| Just like any other vehicle on the road, bicycles are | | | | much more uniformly. But despite the many state to |
| subject to a number of traffic laws. Many people are | | | | state variations, most states require the following of |
| unaware of the existence of such laws or simply | | | | bicyclists: |
| choose to ignore them because they view biking as | | | | - Bikes must be ridden on the right side of the |
| drastically different from driving a car or motorcycle. | | | | roadway unless taking a left hand turn. |
| But while biking is very different from operating a | | | | - A bike that is operated between sunset and sunrise |
| motorized vehicle, they are still a part of the traffic | | | | must have a lamp on the front of the bike with a white |
| flow when ridden on the streets and for the safety of | | | | light visible from 500 feet and a red reflector and red |
| the bicyclist and others on the road it is imperative that | | | | lamp and light on the rear that can be viewed from |
| these laws are followed. | | | | 600 feet away. |
| A bicycle is classified legally as a vehicle. A person in | | | | - The seat of a bicycle must be fixed. |
| control of a vehicle that is operating on the street is a | | | | - At least one hand must be kept on the handlebars at |
| driver. Thus, just like other drivers, cyclists must follow | | | | all time while riding |
| all relevant traffic laws. Other traffic laws specific to | | | | - All bikes must have properly functioning brakes |
| bikes vary greatly from state to state. States with | | | | Although laws regarding bicyclists may be somewhat |
| very high bicyclist populations tend to have significantly | | | | inconvenient, they exist to save lives. |
| stricter laws and ordinances which are also enforced | | | | |