Page 17 - Leisure Living Magazine June 2018

The Law For Riding A Bicycle In Ohio
Law You Can Use: By Steve Magas, The Bike Lawyer
National Bike Month is a celebration of bicy- cling held every year in May. Established in 1956, the designation encourages people to get on their bicycles and ride to work, to school or just for fun! Bike Month is also about increasing awareness of cycling safety and whether you are a veteran of two-wheeled transport, a recreational rider or a motorist, it is important to know the rules of the road when it comes to bikes.
The law and bicycles
Bicycles are defined as “vehicles” under Ohio Law. State law allows bicycles be lawfully oper- ated on virtually all Ohio roads except freeways or certain limited access roadways. Therefore, cyclists who ride their bikes on roadways are in line with Ohio law.
“Same rights, same roads, same rules” is the mantra cyclists follow. Like all states, Ohio law requires cyclists to follow the basic rules of the road when riding a bicycle on a roadway. Like any vehicle operator, a bicyclist must ride with traffic, obey basic traffic laws, stop at stop signs and red lights, and follow all traffic control devices. When following the rules of the road, a cyclist has exactly the same “right of way” as any car, truck or bus driver.
Ohio does have a few bike-specific laws. The key “bike law” in Ohio states that a bicycle must be operated “as near to the right side of the road- way as practicable.” While the word “practicable” is undefined, the law states that a cyclist does not have to ride along the right side of the lane when it is “unreasonable or unsafe to do so.” Some examples of when a cyclist may use the entire lane include when it is necessary to avoid fixed objects or parked cars, surface hazards, or moving vehi- cles. A big exception to the ride-to-the-right rule is if the lane is “...too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.” In such a situation, the cyclist is not required to stay to the right.
Cyclists are also permitted to ride “two abreast,” meaning side-by-side, in the same lane. Ohio law does not require cyclists to move out of the way of faster traffic.
Like all vehicle owners, cyclists must abide by
certain equipment requirements when riding on the roadway. They must use a white light on the front of the bike and both a red reflector and a red light in the rear between sunset and sunrise or whenever the weather makes lights necessary. This is important since many serious or fatal crashes occur at night or when weather causes poor visibility. Some cities may have other equip- ment requirements written into their municipal codes. Dayton, for instance, requires all cyclists to
Steve Magas, The Bike Lawyer
wear helmets and to equip their bike with a bell that is audible for up to 100 feet.
Vehicles and bicycles
Traffic law allows motorists to cross a double yellow line to pass any slower vehicle, but only if the slower vehicle is traveling at less than the posted speed limit; the faster vehicle is capable of passing the slower vehicle without exceeding the posted speed limit; and there is sufficient sight distance ahead to permit the passing maneuver to be safely accomplished, taking into account the speed of the slower vehicle.
This is not specifically a bicycle law, but rather a law that covers passing vehicles such as slower
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