Urban Cycling

Sometimes animosity arises between motorists and cyclists or cyclists and pedestrians. That’s why it’s good to know the lawsbefore unleashing your frustrations on a cyclist who may, even if he/she annoys you, be well within his rights. At the same time, there are rules you need to follow if you are going to ride your bike on city streets and sidewalks.

Many of the laws that apply to motor vehicles also apply to cyclist. The information below from the Ohio Department of Transportation should clear up any questions you might have. Then there are specific laws for cyclists alone. Visit their site to get the expanded versions of specific codes.

Now if you decide to fly down the sidewalks, whiz through a red light, ignore a yield sign, mow down a couple of pedestrians or venture on to a freeway, you will know the consequences.

Defining Terms
bicycle: Of course you know what a bicycle is, but it doesn’t hurt to be aware of how the law defines it: Every device (other than a tricycle designed solely for use as a play vehicle by a child) propelled solely by human power and having either two tandem wheels, or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the rear, any of which measures more than 14 inches in diameter.

Certain restrictions apply depending on where you plan to take your bike. Take a moment to learn the difference between a street, highway, roadway, expressway and freeway.

Street/Highway: The entire width between the boundary lines of every way open to the public as a thoroughfare for purposes of vehicular travel.

Roadway: The improved portion of a highway designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, except for the berm or shoulder.

Freeway: A divided, multilane highway with underpasses or overpasses at all crossroads. These look like interstates on the Official Ohio Transportation Map, but may be state or U.S. highways.

Expressway: A divided major highway with more than half of all crossroads having an underpass or overpass.

Rules and Regulations
Local governments can no longer require cyclists to ride on sidewalks or ban or ban bicycles from certain streets, other than freeways. Cycling on the freeway is prohibited unless there is a separate facility apart from the roadway or shoulder built specifically for bicycle use.

It’s tempting to maneuver around traffic lights and stop signs, but cyclists are not above the law. You must obey all traffic control devices including flagpersons, signs, pavement markers and signal lights.

Use hand and arm signals to indicate that you plan to turn. For a left turn, extend the left hand and arm horizontally. For a right turn, extend right hand and arm horizontally. To indicate decreasing speed, extend left hand and arm downward.

If you are taking a trip to the grocery, keep in mind, no person operating a bicycle shall carry any item which would prevent them from having at least one hand on the handle bars.

Every person operating a bicycle on 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.

Persons riding bicycles on a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for that purpose.

Every bicycle must be equipped with an adequate brake when used on a street or highway.Every bicycle when in use one-half hour before sunrise or one-half hour before sunset shall be equipped with the following:

Ready To Ride
The Ohio Dept. of Transportation has numbered, green and white signs marking routes for bicycles.

Several of the Columbus multi-use trails converge downtown including: