Ohio & Bay Village Bike Laws

Bay Village Bike Laws in Plain English

LAWS FOR ALL BIKE RIDERS in Ohio:

• • Sidewalk riding is allowed on all sidewalks, unless signs indicate otherwise. (Bay Village-specific law.  Varies from municipality to municipality)

  • Street riding is legal on all streets. (as long as they are not highways)

  • Parents must review all laws with their children.

  • Riding between sunset and sunrise, or when it is raining, requires a white light on front and red light on back. Both must be visible from at least 500 feet. Also required are a white reflector on front and red reflector on back.

  • Texting while riding is prohibited.

  • Earphones, if used, allowed in 1 ear only. (Bay Village specific law.  Not an Ohio law, but you may wish to check with your city to see if there is an ordinance for this)

  • One person per seat.

  • Must have a functional brake.

  • Riders must have at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.

  • No attaching oneself to another vehicle.

  • A bicycle may be equipped with a device capable of giving an audible signal, except for sirens or whistles.

  • Park bicycles in a manner that avoids interfering with vehicular traffic, pedestrian traffic and does not block doorways to buildings. Use racks when provided. (This is a Bay Village-specific law,  check with your municipality if not in Bay)
    
    

   LAWS FOR RIDING ON SIDEWALKS (these are all specific to Bay Village):

• • Give audible warning when passing pedestrians or other bicycles.

  • Walk bike when sidewalks are congested with pedestrians.

  • Slow to a pedestrian speed when approaching a street crossing or driveway with occupied motor vehicles.

  • If approaching a blind person with a cane, dismount your bike and walk bike past that person.

  • Do not leave the sidewalk suddenly and enter the street without yielding right of way to vehicles on the street.
    
    

LAWS FOR RIDING ON STREETS in Ohio:

• • Obey all vehicular traffic laws, signs, signals, and lane markings.

  • Ride with traffic, NEVER against.

  • Ride as near to the right as is practicable and safe, but leave enough room so that you can veer right around obstacles. *Veering left around obstacles is dangerous because it puts you in the potential path of a passing motor vehicle.

  • When safe to do so, be predictable to others by riding in a straight line, avoiding unnecessary swerving or zig-zagging.

  • No trick riding.

  • When approaching an intersection, turn-only lanes should be used only if you intend to turn. Otherwise, ride in the right-most lane marked for your desired direction of travel.

  • No more than two abreast, except on Lake Rd. in Bay Village where you must ride single-file.

  • Yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians in the street.

  • Hand signals are required when turning or changing lanes, except when in a designated turn lane or if both hands are needed for the safe operation of the bicycle.
    
    

LAWS FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATORS in Ohio:

• • Allow a minimum of 3 ft when passing a bicycle (Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.27). Allow a minimum of 6 ft passing if driving a commercial vehicle (this 6 foot law is specific to Bay Village and a few other municipalities in Ohio, but is not state-wide.  3 foot passing IS state-wide). Note that Ohio law allows vehicles to travel over a double yellow line to pass a vehicle moving at less than half the speed limit, but only if it can be done safely.

  • Do not pass other vehicles, including bicycles, within 100 ft of and while traversing an intersection or railroad crossing. (Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.30)

  • When passing a bicycle, the motor vehicle must be a safe distance past the bicycle before making a right turn.

  • When turning left, yield right of way to bicycles approaching from the opposite direction.

  • Yield right-of-way to bicycles when opening car doors on the street.

  • Texting while driving is prohibited. (Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.204)

E-bike riders must follow the above laws in addition to these added state laws in the following link:

https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4511.522