Overview of Utah Bicycle Laws
Understanding Utah’s bicycle laws is essential for cyclists and drivers alike. For cyclists, knowing the rules of the road not only reduces your chance of receiving a ticket, but it also helps protect you if you are in a collision with a motor vehicle. Knowing that the law requires you to use a bike lane if there is one present, or to use the lane next to the rightmost lane of traffic if a bike lane is not present, will help you avoid a ticket or prove that another driver was at fault for your injuries. For drivers, knowing the laws surrounding cyclists will help you safely share the road with cyclists and avoid accidents that could injure both you and the cyclist . Cyclists are vulnerable on the road, and they need the cooperation of motorists in order to stay safe.
Utah does not have a lot of laws specifically addressing bicycles. Most of the laws are general traffic laws that apply to all vehicles on the roadway, and they are often used to help promote the safety of cyclists. For example, when driving on the roadway, you must allow a minimum distance of three feet between your vehicle and a passing cyclist. The only other laws specific to bicycles include the following: The bulk of Utah’s bike laws are found under Section 41-6a for Bicycle Operation, Section 41-6a for Operation of Bicycles by Minors, and Section 41-22a for Bicycle Facilities.
Utah’s Road Safety Rules for Bicycles
If you have a bicycle and you want to ride it legally, you need to know the rules of the road, including where you can ride, how you should behave in traffic, and any specific requirements you must abide by when sharing the road with motor vehicles. The Utah Code contains specific rules for cyclists. In general, cyclists are treated like a vehicle on the roadway. This means that the rules that apply to motor vehicles also apply to a cyclist:
Utah Code § 41-6a-1105
(1) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all rights and privileges and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special rules in this part and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature have no application.
(2) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
Utah Code § 41-6a-1103
A person operating a bicycle may not carry another person on the bicycle unless:
(1) the bicycle is designed to carry more than one person; and
(2) the other person is seated in a designated seat for a passenger.
Notwithstanding these rules, the Utah Code sets forth special rules that apply to cyclists:
Utah Code § 41-6a-1116
- (1) A person operating a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as far as practicable in a single file.
- (2) A person riding a bicycle on a roadway during the period from sunset to sunrise, and at any other time when visibility is insufficient to notice a person or other object on the roadway at a distance of 500 feet, shall have a light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front of the bicycle and a red reflector or light on the rear of the bicycle.
- (3) A person operating a bicycle may not attach the person’s bicycle or person to another vehicle on the roadway.
- (4) A person operating a bicycle on a highway shall observe all traffic laws applicable to vehicles except those provisions of the traffic laws which by their nature have no application.
Utah Code § 41-6a-1117
(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a person operating a motor vehicle shall give a person riding a bicycle the right-of-way when the two are approaching each other or are in conflict.
(2) A person operating a motor vehicle does not have to give right-of-way to a person riding a bicycle if the person operating the motor vehicle is driving:
(a) through a clearly marked or unmarked crosswalk;
(b) around a stationary vehicle that is displaying flashing emergency lights; or
(c) in a designated bicycle lane and the person riding a bicycle is not within the lane or the person riding a bicycle is in the process of exiting the lane.
The Utah Code also requires cyclists to use marked bike lanes when they are available. According to the Code:
Utah Code § 41-6a-1001
A person may not ride a bicycle upon a roadway when a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to the roadway, except:
- (1) when preparing to make a left turn;
- (2) when the usable path is blocked;
- (3) when the path is too narrow for safe passage; or
- (4) when otherwise directed by a traffic control device.
Bicycle Safety Gear and Equipment
Utah bicycle laws include a number of key safety and equipment regulations, including Helmets, Lighting and Reflective Equipment. To begin with the key Utah bicycle law that addresses helmets, each person under the age of 18 must wear the appropriate sized helmet that is properly fitted and adjusted while riding a bicycle, and while riding on an attached bicycle seat, or in a bicycle trailer. A violation of this helmet law is a class B misdemeanor. Parents or guardians who knowingly permit a child under the age of 18 to violate this helmet law are guilty of a class B misdemeanor. However, this helmet law does not apply to a person while riding a bicycle for agricultural purposes, including near agricultural facilities, on a public road, or on any private road or driveway while the bicycle is used for agricultural purposes, on a public road or on a public off-highway vehicular recreational area for child care purposes as defined the Child Care Licensing Act, on a fenced-in racetrack, or while user is engaged in a profession that requires use of a bicycle as a normal part of a business or duty (i.e.. police, security, etc.). Realistically, wearing a properly fitted and adjusted helmet makes much sense and law enforcement officers encourage all people riding bicycles to do the same regardless of whether they are required by law to do so or not. The next key Utah bicycle law related to equipment is that every bicycle must be equipped with a brake, which is capable of stopping the bicycle within 15 feet from a speed of 10 miles per hour on dry, level, clean pavement. Of course, the most obvious piece of equipment related to safety are bicycle lights, and Utah bicycle laws include a number of important requirements. For example, every bicycle rider driving from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise must have certain front and rear lights or reflective devices. The required lights and / or reflective devices are: b. Rear Light (1) A red light visible from at least 500 feet behind the bicycle, or (2) A red, emblem-shaped reflector of at least 4 square inches in area visible from all distances up to 600 feet when directly in front of other vehicle headlights on a clear night, and c. Reflective Material (1) Each bicycle must have reflective material of such type or types as may be approved by the Department of Public Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles attached to the bicycle, in a visible position on both the front and rear. For bicycles manufactured after January 1, 1995, the reflective material must appear in all lighting conditions, without the need for external source of light, except when illuminated by the vehicle’s headlights as permitted by Section 41-6a-1509, as set forth in Utah Code Ann. § 41-6a-1509. The point of all of these requirements is to always strive to maintain safety. There is no reason to take unnecessary risks, and Utah bicycle laws are intended to reduce potential risks and to help protect you and your family.
