Rules of The Road

Maryland Bicycle Laws

Bicycles are prohibited on:

• Roads where the posted speed limits are greater than 50 mph (riding on the shoulder of the roadway is permitted)
• Expressways or other roadways where bicycles are prohibited
• The travel lanes of roads where there exists a smooth shoulder or bicycle lane (except to make left turns or to avoid debris in the shoulder space)

On all public roads, where bicycling is allowed, the operator must:

• Wear a bicycle helmet if they are under 16 years old
• Obey all traffic signs, signals and other traffic devises
• Ride in the same direction as motor vehicles, as near to the right side of the roadway as possible
• Use standard arm signals to alert other drivers of lane changes and turns
• Stop for school buses when they are loading or unloading children
• Yield to pedestrians
• Refrain from wearing a headset that covers both ears

Legally, the bicycle must be equipped with:

• Front and rear lamps and reflectors if the bicycle is used on a public road at any time when there is insufficient light or inclement weather
• A bell or horn (sirens and whistles are not acceptable)
• Brakes

Virginia Bicycle Laws

• Bicyclists must ride with the flow of traffic on the right side of the highway.
• Bicyclists operating a bicycle on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place under conditions then existing shall ride as close as safely practicable to the right curb or edge of roadway. Exceptions to this are when bicyclists are overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, preparing for a left turn, avoiding unsafe conditions, avoiding riding in a lane that turns or diverges to the right, riding on a one way street where bicyclists may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of roadway, or when the lane width is too narrow to share with a motor vehicle. Additionally, bicycles are not excluded from riding on the highway shoulder.
• Bicyclists must not ride between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction unless one lane is a separate or mandatory turn lane.
• Bicyclists cannot ride more than two or more abreast on highways.  When riding two abreast, bicyclists cannot impede the movement of traffic, need to move into single file when being overtaken from the rear.  On a laned roadway, bicyclists shall ride in a single lane.
• Bicyclists are not permitted to ride on Interstate and certain other controlled access highways. The restricted sections of the highways are marked with conspicuous signs.
• Bicycles may be ridden on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinance or traffic control devices. While on sidewalks and shared use paths, bicyclists must always yield the right of way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian.
• Bicyclists pulling onto a sidewalk or highway from a driveway must yield the right of way to pedestrians or vehicles already on the sidewalk or highway.

Bicyclists may overtake and pass another vehicle only when safe to do so. Bicyclists may pass another vehicle on the right or left, and they may stay in the same lane, change lanes, or ride off the road if necessary for safe passing. Please note that passing motor vehicles on the right side may be extremely dangerous if the motorist does not see the bicyclist and attempts a right turn.

Motorists must approach and pass a bicyclist at a reasonable speed at least two feet to the left of the bicyclist.

• Bicyclists must not carry articles which prevent them from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars.
• Bicyclists must not carry more people than the bicycle is designed to accommodate, except for adult bicyclists carrying a child, under six years of age, securely attached to the bicycle in a seat or trailer designed to carry children.
• Bicyclists must not attach themselves or their bicycles to any other vehicle on the roadway.
• Bicyclists are not permitted to wear earphones in both ears while riding a bicycle.

Several jurisdictions in Virginia require that every person fourteen years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet whenever riding or being carried on a bicycle on any highway, sidewalk, or public bicycle path. The jurisdictions reporting such ordinances to VDOT are:

Albemarle County
City of Alexandria
Amherst County
Arlington County
Clarke County
City of Falls Church
Floyd County
City of Hampton
James City County
Town of Luray
City of Manassas
City of Manassas Park
City of Norfolk
Orange County
City of Petersburg
Prince William County
Stafford County
Town of Vienna
Town of Wise
York County

Every bicycle ridden between sunset and sunrise must have at least one white headlamp with the light being visible at least 500 feet to the front. The bicycle must have a red reflector on the rear visible at least 600 feet to the rear. On roads posted with speed limit of 35 mph or greater, the bicyclist must additionally be equipped with at least one red taillight visible from 500 feet to the rear. Taillights may be steady or blinking, are allowed under all conditions, and may be attached to the cycle or rider.

Bicycles ridden on highways must have brakes which will skid the wheels on dry, level, clean pavement.

Washington D.C. Bicycle Laws

Child Helmets

Helmets for children under age 16 are required by law. A child can go to a local police station, accompanied by an adult, to have a helmet fitted. 

Each bicycle operated in the District shall be registered within fourteen (14) days of its acquisition or of its being brought into the District; Provided, that a non-resident owner who has registered his or her bicycle for the current registration period under the laws of another jurisdiction is exempt from this provision.

A person operating a bicycle shall be on the right half of the roadway and shall not operate on the left facing traffic coming from the opposite direction except when authorized by that section. 

Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall travel as closely as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, or as closely as practicable to the left-hand curb or edge of the roadway when on a one-way street.

No person shall operate or ride a bicycle other than upon or astride a regular seat attached to the bicycle. 

No person shall operate or ride on a bicycle with more persons on it at any one time than the bicycle is equipped to carry.

No person shall operate or ride a bicycle while carrying any package, bundle, or article which prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand on the handle bars. 

Persons riding upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or part of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.

No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed in excess of any posted limit or at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.

There shall be no prohibition against any person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the District, so long as the rider does not create a hazard; Provided, that no person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within the Central Business District except on those sidewalks expressly designated by Order of the Mayor, nor shall any person ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in any area outside of the Central Business District if it is expressly prohibited by Order of the Mayor and appropriate signs to such effect are posted. 

Any person riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, and shall travel at a speed no greater than the posted speed limit of the adjacent roadway.

These may not be all of the laws in your area. Please check with your local police department for additional laws that may apply.

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Revised: December 08, 2007 .