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Bicycle Laws

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Ohio Bicycle Laws

[§ 4511.05.1] § 4511.051. Prohibitions on use of freeways.

(A)No person, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall:
(2) Occupy any space within the limits of the right-of-way of a freeway, with: an animal-drawn vehicle; a ridden or led animal; herded animals; a pushcart; a bicycle, except on a facility that is separated from the roadway and shoulders of the freeway and is designed and appropriately marked for bicycle use; a bicycle with motor attached; a motor driven cycle with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower; an agricultural tractor; farm machinery; except in the performance of public works or official duties.

§ 4511.40. Hand and arm signals.

(B) As an alternative to division (A)(2) of this section, a person operating a bicycle may give a right turn signal by extending the right hand and arm horizontally and to the right side of the bicycle.

§ 4511.52. Bicycles.

Sections 4511.01 to 4511.78, inclusive, 4511.99, and 4513.01 to 4513.37, inclusive, of the Revised Code which are applicable to bicycles apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

§ 4511.53. Rules for bicycles, motorcycles and snowmobiles.

(B) A person operating a bicycle or motorcycle shall not ride other than upon the permanent and regular seat attached thereto, nor carry any other person upon such bicycle or motorcycle other than upon a firmly attached and regular seat thereon, nor shall any person ride upon a bicycle or
motorcycle other than upon such a firmly attached and regular seat. A person shall ride upon a motorcycle only while sitting astride the seat, facing forward, with one leg on each side of the motorcycle. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article that prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars. No bicycle or motorcycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, nor shall any motorcycle be operated on a highway when the handle bars or grips are more than fifteen inches higher than the seat or saddle for the operator.

§ 4511.54. Prohibition against attaching bicycles and sleds to vehicles.

(A) No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or self to any streetcar, trackless trolley, or vehicle upon a roadway. No operator shall knowingly permit any person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle to attach the same or self to any streetcar, trackless trolley, or vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway.

§ 4511.55. Riding bicycles; motorcycles abreast.

(A) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction
(B) Persons riding bicycles or motorcycles upon a roadway shall ride not more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or motorcycles.

§ 4511.56. Signal devices on bicycle.

(A) Every bicycle when in use at the times specified in section 4513.03 of the Revised Code, shall be equipped with the following:
(1) A lamp on the front that shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front;
(2) A red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the director of public safety that shall be visible from all distances from one hundred feet to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle;
(3) A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear shall be used in addition to the red reflector;
(4) An essentially colorless reflector on the front of a type approved by the director;
(5) Either with tires with retroreflective sidewalls or with an essentially colorless or amber reflector mounted on the spokes of the front wheel and an essentially colorless or red reflector mounted on the spokes of the rear wheel. Each reflector shall be visible on each side of the wheel from a
distance of six hundred feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. Retroreflective tires or reflectors shall be of a type approved by the director.
(B) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one
hundred feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle.
(C) Every bicycle shall be equipped with an adequate brake when used on a street or highway.

[§ 4511.71.1] § 4511.711. Driving upon sidewalk area.

(A) 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.

Notes:
Municipal laws may be more restrictive. Cincinnati generally follows the OH revised code, except that the operation of bicycles are prohibited on
fountain square. Cleves restricts sidewalk use in business district (Main Street).

Material provided by:
Team Cycling and Fitness
7765 Colerain Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45239
513 513-522 522-1551

Indiana Bicycle Laws

C 9-21-11 Chapter 11. Bicycles and Motorized Bicycles

IC 9-21-11-1 Parents and guardians; authorizing or permitting violation of chapter; bicycles; application of chapter
Sec. 1. (a) The parent of a child and the guardian of a protected person may not authorize or knowingly permit the child or protected
person to violate this chapter.
(b) Subject to the exceptions stated, the provisions of this chapter applicable to bicycles apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon a highway or a path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

IC 9-21-11-2 Roadways; rights and duties
Sec. 2. A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway has all the rights and duties under this article that are applicable to a person who drives a vehicle, except the following:
(1) Special regulations of this article.
(2) Those provisions of this article that by their nature have no application.

