Category: Bicycle Laws
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Pennsylvania Bike Law
PENNSYLVANIA BICYCLE LAWS It’s important to know your legal rights (and duties) when bicycling in Pennsylvania. It is especially important after a bicycle accident (we call them bicycle “crashes” and explain why here). For any questions about the State’s bike laws, or about your rights to the road, contact attorney Joey Piscitello directly. Right to the Road Prohibitions Helmets…
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The Case for Strict Liability in Our Biking Laws
A Model for Bike Law Reform At sea a boat under power must give way to a more vulnerable craft. The law requires that a power driven vessel give way to a sailing vessel. A sail boat must give way to a craft engaged in fishing. These simple rules are consistent with the maxim that…
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What You Should Know About Electric Bikes and the Law
Answers the most frequently asked questions about electric bikes and the laws surrounding them. This e-bike article is a collaboration with several Bike Law network members, Bryan Waldman, Charlie Thomas, Kurt Holzer, and Lauri Boxer-Macomber. We will continue to update it as new legislation and electric bike product is released. Last updated: September 19, 2017 Across the country these…
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New Illinois Passing Law
Illinois has just passed one of the most comprehensive laws in the country specifying when a driver may legally pass a bicyclist in a designated no-passing zone. Governor Bruce Rauner signed the law, formally known as HB 1784, on August 25th. It goes into effect January 1, 2018. The law adds clarity of Section 11-703 of the…
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New Illinois E-Bike Law Clarifies Specific Use, but Hurdles Remain
The new Illinois e-bike law regarding electric assist bicycles was clarified earlier this month when Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner signed a bill outlining their use on roads and paths. The new law, however, leaves the door open for municipalities throughout the state to restrict their use in some places where traditional bicycles are allowed. The…
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Law and Bicycling 101
Originally posted January 2012 & updated August 2017 Bike Law and laws are everywhere: First of all, every state has different bicycling laws, and within each state, some laws may vary from county to county. Although, the rules of the road are mostly state-wide and the county laws deal normally with other things that may affect…
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A Change in IL Jury Instructions for Bicycle Cases
Controversy is percolating here in Chicago over the ethics of being a jerk on the road. The specific question pondered is, “Are Reckless Driving and Biking Morally Equivalent?” This debate emerged – as most do these days – from a post on social media. It then crossed the evolutionary threshold into thoughtful journalistic query thanks…
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Bike Riding on the Highway in Texas
As the attorney for Bike Law Texas, I am frequently asked whether one may legally ride on Interstate 10. Of course, this inquiry is typically sparked by someone planning a route in west Texas, rather than someone looking for a shortcut within the Houston city limits. Nevertheless, the legal issue is an important one. The…
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Why Michigan Motorists Continue to Kill Bicyclists With No Accountability
The raw number of bicycling deaths that have occurred in Michigan over the last few years has clearly got the attention of people across the country. However, the individual cases associated with these fatal collisions are closely followed by local cyclists and, almost always, the results only cause frustration and anger. At the conclusion of these criminal…
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What to Do If You Are in a Bicycle Accident (no, Crash!)
You’ve been hit on your , now you ? Bike Law network lawyers, Bruce Hagen (GA) and Bob Mionske (OR) discuss one of the most FAQ we receive – “What to do if I’m in a bike accident?” We have written extensively on the topic of what to do after a bicycle crash and at our recent Bike Law retreat, we…
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In Alabama, some police officers don’t know bike law
A few years ago, a bicyclist was pulled over in Shelby County by a sheriff’s deputy. He was threatened with a ticket for “obstructing traffic.” Apparently, the sheriff had not passed the cyclist as he cycled up a hill and, not surprisingly, no one had passed the sheriff, so a few cars were, in fact,…
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Are Bicycle Lights Required?
Hint: It’s not just at night… Now that winter has arrived, days are shorter than at any other time of the year, and nights are longer. Adding to this, daylight saving time has ended for the year. All of this means an increased chance that you may be riding in darkness in the morning and…
