Bicycle Road rules

These "rules associated with the roadway" are based on Texas transport Code statutes. Discover the full bike rule at the bottom for the web page. Laws are created to improve the safety of everyone who makes use of the roadways. Don't become a statistic! Be sure you always utilize hand indicators and the body activities to communicate with motorists and other bicyclists.

Bicyclists possess legal rights and responsibilities of various other car providers: (551.101)

Indeed, what this means is you must stop at end indications and red lights, but vehicles must produce right-of-way to a bike whenever appropriate, as to any various other car.

Drive nearby the curb and go in the exact same course as other traffic: (551.103)

Near the curb is subjective (we advice making a pillow around three legs) but the legislation provides a cyclist the right to use the lane when needed for security.

One or more hand in the handlebars (two tend to be safer): (551.102c)

One whenever signaling but two whenever switching is very effective.

Utilize hand and arm indicators: (545.107)

Point the manner in which you are getting, let the various other providers know what you should do.

One driver per seat: (551.102a)

Don't let friends and family share your bicycle while riding if you do not're both on a combination.

You'll ride two abreast if you do not hinder traffic: (551.103c)

Racing and using the lane are special cases.

Must-have a white light regarding the front and a red reflector or red light from the backside (for driving through the night): (551.104b)

The light is mainly so men and women is able to see you from the side, where their particular headlights don't shine on your own reflectors. The law, efficient as of Sept. 2001, says that a red light can change a red reflector.

Brake system with the capacity of making the braked wheel skid: (551.104a)

Cannot test that front braking system to see in the event that wheel will skid while riding, specifically down slope.

Tx Transport Code

Sec. 541.201 Electric Bicycle Definition

"Electric bike" indicates a bike that:

was designed to be propelled by an electric motor, solely or in combo utilizing the application of human being power;

cannot attain a speed of greater than 20 miles per hour minus the application of human energy; and

will not surpass a weight of 100 pounds.

Sec. 545.107. Method of Giving Give and Arm Indicators

An operator who's allowed to provide a hand and arm signal shall give the sign from remaining side of the car the following:

which will make a left change sign, extend hand and arm horizontally;

to create a right change signal, expand hand and arm upward, except that a bike operator may signal from the right-side of vehicle with all the hand and supply extended horizontally; and

to quit or decrease speed, offer hand and supply downward.

Section 551
Procedure of Bikes, Mopeds, and Play Vehicles

SUBCHAPTER A. APPLICATION OF CHAPTER

Sec. 551.001. People Impacted

This chapter is applicable simply to you operating a bicycle on:

a highway; or

a course reserve when it comes to exclusive operation of bicycles.

Sec. 551.002. Moped Included

a supply of the subtitle applicable to a bike also pertains to a moped, except that a supply that by its nature cannot affect a moped.

SUBCHAPTER B. REGULATION OF OPERATION

Sec. 551.101. Rights and tasks

(a) an individual running a bicycle has got the legal rights and responsibilities relevant to a motorist operating a car under this subtitle, unless:

a supply for this chapter alters a right or task; or

the right or responsibility appropriate to a driver operating a vehicle are unable to by its nature apply to one running a bicycle.

(b) a mother or father of a child or a guardian of a ward may well not knowingly enable the youngster or ward to violate this subtitle.

Sec. 551.102. General Procedure

(a) one operating a bicycle shall drive only on or astride a permanent and regular seat connected to the bike.

(b) you may well not utilize a bicycle to hold even more people than the bicycle is designed or prepared to carry.

(c) people operating a bicycle may well not make use of the bike to carry an item that prevents the person from running the bicycle with a minumum of one hand in the handlebars of bike.

(d) an individual operating a bicycle, coaster, sled, or doll vehicle or making use of roller skates may not connect either the individual or the bike, coaster, sled, doll automobile, or roller skates to a streetcar or vehicle on a roadway.

551.103. Procedure on Roadway

(a) Except as supplied by Subsection (b), people operating a bike on a roadway who's moving slower as compared to various other traffic in the roadway shall drive as near as practicable off to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless:

(1) the individual is passing another automobile moving in equivalent way;

(2) anyone is getting ready to turn kept at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway;

(3) a condition on or of the roadway, including a set or moving item, parked or going vehicle, pedestrian, pet, or surface hazard prevents the individual from safely riding beside the right curb or edge of the roadway; or

(4) the person is running a bicycle in some other lane that is:

(A) significantly less than 14 legs in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane right beside that lane; or

(B) also thin for a bike and an auto to safely travel side by side.

(b) A person running a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near as practicable left curb or side of the roadway.

(c) Persons operating bikes on a roadway may drive two informed. People driving two informed on a laned roadway shall ride in one single lane. Persons driving two abreast might not hinder the standard and reasonable movement of traffic from the roadway. Persons may well not ride above two abreast unless they are riding on an integral part of a roadway set-aside when it comes to exclusive operation of bicycles.

(d) Repealed by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, § 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 165, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.
Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1085, §§ 10, 13, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.

Sec. 551.104. Protection Equipment

(a) someone may not function a bicycle unless the bicycle has a brake capable of making a braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

(b) an individual cannot function a bike at nighttime unless the bicycle is equipped with:

(1). A lamp regarding front of bicycle that emits a white light visible from a distance of a least 500 legs as you're watching bike; and

(2). regarding back of the bicyle:

(A) a red reflector this is certainly:

(i) of a kind approved because of the department; and

(ii) visible whenever right before legal upper beams of automobile headlamps from all distances from 50 to 300 foot into rear of this bicycle; or

(B) lamp that produces a red-light noticeable from a length of 500 foot into back for the bike.

(C) besides the reflector needed by Subsection (b), someone operating a bicycle at nighttime can use a lamp in the backside associated with bicycle that produces a red-light noticeable from a distance of 500 legs into rear for the bike.