1). Bicyclists may ride on all Minnesota roads, except where restricted.

According to Minnesota law, bicycles have the right to operate on all Minnesota streets, roads and highways, except where restricted.

Bicyclists have all the same rights as all other vehicles. They may operate in a traffic lane, for example, except when a designated bike lane is present. Bicycles are not required to ride on shoulders or sidewalks or even on adjacent bike paths or trails—they are in fact discouraged from doing so (see point 2 below for more on this).

Bicyclists also have all the same responsibilities as drivers of all other vehicles. They must obey all traffic control signs and signals just as if they were driving motor vehicles.

2). Bicyclists should ride on the road, and must ride in the same direction as traffic.

It is illegal and unsafe for bicyclists to ride against (facing) traffic. Motorists do not expect, and therefore are often unable to see, bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the road.

Why are bicyclists encouraged to ride on the road, even when adjacent sidewalks and bike trails are available?

A 1996 study determined the likelihood of a bicycle accident by facility type. (This is the only major study that adjusts crash data for the number of miles bicyclists actually travel on these facilities.) The study found that riding on the road is not only safer—but much safer—than riding on these other types of facilities.

Bicyclists are 25 times more likely to experience an accident when riding on a sidewalk than riding on a major street—even one that neither has a designated bike lane nor is designated as a bike route. And bicyclists are twice as likely to experience an accident on a multi-use trail than on an unmarked street.

Bicyclists are discouraged from riding on the sidewalk. Not only is there potential for a collision with a pedestrian. More importantly, motorists are not expecting a bicyclist, moving much more quickly than a pedestrian, to cross the street in a crosswalk. So, motorists often fail to detect bicyclists on sidewalks and strike the bicyclist in the crosswalk.

According to the concept of Effective Cycling developed by John Forester, “Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles.” America’s leading bicycle education course, the League of American Bicyclists’ BikeEd, is based on this concept.

3). Motorists must at all times maintain a three-foot clearance when passing a bicycle.

Bicyclists also are encouraged to maintain a three-foot clearance from any motor vehicle, even when riding past a parked car or cars. This is in order to avoid one of the more common bicycling accidents—in which a motorist opens the door of a freshly parked vehicle, striking the bicyclist with the door.

4). Bicyclists must obey all traffic control signs and signals, the same as motorists.

Among the most common causes of bicycle-motor vehicle collisions is the failure of  bicyclists to yield the right-of-way or to obey a traffic control sign or signal. Bicyclists are obligated to obey the same Minnesota laws that regulate all other vehicles including motor vehicles.

Following is a complete list of the factors, attributed to bicyclists, that contributed to bicycle-motor vehicle crashes in 2002:

• Failure to yield right-of-way
• Disregard for traffic control device
• Improper/unsafe lane use
• Illegal or unsafe speed
• Driving left of center
• Improper turn
• Improper/no signal
• Following too closely
• Improper passing/overtaking

For more information about safe bicycling behaviors in these and other areas, consult the Better Bicycling Fact Sheets of the League of American Bicyclists and the Colorado Bicycling Manual: A Guide for Using Roads and Trails.

5). Motorists and bicyclists must yield the right-of-way to each other equally.

Another leading cause of bicycle-motor vehicle collisions is the failure of motorists to yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist, whether at an intersection or along a roadway. In either case, motorists must yield the right-of-way to bicyclists just as if the bicycle were another motor vehicle. (Of course, the bicyclist must also yield the right-of-way as if it were a motor vehicle.) And motorists must maintain a three-foot clearance whenever they are passing or otherwise in proximity to a bicycle.

6). Bicyclists must signal their turns and should ride in a predictable manner.

Bicyclists should always ride in a predictable manner. This means riding in a more or less straight line, avoiding abrupt swerving motions.

When a bicyclist wishes to turn left or right, or change lanes, the intention should always be signaled to nearby motorist using the appropriate hand signals (as shown here).

7). Lights and reflectors are required at night.

Front white headlight visible for 500 feet - approximately one city block.

A red rear flashing light is recommended to increase visiblity.

Wear light colored clothing that is retro-reflective.

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8). Bicyclists should always were helmets.

 Visit Wear A Helmet for more information.

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