§17C-11-1. Obedience to article; duty of parents and guardians; applicability of article to bicycles.

(a) It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this article.

(b) The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.

(c) These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles subject to those exceptions stated herein.

§17C-11-2. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.

Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

§17C-11-3. Riding on bicycle seats; carrying more than one person on bicycle.

(a) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

(b) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

§17C-11-4. Clinging to vehicles.

No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any streetcar or vehicle upon a roadway.

§17C-11-5. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.

(a) 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 ride in the lane marked for bicycle use or, if no lane is marked for bicycle use, 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 bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; or

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid any condition or potential conflict, including, but not limited to, a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian, animal, surface hazard, turn lane, or substandard-width lane, which makes it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge or within a bicycle lane. For the purposes of this subsection, a "substandard-width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.

(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.

(c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

§17C-11-6. 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.

§17C-11-7. Lamps and other equipment on bicycles.

(a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which emits a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the department which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet to three hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.

(b) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake that enables the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level and clean pavement.

§17C-11-8. Electric bicycles; requirements; exclusions; age restrictions.

(a) The operator of an electric bicycle has all of the rights and privileges and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle subject to this chapter, except as otherwise provided by this section and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

(b) A person owning or operating an electric bicycle is not subject to the provisions of §17A-1-1 et seq., §17B-1-1 et seq., or §17D-1-1 et seq. of this code, relating to registration, title, driver’s license, and financial responsibility requirements.

(c) A person may not tamper with or modify an electric bicycle so as to change the motor-powered speed capability or motor engagement between pedal-assist and throttle-assist types of engagement. If a motor on an electric bicycle is modified so that a limit established in §17C-1-70 of this code is exceeded, that vehicle is no longer an electric bicycle. The provisions of this subsection are not applicable to a modified electric bicycle operated solely and exclusively on a person’s own property.

(d) An electric bicycle must comply with the equipment and manufacturing requirements for bicycles adopted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (16 C.F.R. Part 1512).

(e) The motor on an electric bicycle must disengage or cease to propel the electric bicycle when the operator stops pedaling, or when the operator applies the brakes and stops pedaling.  

(f) A Class 3 electric bicycle must be equipped with a speedometer that displays the speed the electric bicycle is traveling in miles per hour.

(g) Electric bicycles operated on public roadways, public bicycle paths, public multiuse paths, and other public rights-of-way where bicycles are permitted to travel are subject to the following restrictions:

(1) A Class 1 electric bicycle may be used in places where bicycles are permitted to travel, including, but not limited to, public roadways, public bicycle paths, public multiuse trails, and public single-use trails.

(2) A Class 3 electric bicycle may not be operated on a bicycle path, multiuse trail, or single-use trail unless it is within a highway or roadway: Provided, That the provisions of this subdivision are not applicable to a bicycle path, multiuse trail, or single-use trail if the municipality, local authority, or governing body of a state agency that has jurisdiction over the bicycle path, multiuse trail, or single-use trail expressly permits that operation.

(3) This subsection may not be construed to limit the authority of the owner of a private way or the owner of private property to restrict or allow the operation of electric bicycles on the way or property.

(h) Age restrictions related to the operation of electric bicycles are as follows:

(1) A person under 16 years of age may not operate a Class 3 electric bicycle;

(2) A person under 15 years of age may only be a passenger on a Class 3 electric bicycle, including as a passenger within any attachment to the vehicle designed to transport an additional person, including a child, provided the operator of the electric bicycle is 18 years of age or older; and

(3) A person under 15 years of age who is an operator or passenger on an electric bicycle shall wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet, pursuant to the Child Bicycle Safety Act, §17C-11A-1 et seq. of this code.

(i) A person under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances shall not operate a Class 1 or Class 3 electric bicycle.