Hiawatha Bicycling Club

(An abridged summary of Minnesota Statues Sect. 169.222 & 169.18 relating to operation of a bicycle.)

Minnesota Bicycle Laws

1. Ride on the right with traffic; obey ALL traffic signs & signals; bicyclists have all rights/ duties of any other vehicle driver. (1)
2. Legal lights and reflectors are required at night. (6a)
3. Continuous arm signal required during last 100 feet prior to turn or lane change (unless arm is needed to control bike) and while stopped waiting to turn. (8)
4. On roadways - may ride two abreast but do not impede normal & reasonable movement of traffic. Ride in single lane. (4b)
5. Ride as close as practicable to right hand curb or edge of roadway except:
   1. When overtaking a vehicle.
   2. When necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe, eg. fixed or moving objects, surface hazards, or narrow-width lanes. (4a)
6. Yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and crosswalks; give audible signal when necessary before overtaking. No riding on sidewalks within business districts unless permitted. (4c)
7. No hitching rides on other vehicles. (3)
8. Only one person on a bike unless equipped for more, or legal baby seat is used. (2)
9. Don't carry anything that prevents keeping one hand on handlebars or proper operation of brakes. (5)
10. Brakes must allow skidding on dry, level, clean pavement. (6b)
11. Handlebars must not be above shoulder level. (6c)
12. Bicycle size must allow safe operation. (6d)
13. On sidewalk, parking that does not impede normal & reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic is allowed unless locally restricted. (9a)
14. Legal parking on roadway, that does not obstruct legally parked vehicles, is allowable. (9b)
15. Safe bicycle events approved by local authorities, which do not seriously inconvenience other highway users, are not unlawful. Traffic laws can be waived. (10)
16. When passing a bicycle or pedestrian, motor vehicles shall leave at least 3 feet clearance until safely past the bicycle or pedestrian. (M.S. 169.18)

Pocket Guide to MN Biking

EMERGENCIES 911

• Avoid emergencies
• Always wear a helmet
• Be predictable
• Ride on the right
• Obey all traffic laws
• Use lights at night
• Be seen
• Set an Example!

Minn. Stat. §169.222 Operation of bicycle.

    Subdivision 1. Traffic laws apply. Every person operating a bicycle shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this chapter, except in respect to those provisions in this chapter relating expressly to bicycles and in respect to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature cannot reasonably be applied to bicycles.

    Subdivision 2. Manner and number riding. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except

1. on a baby seat attached to the bicycle, provided that the baby seat is equipped with a harness to hold the child securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the child's feet hitting the spokes of the wheel or
2. in a seat attached to the bicycle operator.

    Subdivision 3. Clinging to vehicle. Persons riding upon any bicycle . . . shall not attach the same or themselves to any street car or vehicle upon a roadway.

    Subdivision 4. Riding on roadway or shoulder.

1. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
   1. when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
   2. when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
   3. when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including fixed or moving objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or narrow width lanes, that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.
2. If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder of a roadway, the bicycle shall travel in the same direction as adjacent vehicular traffic.
3. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.
4. A person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal when necessary before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district unless permitted by local authorities. Local authorities may prohibit the operation of bicycles on any sidewalk or crosswalk under their jurisdiction.
5. An individual operating a bicycle or other vehicle on a bike-way shall leave a safe distance when overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on the bike-way, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.
6. A person lawfully operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

    Subdivision 5. Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars or from properly operating the brakes of the bicycle.

    Subdivision 6. Bicycle equipment.

1. No person shall operate a bicycle at nighttime unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with a lamp which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety which is visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. No person may operate a bicycle at any time when there is not sufficient light to render persons and vehicles on the highway clearly discernible at a distance of 500 feet ahead unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with reflective surfaces that shall be visible during the hours of darkness from 600 feet when viewed in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. The reflective surfaces shall include reflective materials on each side of each pedal to indicate their presence from the front or the rear and with a minimum of 20 square inches of reflective material on each side of the bicycle or its operator. Any bicycle equipped with side reflectors as required by regulations for new bicycles prescribed by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission shall be considered to meet the requirements for side reflectorization contained in this subdivision. A bicycle may be equipped with a rear lamp that emits a red flashing signal.
2. No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
3. No person shall operate upon a highway any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate the hands above the level of the shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
4. No person shall operate upon a highway any bicycle which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from stopping the bicycle, supporting it with at least one foot on the highway surface and restarting in a safe manner.

    Subdivision 7. Sale with reflectors and other equipment. No person shall sell or offer for sale any new bicycle unless it is equipped with reflectors and other equipment as required by subdivision 6, clauses (a) and (b) and by the regulations for new bicycles prescribed by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission.

    Subdivision 8. Turning, lane change. An arm signal to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, unless the arm is needed to control the bicycle, and shall be given while the bicycle is stopped waiting to turn.

    Subdivision 9. Bicycle parking.

1. A person may park a bicycle on a sidewalk unless prohibited or restricted by local authorities. A bicycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic.
2. A bicycle may be parked on a roadway at any location where parking is allowed if it is parked in such a manner that it does not obstruct the movement of a legally parked motor vehicle.

