales leyes sobre bicicletas en Provo- Utah

Hay decenas de leyes relacionadas con el ciclismo en el valle;sin embargo, algunos se destacan como los estatutos más importantes que los ciclistas principiantes deben conocer. Si se familiariza con las diez leyes sobre el uso de bicicletas, a continuación, estará preparado para casi cualquier situación que encuentre en la carretera.

1. Obtenga una licencia de bicicleta Provo en caso de robo (solo $1 en 351W. Center St.)

2. Conduzca por la carretera en la misma dirección que el tráfico y manténgase lo más a la derecha posible.

3. Obedezca todas las reglas de la carretera (luces, señales de alto, señales de ceder el paso, etc.)

4. Utilice señales con las manos (giro a la izquierda = brazo izquierdo extendido, giro a la derecha = brazo derecho extendido, parada = brazo izquierdo extendido hacia abajo)

5. Tome todo el carril de tráfico si no sería seguro viajar al lado de un automóvil o si las condiciones de la carretera lo requieren. Los automóviles sólo pueden rebasar a los ciclistas si hay un margen de 3 pies entre ellos (la “regla de los 3 pies”)

6. Conduzca solo de dos en dos si no obstaculiza el tráfico

7. Use luces y reflectores después del anochecer (faro blanco, luz trasera roja o reflector y reflectores laterales, todos visibles desde al menos 500 pies)

8. Evite andar en bicicleta en la acera en áreas designadas (University Ave. entre 400 North y 100 South, Center Street entre 100 East y 500 West, o en cualquier lugar que publique un aviso)

9. Si conduce por la acera, ceda el paso a los peatones y déjeles saber que está pasando con una campana o un grito amistoso. 

10. Siempre, siempre diviértete. (Ok, este podría no estar técnicamente en los libros…)

¿Quiere saber más? Puede encontrar leyes relacionadas con el ciclismo en el Código del Estado de Utah y la sección de Paz y Seguridad Pública del Código de la Ciudad de Provo.