Law #8 Posted 04/22/2022 NEW

Did you know that a bicyclist must give notice of his/her intent to make a left-hand turn by extending his/her hand and arm horizontally for at least 2 seconds prior to making the left-hand turn, his/her intent to make a right-hand turn by extending his/her left hand and arm upward or their right-hand and arm horizontally to the right, and his/her intent of stopping or decreasing speed by extending his/her left-hand and arm downward.     

Law #7 Posted 1/24/2022 NEW

Did you know that there is an exception which permits a bicyclist to overtake and pass a vehicle heading in the same direction along the right-hand side? Pursuant to Utah Code 41-6a-705, motorists and bicyclists are permitted to overtake and pass on the right-hand side of another vehicle when the vehicle being overtaken is making/preparing to make a left-hand turn or when the roadway is wide enough for 2 or more vehicles to travel side-by-side in the same direction. However, a bicyclist may also overtake and pass another vehicle that is traveling the same direction on the right-hand side as long as the movement is made by leaving the roadway and riding in the shoulder of the road. As always, a bicyclist must exercise caution when passing based on the surrounding circumstances.    

Law #6 Posted 1/4/2022 NEW

This most likely does not come as a big surprise, but did you know that a bicyclist must keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times? Pursuant to Utah Code Ann. 41-6a-1112, a bicyclist may not carry anything which prevents the use of both hands in the control and operation of the bicycle and must keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.   

Law #5 Posted 12/2/2021 NEW

Did you know that if there is no designated bike path that runs adjacent to the roadway and the cyclist is traveling less than the speed of traffic, the cyclist, if riding in the roadway and not the shoulder, must ride as near as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway, i.e., as close to the left of the solid white line as possible unless: the cyclist is overtaking and passing other cyclists; is making a left-hand turn; is proceeding straight through an intersection that also has a right-hand turn lane; or there is an unsafe condition which makes it necessary for the cyclist to avoid the right-edge of the roadway (e.g., pothole, parked car, etc.)

Law #4 Posted 10/15/2021

A “bicycle” is defined as a wheeled vehicle designed to be operated on the ground whose wheels are not less than 14 inches in diameter and is propelled by human power that has a seat or saddle designed for the operator’s use. The definition expressly includes an electric assisted bicycle in the definition of “bicycle” as well. (Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-102)

Law #3 Posted 10/19/2021

Did you know that unless there are active railroad warnings (e.g., warning lights, warning sounds, dropped gate/barrier approaching UTA Trax, etc.), a bicyclist may roll through a stop sign after slowing to a reasonable speed as long as the cyclist yields to any pedestrians within the intersection or adjacent crosswalk, other traffic within the intersection, and oncoming traffic that poses an immediate hazard during the time the cyclist is passing through the intersection.

With this great power comes great responsibility – by having the right to proceed without stopping, the obligation to ensure it can be done safely rests on the cyclist. If an incident occurs in the intersection and the cyclist elected not to stop, the likelihood of the cyclist being at fault increases as the cyclist is obligated to slow to a reasonable speed (i.e., less than the governing speed limit and the further below the speed limit the better), yield to all pedestrians and motorists who are in the intersection and who constitute an immediate hazard.  As such, if an incident occurs in the intersection, the incident is likely going to be evidence that there was clearly an immediate hazard the cyclist failed to consider/recognize.  In essence, if you elect not to stop, be absolutely sure you keep your head on a swivel and dot your I’s and cross your t’s as your conduct will be heavily scrutinized.

Law #2 Posted 10/29/2022

Unless it impedes the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, bicyclists in the State of Utah may ride side by side in designated bicycle lanes or other parts of the roadway that are set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Three abreasts or three bicyclists riding side by side is never permitted and if the designated bicycle lane is too narrow for two bicyclists to ride side-by-side without impeding traffic, the bicyclists must ride in a single file.

Law #1 Posted 11/17/2021

In response to numerous inquiries, this week’s Now You Know pertains to whether a bicyclist may lane filter or pass stopped vehicles in the left-hand turn lane to get to the front of the lane while navigating or preparing to navigate a left-hand turn from the left-hand turn lane.

Although Utah law permits a motorcycle to lane filter in very limited circumstances (between two lanes of stopped traffic going the same direction), the law does not permit a bicyclist to lane filter to navigate a left-hand turn in the left-hand turn lane.  Pursuant to Utah Code 41-6a-1108, a bicyclist who desires to make a left-hand turn by utilizing the turn lane must navigate the turn in the same manner as a motor vehicle; i.e., no lane filtering.