    Subdivision 10. Bicycle events.

1. Bicycle events, parades, contests, or racing on a highway shall not be unlawful when approved by state or local authorities having jurisdiction over that highway. Approval shall be granted only under conditions which assure reasonable safety for all participants, spectators and other highway users, and which prevent unreasonable interference with traffic flow which would seriously inconvenience other highway users.
2. By agreement with the approving authority, participants in an approved bicycle highway event may be exempted from compliance with any traffic laws otherwise applicable thereto, provided that traffic control is adequate to assure the safety of all highway users.

    Subdivision 11. Peace officer operating bicycle. The provisions of this section governing operation of bicycles do not apply to bicycles operated by peace officers while performing their duties.

Minn. Stat. §169.18 Driving rules.

3. the operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on the roadway shall leave a safe distance, but in no case less than three feet clearance,when passing the bicycle or individual and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.
   4. Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway, any person operating a motor vehicle on such roadway shall not drive in the bicycle lane except to park where parking is permitted, to enter or leave the highway, or to prepare for a turn as provided in section 169.19, subdivision 1.

Minn. Stat. § 169.19 Turning, starting, and signaling.

    Subdivision 1. Turning at intersection. The driver of a vehicle intending to turn at an intersection shall do so as follows:

7. Whenever it is necessary for the driver of a motor vehicle to cross a bicycle lane adjacent to the driver's lane of travel to make a turn, the driver shall drive the motor vehicle into the bicycle lane prior to making the turn, and shall make the turn, yielding the right-of-way to any vehicles approaching so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.

    Subdivision 4. Change of course. No person shall turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the roadway as required in this section, or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a highway unless and until the movement can be made with reasonable safety after giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.

    Subdivision 5. Signal to turn. A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given continuously during not less than the last 100 feet traveled by the vehicle before turning.

    Subdivision 6. Signal to stop. No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle immediately to the rear unless there is a good and sufficient reason for not being able to do so.

    Subdivision 7. Signaling methods. The signals herein required shall be given either by means of the hand and arm or [by a signaling devise].

    Subdivision 8. Hand signals. When the signal is given by means of the hand and arm the driver shall indicate intention to start, stop, or turn by extending the hand and arm from and beyond the left side of the vehicle in the following manner and these signals shall indicate as follows:

1. left turn: hand and arm extended horizontally;
2. right turn: hand and arm extended upward, except that a bicyclist … . . . may extend the right hand and arm horizontally to the right side of the bicycle . . .;
3. stop or decrease speed: hand and arm extended downward.  

Minn. Stat. § 169.21 Pedestrian.

4. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section every driver of a vehicle shall (1) exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicycle or pedestrian upon any roadway . . .

Minn. Stat. § 169.212 Operation of electric personal assisted mobility devices.

    Subdivision 2. Operation.

1. An electric personal assisted mobility device may be operated on a bicycle path.

6. ... A person operating an electric personal assisted mobility device on a bicycle path must yield the right-of-way to bicycles at all times.

Minn. Stat. § 168C.01 Policy statement.

The legislature of the state of Minnesota finds that the use of bicycles as a means of travel and recreation embodying physical, environmental and social benefits is already recognized by many people in the state, and will be further encouraged given the opportunity for safe, convenient and pleasant bicycle travel. The legislature further finds that dependence on the private automobile must be reduced, particularly in the light of an energy shortage and encouragement of increased bicycle usage by the provision and maintenance of bike-ways and with the addition of some traffic laws designed for the orderly integration of bicycles into traffic systems, is a way of reducing this dependence. However, the growth in popularity of the bicycle as a mode of transportation and as a recreational vehicle has led to an increase in the number of bicycle thefts. To more effectively deal with the problems associated with theft and to aid in the recovery of stolen bicycles, a statewide bicycle registration system is hereby created.

Minn. Stat. §168C.03 Registration application.

    On or after March 1, 1977 any owner of a bicycle may apply for registration of the bicycle . . .

Minn. Stat. §168C.04 Registration requirements, fee, account, appropriation.

    Subdivision 1. Three-year registration fee; procedures.

The registration fee for bicycles is $9 after July 1, 1991. These fees must be paid at the time of registration. ... Proof of ownership is required for registration. Bicycles lacking proof of ownership may be registered if there is no evidence that the bicycle is stolen. The registration is valid for three calendar years. . . .

Minn. Stat. §168C.09 Theft; penalty.

    Subdivision 1. Reports; entry into crime information center. The local law enforcement agency shall report the theft of all bicycles registered pursuant to this chapter to the Department of Public Safety within five days . . .

Minn. Stat. §168C.10 Tampering; penalty.

No person, other than the owner or the owner's authorized agent, except for protection of the bicycle, shall tamper with any bicycle which has been locked or placed in a rack or otherwise secured. Any person who violates the provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

Minn. Stat. §169.46 Hitching behind vehicle.

No person shall hitch a . . .bicycle . . . onto any motor vehicle or streetcar while being used on a highway.