Minnesota Session Laws - 1995, Regular Session

                             CHAPTER 72-S.F.No. 687 
                  An act relating to traffic regulations; requiring 
                  minimum clearance when passing bicycle or individual 
                  on roadway or bikeway; requiring bicycle traffic laws 
                  to be included in driver's manual and driver's license 
                  tests; amending Minnesota Statutes 1994, sections 
                  169.18, subdivision 3; 169.222, subdivision 4; and 
                  171.13, subdivision 1, and by adding a subdivision. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 169.18, 
        subdivision 3, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 3.  [PASSING.] 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: 
           (1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle 
        proceeding in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof 
        at a safe distance and shall not again drive to the right side 
        of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle; 
           (2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is 
        permitted, the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to 
        the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible warning, 
        and shall not increase the speed of the overtaken vehicle until 
        completely passed by the overtaking vehicle; and 
           (3) The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle or 
        individual proceeding in the same direction on the roadway shall 
        leave a safe distance, but in no case less than three feet 
        clearance, when passing the bicycle or individual and shall 
        maintain clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle or 
        individual. 
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 169.222, 
        subdivision 4, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 4.  [RIDING ON ROADWAYS OR SHOULDERS.] (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: 
           (i) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding 
        in the same direction. 
           (ii) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or 
        into a private road or driveway. 
           (iii) 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 edge. 
           (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. 
           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. 
           Sec. 3.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.13, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [APPLICANTS.] Except as otherwise provided 
        in this section, the commissioner shall examine each applicant 
        for a driver's license by such agency as the commissioner 
        directs.  This examination must include a test of applicant's 
        eyesight; ability to read and understand highway signs 
        regulating, warning, and directing traffic; knowledge of traffic 
        laws; knowledge of the effects of alcohol and drugs on a 
        driver's ability to operate a motor vehicle safely and legally; 
        knowledge of railroad grade crossing safety; knowledge of 
        slow-moving vehicle safety; knowledge of traffic laws related to 
        bicycles; an actual demonstration of ability to exercise 
        ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor 
        vehicle; and other physical and mental examinations as the 
        commissioner finds necessary to determine the applicant's 
        fitness to operate a motor vehicle safely upon the highways, 
        provided, further however, no driver's license shall be denied 
        an applicant on the exclusive grounds that the applicant's 
        eyesight is deficient in color perception.  Provided, however, 
        that war veterans operating motor vehicles especially equipped 
        for handicapped persons, shall, if otherwise entitled to a 
        license, be granted such license.  The commissioner shall make 
        provision for giving these examinations either in the county 
        where the applicant resides or at a place adjacent thereto 
        reasonably convenient to the applicant. 
           Sec. 4.  Minnesota Statutes 1994, section 171.13, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 1f.  [DRIVER'S MANUAL; BICYCLE TRAFFIC.] The 
        commissioner shall include in each edition of the driver's 
        manual published by the department after August 1, 1995, a 
        section relating to bicycle traffic laws, including any changes 
        in the law which affect bicycle traffic. 
           Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 3 is effective at the time of the first revision of 
        the driver's license examination following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor April 18, 1995 
           Signed by the governor April 20, 1995, 2:25 p.m.