IC 9-21-11-3 Operation; seats; passengers
Sec. 3. (a) A person propelling a bicycle may not:
(1) ride other than upon the permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle; or
(2) carry any other person upon the bicycle who is not seated upon a firmly attached and regular seat on the bicycle.
(b) A person may not ride upon a bicycle unless seated under this section.

IC 9-21-11-4 Number of passengers
Sec. 4. A bicycle may not be used to carry more persons at one (1) time than the number for which the bicycle is designed and equipped.

IC 9-21-11-5 Attachment to street car or vehicle; prohibition
Sec. 5. A person upon a bicycle, a coaster, roller skates, or a toy vehicle may not attach the bicycle, coaster, roller skates, or toy vehicle or the person to a street car or vehicle upon a roadway.

IC 9-21-11-6 Lane use restrictions; riding two abreast
Sec. 6. A person riding a bicycle upon a roadway may not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

IC 9-21-11-7 Packages, bundles, or other articles preventing proper use of handlebars
Sec. 7. A person who rides a bicycle may not carry a package, a bundle, or an article that prevents the person from keeping both hands upon the handlebars.

IC 9-21-11-8 Bell or other audible signaling devices; sirens; whistles
Sec. 8. A person may not ride a bicycle unless the bicycle is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet. A bicycle may not be equipped with and a person may not use upon a bicycle a siren or whistle.

IC 9-21-11-9 Lamps and reflectors
Sec. 9. A bicycle operated on a highway from one-half (1/2) hour after sunset until one-half (1/2) hour before sunrise must be equipped with the following:
(1) A lamp on the front exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the front.
(2) A lamp on the rear exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear or a red reflector visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear.

IC 9-21-11-10 Brakes
Sec. 10. A bicycle must be equipped with a brake that will enable the person who operates the bicycle to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

Notes:
Municipal laws may be more restrictive.

Material provided by:
Team Cycling and Fitness
7765 Colerain Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45239
513 513-522 522-1551

Kentucky Bicycle Laws

189.287 Bicycle safety regulations and standards.
The Transportation Cabinet may promulgate bicycle safety regulations and standards. Bicycle riders and bicycles complying with such regulations and standards are exempt from the provisions of KRS 189.040(9), 189.050(1), 189.050(5), and 189.080. Such bicycles and riders
are also exempt from municipal and other local government regulations concerning safety equipment but not method of operation. In promulgating regulations and standards the Transportation Cabinet shall permit use of lightweight modern technological substitutes for lights,
reflectors, and bells. The purpose of this section is to encourage bicycling and bicycle touring in this state by enabling bicycle riders to make use of modern technology to make their presence known to other users of the road. The Transportation Cabinet may consult with organizations of
bicycle riders to aid it in the search for bicycle safety equipment and rules convenient for long distance bicycle riders.

189.040 Front lights -- Flashing lights.
(9) Except as provided in any regulations adopted pursuant to KRS 189.287, bicycles need have only one (1) light in front which will reveal clearly substantial objects at least fifty (50) feet ahead.

189.050 Rear, side and clearance lights.
(1) Except as provided in any regulations adopted pursuant to KRS 189.287, all vehicles shall display at the rear one (1) red light visible when lighted for at least five hundred (500) feet. A red reflector meeting the requirements may be used in lieu of a red light.
(5) When in operation on any highway slow-moving or motorless vehicles, except bicycles, shall have at least one (1) lamp on the left side of the vehicle whether from the front or rear, showing white and of sufficient power to reveal clearly the outline of the left side of the vehicle and in
such a manner that the outline may be observed clearly by approaching vehicles from a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet.

189.080 Horns and other sound devices.
Except as provided in any regulations adopted pursuant to KRS 189.287, every motor vehicle and bicycle, when in use on a highway shall be equipped with a horn or other device capable of making an abrupt sound sufficiently loud to be heard under all ordinary traffic conditions. Every
person operating an automobile or bicycle shall sound the horn or sound device whenever necessary as a warning of the approach of such vehicle to pedestrians, or other vehicles, but shall not sound the horn or sound device unnecessarily. A bell may be used on a bicycle.

Material provided by:
Team Cycling and Fitness
7765 Colerain Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45239
513 513-522 522-1551