• Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities on the streets that drivers do, and in most cases, they must share the lane.
• Bicycles are required to travel on the right hand side of the road with other traffic. Bicyclists are not allowed to travel facing traffic, sincethis is far less safe.
• They must ride as near to the right hand side of the road as practical, while avoiding road hazards that could cause them to swerve into traffic.
• When you’re sharing the road with bicycles, you should always expect the rider to make sudden moves. Trash, minor oil slicks, a pothole or crack in the concrete, a barking dog, a parked car or a car door opening, and other surprises can force a bicycle rider to swerve suddenly in front of you.
• If possible, give the cyclist the entire lane. When road conditions prevent this, pass the cyclist with extreme caution.
• Cyclists who are not on the extreme right hand side of the lane are not being careless, but are in fact attempting to account for traffic conditions and/or preparing to make a left turn.
• Oncoming bicycle traffic is often overlooked or its speed misjudged.

Common Causes Of Injury or Death To Cyclists:

• The most common causes of collisions are drivers turning left in front of an oncoming bicycle or turning right, across the path of the bicycle.
• Drivers often fail to pick the bicyclist out of the traffic scene, or inaccurately judge the speed of cyclists making a left turn.
• Drivers overtaking a bicyclist, then making a right turn in front of the cyclist is also a cause of many accidents.

Things Drivers Can Do To Avoid Accidents With Cyclists:

• Look once, then again, make sure you see the cyclist and know his speed before you turn.
• Merge with bicycle traffic when preparing for a right turn. Don‘t turn directly across the path of a bicyclist.
• Watch for bicycle riders turning in front of you without looking or signaling, especially if the rider is a child.
• Most bicyclists maintain eye contact with drivers of vehicles around them, particularly when the cyclist or ehicle is making a turn. Before turning, a driver should attempt to gain and maintain eye contact with the bicyclist to ensure a safer turn.
• A driver should NEVER attempt passing between a bicyclist and oncoming vehicles on a two-lane road. Slow down and allow vehicles to pass. Then move to the left to allow plenty of room to pass the rider safely.
• Leave at least three feet of space between your car and a cyclist when passing.
• NEVER pass a bicycle if the street is too narrow or you would force the bicyclist too close to parked vehicles.
• Wait until there is enough room to let you pass safely.
• If you are about to pass a bicycle on a narrow road and you think the rider doesn’t know you’re coming, tap your horn gently and briefly as a signal that you’re going to pass.
• Don’t blast your horn or otherwise startle or try to intimidate the rider.

Things Cyclists Can Do To Avoid Injury:

• Bicyclists riding at night present visibility problems for drivers.
• Bicyclists are required to have proper illumination, a front light and rear light are required!
• Bicycle riders are required to ride as far right in the lane as possible only when a car and a bicycle, side by side, can safely share the lane. Even then, there are certain times when a bicycle can take the full lane.

Rules of the Road for Cyclists:

(a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway is granted all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle

(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

(a) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto, except for a certified police cyclist who is performing duties that require riding in a side dismounting position.

(b) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one (1) time than the number for which it is designed or equipped.

(c) No person shall play on a highway other than upon the sidewalk thereof, within a city or town, or in any part of a highway outside the limits of a city or town, or use thereon roller skates, coasters or any similar vehicle or toy or article on wheels or a runner, except in such areas as may be specially designated for that purpose by local authorities.

55-8-175. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths - Penalty.

(a) (1) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except under any of the following situations:

(A) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

(B) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; or

(C) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For purposes of this section, “substandard width lane” means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(2) This subsection (a) does not apply to a certified police cyclist engaged in the lawful performance of duty relating to traffic control.

(b) (1) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two (2) abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.

(2) This subsection (b) does not apply to a certified police cyclist engaged in the lawful performance of duty relating to traffic control or in pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.

(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

55-8-177. Bicycle lamps and brakes - Penalties.

(a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet (500′) to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the department of safety which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet (50′) to three hundred feet (300′) to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet (500′) to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

(b) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake or brakes which will enable its driver to stop the bicycle within twenty-five feet (25′) from a speed of ten miles per hour (10 mph) on dry, level, clean pavement.

(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.