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Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

HF 1908

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/10/2022 05:03pm

KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
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A bill for an act
relating to transportation; modifying certain bicycle traffic regulations, powers,
and duties; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, sections 160.02, subdivision 1a;
169.011, subdivisions 5, 9, by adding a subdivision; 169.18, subdivision 3; 169.222,
subdivisions 1, 4.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 160.02, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:


Subd. 1a.

Bikeway.

"Bikeway" deleted text begin means a bicycle lane, bicycle path, shared use path,
bicycle route, or similar bicycle facility, regardless of whether designed for the exclusive
use of bicycles or for shared use with other transportation modes
deleted text end new text begin has the meaning given in
section 169.011, subdivision 9
new text end .

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.011, subdivision 5, is amended to read:


Subd. 5.

Bicycle lane.

"Bicycle lane" means a portion of a roadway deleted text begin or shoulderdeleted text end designed
for exclusive or preferential use by persons using bicycles. Bicycle lanes are to be
distinguished from the portion of the roadway deleted text begin or shoulderdeleted text end used for motor vehicle traffic by
physical barrier, striping, marking, or other similar device.

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.011, subdivision 9, is amended to read:


Subd. 9.

Bikeway.

"Bikeway" means a bicycle lane, bicycle path, deleted text begin ordeleted text end bicycle route,new text begin shared
use path, or similar bicycle facility,
new text end regardless of whether it is designed for the exclusive
use of bicycles or deleted text begin is to bedeleted text end new text begin fornew text end sharednew text begin usenew text end with other transportation modes.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.011, is amended by adding a subdivision to
read:


new text begin Subd. 46b. new text end

new text begin Narrow-width lane. new text end

new text begin "Narrow-width lane" means a traffic lane that is too
narrow to allow persons operating a bicycle and persons operating a motor vehicle within
the same lane to operate side-by-side in compliance with the minimum safe passing clearance
set forth in section 169.18.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.18, subdivision 3, is amended to read:


Subd. 3.

Passing.

deleted text begin The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles
proceeding in the same direction, subject to the limitations, exceptions, and special rules
hereinafter stated:
deleted text end

deleted text begin (1)deleted text end new text begin (a)new text end The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction
deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end pass to the left deleted text begin thereofdeleted text end new text begin of the other vehiclenew text end at a safe distance and deleted text begin shall not again
drive
deleted text end new text begin is prohibited from returningnew text end to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the
overtaken vehicledeleted text begin ;deleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (2)deleted text end new text begin (b)new text end Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted, the driver of an
overtaken vehicle deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle deleted text begin on
audible warning,
deleted text end and deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end not increase deleted text begin thedeleted text end speed deleted text begin of the overtaken vehicledeleted text end until
completely passed by the overtaking vehicledeleted text begin ; anddeleted text end new text begin .
new text end

deleted text begin (3)deleted text end new text begin (c)new text end The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in
the same direction on the roadway deleted text begin shall leavedeleted text end new text begin or shoulder must:
new text end

new text begin (1) either:
new text end

new text begin (i) maintainnew text end a safenew text begin clearancenew text end distancenew text begin while passingnew text end , deleted text begin but in no case less thandeleted text end new text begin which must
be at least the greater of
new text end three feet deleted text begin clearance, when passing the bicycle or individualdeleted text end new text begin or
one-half the width of the motor vehicle; or
new text end

new text begin (ii) completely enter another lane of the roadway while passing;new text end and deleted text begin shall
deleted text end

new text begin (2)new text end maintain clearance untilnew text begin the motor vehicle hasnew text end safely deleted text begin pastdeleted text end new text begin passednew text end the overtaken bicycle
or individual.

Sec. 6.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.222, subdivision 1, is amended to read:


Subdivision 1.

Traffic laws apply.

new text begin (a) new text end Every person operating a bicycle deleted text begin shall havedeleted text end new text begin hasnew text end
all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle by this chapter,
except in respect to those provisions in this chapter relating expressly to bicycles and in
respect to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature cannot reasonably be applied
to bicycles.new text begin This subdivision applies to a bicycle operating on the shoulder of a roadway.
new text end

new text begin (b) A person lawfully operating a bicycle (1) on a sidewalk, or (2) across a roadway or
shoulder while using a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian
under the same circumstances.
new text end

Sec. 7.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 169.222, subdivision 4, is amended to read:


Subd. 4.

Riding rules.

(a) Every person operating a bicycle deleted text begin upon a roadway shalldeleted text end new text begin on a
road must
new text end ride as close deleted text begin as practicabledeleted text end to the right-hand curb or edge of the deleted text begin roadway except
under any of the following situations
deleted text end new text begin road as the bicycle operator determines is safe. A
person operating a bicycle is not required to ride as close to the right-hand curb or edge
when
new text end :

(1) deleted text begin whendeleted text end overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction;

(2) deleted text begin whendeleted text end preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;

(3) deleted text begin whendeleted text end reasonably necessary to avoid conditionsnew text begin that make it unsafe to continue along
the right-hand curb or edge
new text end , including fixed or moving objects, vehicles, pedestrians, animals,
surface hazards, or deleted text begin narrow widthdeleted text end new text begin narrow-widthnew text end lanesdeleted text begin , that make it unsafe to continue along
the right-hand curb or edge; or
deleted text end new text begin ;
new text end

(4) deleted text begin whendeleted text end operating on the shoulder of a roadway or in a bicycle lanedeleted text begin .deleted text end new text begin ; or
new text end

new text begin (5) operating in a right-hand turn lane before entering an intersection.
new text end

(b) If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder of a roadway, the bicycle deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin operator mustnew text end
travel in the same direction as adjacent vehicular traffic.

(c) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end not ride more than
two abreast and deleted text begin shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic anddeleted text end , 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, deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin mustnew text end yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and deleted text begin shalldeleted text end give an audible
signal when necessary before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. deleted text begin Nodeleted text end new text begin Anew text end person deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin
must not
new text end 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 deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin must (1) give
an audible signal a safe distance prior to overtaking a bicycle or individual, (2)
new text end leave a safe
new text begin clearancenew text end distance when overtaking a bicycle or individual proceeding in the same direction
deleted text begin on the bikewaydeleted text end , and deleted text begin shalldeleted text end new text begin (3)new text end maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or
individual.

deleted text begin (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.
deleted text end

deleted text begin (g)deleted text end new text begin (f)new text end 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.

new text begin (g) Notwithstanding section 169.06, subdivision 4, a bicycle operator may cross an
intersection proceeding from the leftmost one-third of a dedicated right-hand turn lane
without turning right.
new text end

Sec. 8. new text begin REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
new text end

new text begin The revisor of statutes shall renumber Minnesota Statutes, section 160.02, subdivision
27a, as Minnesota Statutes, section 169.011, subdivision 73a. The revisor shall correct any
cross-references made necessary by this renumbering.
new text end

Sec. 9. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin This act is effective August 1, 2021.
new text end