Minnesota Legislature
HF 1008
as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 02/28/2013 11:34am
Current Version - as introduced
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A bill for an act
relating to transportation; bicycles; modifying riding rules and equipment
requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections 169.222, subdivisions
2, 4, 6; 169.68.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
Section 1.
Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 169.222, subdivision 2, is amended to read:
Subd. 2.
Manner and number riding.
No bicyclenew text begin , including a tandem bicycle,
cargo or utility bicycle, or trailer,new text end shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the
number for which it is designed and equipped, except deleted text begin (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 operatordeleted text end new text begin an adult rider may carry a child in a
seat designed for carrying children that is securely attached to the bicyclenew text end .
Sec. 2.
Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 169.222, subdivision 4, is amended to read:
Subd. 4.
Riding rules.
(a) 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 edgedeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end
new text begin
(4) when operating on the shoulder of a roadway or in a designated bicycle lane.
new text end
(b) If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder of a roadway, the bicycle shall travel in the
same direction as adjacent vehicular traffic.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) An individual operating a bicycle or other vehicle on a bikeway shall leave a safe
distance when overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction on the
bikeway, and shall maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or individual.
(f) 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.
(g) A person may operate an electric-assisted bicycle on the shoulder of a roadway,
on a bikeway, or on a bicycle trail if not otherwise prohibited under section 85.015,
subdivision 1d; 85.018, subdivision 2, paragraph (d); or 160.263, subdivision 2, paragraph
(b), as applicable.
Sec. 3.
Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 169.222, subdivision 6, is amended to read:
Subd. 6.
Bicycle equipment.
(a) No person shall operate a bicycle at nighttime
unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with (1) a lamp which emits a white light
visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front; and (2) 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.
(b) 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.
(c) A bicycle may be equipped with a front lamp that emits a white flashing signal,
or a rear lamp that emits a red flashing signal, or both.new text begin A bicycle equipped with front and
rear lamps that are visible from a distance of at least 500 feet from both the front and the
rear shall be deemed to fully comply with this paragraph.
new text end
(d) A bicycle may be equipped with tires having studs, spikes, or other protuberances
designed to increase traction.
(e) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a new text begin rear new text end brakenew text begin or
front and rear brakesnew text end which will enable the operator to make deleted text begin thedeleted text end new text begin anew text end braked deleted text begin wheelsdeleted text end new text begin wheel
new text end skid on dry, level, clean pavement.new text begin A bicycle equipped with a direct or fixed gear that
can make the rear wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement shall be deemed to fully
comply with this paragraph.
new text end
new text begin
(f) A bicycle may be equipped with a horn or bell designed to alert motor vehicles,
other bicycles, and pedestrians of the bicycle's presence.
new text end
deleted text begin (f)deleted text end new text begin (g)new text end No person shall operate upon a highway any two-wheeled 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.
deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (h)new text end 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.
Sec. 4.
Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 169.68, is amended to read:
169.68 HORN, SIREN.
(a) Every motor vehicle when operated upon a highway must be equipped with
a horn in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible under normal
conditions from a distance of not less than 200 feet. However, the horn or other warning
device must not emit an unreasonably loud or harsh sound or a whistle. The driver of a
motor vehicle shall, when reasonably necessary to insure safe operation, give audible
warning with the horn, but shall not otherwise use the horn when upon a highway.
(b) A vehicle must not be equipped with, and a person shall not use upon a vehicle,
any siren, whistle, or bell, except as otherwise permitted in this section.
(c) It is permissible, but not required, for any commercial vehicle to be equipped
with a theft alarm signal device, so arranged that it cannot be used by the driver as an
ordinary warning signal.
(d) All authorized emergency vehicles must be equipped with a siren capable of
emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 500 feet
and of a type conforming to the federal certification standards for sirens, as determined by
the General Services Administration. However, the siren must not be used except when the
vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or in the immediate pursuit of an actual
or suspected violator of the law, in which latter events the driver of the vehicle shall sound
the siren when necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the vehicle's approach.
new text begin
(e) It is permissible, but not required, for a bicycle to be equipped with a horn or bell
designed to alert motor vehicles, other bicycles, and pedestrians of the bicycle's presence.
new text end