Bike Lane and Path Regulations
The bike lane rules of Utah are pretty straight forward and appropriately tight to keep everyone safe while still giving every cyclist access to these areas. Basically, in Utah you can be in the bike lane if you are: riding your bicycle, preparing to turn left, traveling at a speed that will impede the flow of traffic, or if the right lane is a right turn only lane. If you are not operating under any of these conditions then you must stay in the travel lane. If there happens to be no bike lane, then you should also be operating your bike in the travel lane.
Before entering the bike lane, be sure to use a turn signal and look for any pedestrians who might be getting ready to cross at a crosswalk. You are responsible for your safety while riding and this means looking out for others as well. If you need to park while riding in the bike lane, you are not allowed to move more than a foot into the travel lane. It is against the law to use a bike lane if you are driving a vehicle outright or delivering a package. Riding another person’s bicycle is also against the law, as is leaving a bike anywhere besides the owner’s own private property. Likewise, cyclists are not allowed to use bicycles as sidewalks, railings or any other station outside their own premises. It is illegal in Utah for a passerby to prevent overtaking as well.
Penalties for Breaking Bicycle Laws
When a cyclist violates Utah’s traffic laws, he or she is subject to penalties similar to motor vehicle operators. Utah Code 41-6a-1105 provides a good summary of the consequences of violating the bicycle laws. (1) A person who commits an offense described in any of the following Sections is subject to the prescribed penalty: (I) officer’s and emergency service personnel’s traffic control signals, Section 41-6a-204; (II) unnecessary noise from an engine in a truck, Section 41-6a-1626; (III) reckless driving, Section 41-6a-528; (IV) driving while distracted, Section 41-6a-1715; (V) driving a passenger tram, Section 41-6a-1512.5; (VI) driving too slowly, Section 41-6a-702.5; (VII) driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Section 41-6a-502; (VIII) driving on an unpaved road, Section 41-6a-203; (IX) driving with an open container of alcohol in an operation of a motor vehicle, Section 41-6a-526; (X) fleeing a police officer, Section 41-6a-210; (XI) illegal use of a motor vehicle, Section 41-6a-302; (XII) passing violations, Sections 41-6a-212, 41-6a-216, 41-6a-221, and 41-6a-225; (XIII) transportation of a child who is not properly restrained in a safety seat, Section 41-6a-1801, 41-6a-1803 , and 41-6a-1804; (XIV) using a cell phone while driving in violation of Section 41-6a-1715; (XV) violation of the image and visibility requirements in Section 41-6a-1609; (XVI) violation of motorcycle or motor-driven cycle equipment regulations, Section 41-6a-1602; (XVII) violation of off-highway vehicle equipment regulations, Section 41-6a-3806; (XVIII) violation of mandatory motorcycle helmet use, Section 41-6a-1508; or (2) (a) A violation of a section described in Subsection (1) is an infraction, except as provided in Subsection (2)(b). (b) A violation of Section 41-6a-529 is a Class B misdemeanor. (3) The penalties for an infraction are: (a) a fine of not more than $750; (b) no imprisonment; or (c) both a fine and payment of a sighnificant portion of the costs of the prosecution of the infraction, including a fine for the judicial proceeding in which the infraction was contested, unless the defendant prevails on the contest, in which case the court may award a refund. (4) The penalties for a Class B misdemeanor are: (a) for an offense involving injury to persons, a term of imprisonment of not more than six months and a fine of not more than $1,000; (b) for all other offenses, a term of imprisonment fixed by the court which shall be not less than 1/2 of the minimum term authorized for a Class B misdemeanor and a fine of not more than $1,000; or (c) both a fine and imprisonment.
Revisions and Amendments to Utah Bicycle Laws
Among the recent changes that have transpired in Utah laws concerning bicycles and other users of the road is a change to bicycles operating on roadways in Utah with respect to sidewalks. Utah Code 41-6a-1115 was amended on 1 January 2017, to state that "A person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk may not run over, cause to strike, or collide with: (i) a pedestrian, service animal, or other animals; or (ii) a stationary object such as a bench, trash can, post, fire hydrant, or other object." Motorists have long known that injuries sustained by pedestrians, service animals and stationary objects (potentially including cars), were very common in bicycle accidents. Bicycles are often difficult to see, as are pedestrians and other hazards, when motorists are distracted. When motorists focus on their cell phone, the radio, their thoughts or other activities, they become less aware of pedestrians, service animals, other motorists, and even stationary objects. Bicyclists, on the other hand, have always been required to make every attempt to stay out of the way of stationary objects including people, vehicles, trash cans, benches, telephone poles, fire hydrants and the like. The new law simply makes it clear that people on bicycles also have a duty to avoid stationary objects and other people — such as when a bicyclist plows into a child on a sidewalk — before causing injuries. Riders are required to exercise the highest degree of care, all the time.
The Utah State Legislature has further attempted to protect cyclists from motorist attacks by enacting the "Blind-Spot Law." A new Utah statute, section 41-6a-1102 (2016 Utah Laws Chapter 60), states that commercial truck drivers and other motorists must be especially vigilant to ensure that cyclists are not traveling in their blind spot, or about to pull into their blind spot. This law was passed primarily due to the overwhelming number of people who were injured or killed by motorists pulling into bike lanes or turning across bike lanes when they failed to check their blind spots. The concern is that for every 100,000 people, there are approximately 42 injuries or deaths. That is the highest rate in the nation. Recent studies have shown that almost 70% of these bike deaths are caused by large trucks. The "Blind-Spot Law" requires all motorists to pay special attention to pedestrians and cyclists when they are in nearby blind spots, and to avoid making any type of maneuver which might be dangerous to those pedestrians and cyclists.
Bicyclists should avoid behavior that could be considered reckless, such as weaving around or between cars, riding into parking lots, and other maneuvers. But regardless of what a bicyclist may do, motorists must look before turning or pulling out. The new law simply makes it clear this requirement includes people in bicycles.
Motorists now also have a duty to avoid colliding with parked bicycles. Utah Code 41-6a-1116, enacted in 2016, now requires motorists to avoid colliding with bicycles parked on sidewalks if the cyclist could not move the bicycle upon demand. In Utah, it is generally against the law to park any object, car, truck or other vehicle, in a bicycle lane. There is an exception for bicycles, however, and the new law makes it clear that this exception exists. When cyclists park their bicycles on sidewalks, they typically do so in such a way as to ensure that pedestrians have plenty of room to safely use the sidewalks. West of the Cascade Range in the Pacific Northwest, we have all seen bicycles parked in the crosswalks of intersections. Such parking is illegal in Utah and many other places and can present a significant danger to pedestrians and all other traffic. The law requires that bicycles be parked in a spot out of the way of pedestrians and traffic at all times.
The law also makes it clear that cyclists have the same rights and duties as motorists. Utah Code 41-6a-1102. Prior to the change, cyclists had some different requirements: using bike lanes when available, for example. Bicyclists are now subject to the same rules of the road as cars, buses, and other motor vehicles. In exchange, bicyclists are now entitled to the full protections of all other motor vehicles.
Cyclist’s Code to Compliance
To help ensure that you remain compliant with Utah’s bicycle laws, it’s critical that you take the following steps:
Practice safe riding practices. Along with keeping up with your rights and responsibilities as a cyclist, familiarize yourself with safe riding practices so you can avoid situations that may lead to dangerous encounters with vehicles.
Stay educated about bicycle laws. Utah has a number of resources available online that explain bicycle laws in detail. Familiarize yourself with these laws and keep up with important changes as they arise, so you can be a responsible rider while on the roadways.
Take steps to remain visible. It is critical that you do everything possible to make yourself seen as a cyclist. Make sure you have reflectors on your bike, and be careful to avoid wearing dark clothing when out on the road. You might consider reflective bands on your clothing and a light on the back of your helmet so that you are as visible as possible both day and night.
Stay sober. The majority of road accidents that involve drivers and cyclists occur due to the cyclist being under the influence. While it’s critical that all motorists remain sober while driving , cyclists have a responsibility to limit their intake as well.
Use bicycle signals. Hand signals can be incredibly useful for other motorists to know where you are going and help others avoid you. For instance, if you are making a left turn, hold your left arm at shoulder height at a 90-degree angle and point your finger out to indicate you are going left. If you are going right, maintain your left arm at a 90-degree angle, but point your finger up horizontally. If you have your right hand free, point your fingers in the direction you are going. You can also use both arms to indicate which way you’re going, so long as you are indicating to where you are going with your body language.
If you follow the above guidelines, you should have no problem remaining within the law when out on the roadways in Utah.