PEDAL POWER: a Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists
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PEDAL POWER: A Legal Guide for Oregon Bicyclists by Ray omas EIGHTH EDITION A PROJECT OF THE BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE Obey all signs & traffic lights Bicycles must be driven like other vehicles if they are to be taken seriously by motorists. Never ride against traffic. Use hand signals Hand signals tell motorists what you intend to do. For turn signals, point in the direction of your turn. Signal as a matter of courtesy and safety and as required by law. Ride consistently Ride as close as practical to the right. Exceptions: when travelling at the normal speed of traffic, avoiding hazardous conditions, preparing to make a left turn, or using a one-way street. Choose the best way to turn left There are two ways to make a left turn: 1) Like an auto: look back, signal, move into the left lane, and turn left. 2) Like a pedestrian: ride straight to the far-side crosswalk, then walk your bike across, or queue up in the traffic lane. Use caution when passing Motorists may not see you on their right, so be extra careful where there’s no bike lane if you pass on the right side of cars. Watch for parked cars pulling out, unsignalled right turns and opening car doors. Make eye contact with drivers. Avoid road hazards Watch for sewer grates, slippery manhole covers, oily pavement, gravel and ice. Cross railroad tracks at right angles. For better control as you move across bumps and other hazards, stand up on your pedals. Ride a well-equipped bike Outfit your bike with a good bike lock, tool kit, fenders, and bike bags. You are required to use a strong white head-light (visible from 500’) and rear red reflector or light (visible from 600’) at night and when visibility is poor. Dress appropriately Wear a Snell or ANSI approved hard-shell helmet whenever you ride (required by law for cyclists under 16 years of age). Wear light-colored clothes at night. Make yourself as visible as possible. Get a green light If you come to a red light and see this symbol on the street, position your bike directly over it. Wait, and soon the light will turn green! If a car is already there, it will activate the light for you. Go slow on sidewalks Pedestrians have the right of way on walkways. You must give an audible warning when you pass. Enter driveways and inter- sections at a walker’s pace and look carefully for traffic. Cyclists are not allowed to ride on sidewalks in downtown Portland. Copyright © 2012 Ray Thomas PEDAL POWER: A Legal guide for Oregon Bicyclists Eighth Edition – 2012 Preface . iii A Word From The Bicycle Transportation Alliance ...................................... v PART I: Bicycle Laws . vii LAWS Oregon Revised Statutes (O.R.S.) ..................................................1 153.018 Maximum Fines. ......................................................2 153.019 Presumptive fines; generally. ............................................3 153.021 Minimum fines........................................................3 153.061 Appearance by defendant. ..............................................3 184.740 Safe Routes to Schools Fund . 3 184.741 Safe routes to schools program; rules. .....................................4 366.112 Bicycle lane and path advisory committee; members, terms, duties and powers; meetings. ...........................................4 366.514 Use of highway fund for footpaths and bicycle trails. 5 801.030 Exemptions from amendments to vehicle code. ..............................6 801.150 “Bicycle.” ...........................................................6 801.155 “Bicycle lane.” .......................................................6 801.160 “Bicycle path.” .......................................................7 801.220 “Crosswalk.”.........................................................7 801.258 “Electric assisted bicycle.” ..............................................7 801.305 “Highway.” . 7 801.320 “Intersection.” .......................................................8 801.345 “Moped.” ...........................................................8 801.348 “A motor assisted scooter.” . .8 801.360 “Motor vehicle.” ......................................................9 801.385 “Pedestrian.” ........................................................9 801.400 “Premises open to the public.” ...........................................9 801.440 “Right of way.” .......................................................9 801.450 “Roadway.”..........................................................9 801.480 “Shoulder.”..........................................................9 801.485 “Sidewalk.”..........................................................9 801.608 “Vulnerable user of a public way.”.........................................9 802.325 Bicycle safety program; contents; fees. ...................................10 810.090 Bicycle racing. ......................................................10 810.150 Drain construction; compliance with bicycle safety requirements; guidelines. ......10 811.020 Passing vehicle stopped at crosswalk; penalty. .11 811.025 Failure to yield to pedestrian on sidewalk; penalty............................11 811.028 Failure to stop and remain stopped for pedestrian; penalty.....................11 811.050 Failure to yield to rider on bicycle lane; penalty. .............................12 811.055 Failure to yield to bicyclist on sidewalk. ...................................12 811.060 Vehicular assault of bicyclist or pedestrian; penalty. .........................12 811.065 Unsafe passing of a person operating a bicycle..............................13 811.135 Careless driving; penalty. 13 811.355 Improperly executed right turn; penalty. ...................................14 811.410 Unsafe passing on left; penalty. .........................................14 811.415 Unsafe passing on right; penalty. ........................................15 811.420 Passing in no passing zone; exceptions; penalty. ............................16 811.425 Failure of slower driver to yield to overtaking vehicle; penalty. ..................16 811.435 Operation of motor vehicle on bicycle trail; exemptions; penalty. ................17 811.440 When motor vehicles may operate on bicycle lane............................17 811.490 Improper opening or leaving open of vehicle door; penalty. ....................17 811.505 Failure to stop when emerging from alley, driveway or building; penalty............18 814.400 Application of vehicle laws to bicycles.....................................18 814.405 Status of electric assisted bicycle. .......................................18 814.410 Unsafe operation of bicycle on sidewalk; penalty.............................18 814.420 Failure to use bicycle lane or path; exceptions; penalty........................19 814.430 Improper use of lanes; exceptions; penalty. ................................20 814.440 Failure to signal turn; exceptions; penalty. .................................20 814.450 Unlawful load on bicycle; penalty. .......................................21 814.460 Unlawful passengers on bicycle; penalty. ..................................21 814.470 Failure to use bicycle seat; penalty. ......................................21 814.480 Nonmotorized vehicle clinging to another vehicle; penalty......................21 814.484 Meaning of “bicycle” and “operating or riding on a highway.” ...................22 814.485 Failure to wear protective headgear; penalty. ...............................22 814.486 Endangering bicycle operator or passenger; penalty. .........................22 814.487 Exemptions from protective headgear requirements. .22 814.488 Citations; exemption from requirement to pay fine. ..........................23 814.489 Use of evidence of lack of protective headgear on bicyclist.....................23 814.500 Rights and duties of person riding motorized wheelchair on bicycle lane or path.....23 814.514 Failure of operator of motor assisted scooter to use bicycle lane or path; exception; penalty....................................................23 815.280 Violation of bicycle equipment requirements; penalty. ........................24 815.281 Selling noncomplying bicycle headgear; renting or leasing bicycle without having approved headgear available; penalties..............................24 Oregon Rules Relating to Bicycle Facilities ..........................................27 ARTICLES “Vulnerable Roadway User”, a Useful Legal Concept for Bicycle and Pedestrian Injuries ........49 Oregon’s “Safe Passing” Law.....................................................55 We Have a Right to the Freeway, But Which Freeway? ..................................61 Bike Lanes Revisited ...........................................................63 How to Send All the Right Signals – Turn and Stop Signals ..............................67 Oregon Bicycle Lighting Requirements .............................................71 Oregon Statute Makes Dangerous Storm Drains Illegal .................................75 Avoiding Typical Accidents and Collisions ...........................................79 Car-Doored Again? The Law Is on Your Side!.........................................85 Fatal Right Hook: Hazard from Right Turning Motorists .................................89 Additional Bicycle Articles on the Web .............................................95 PART II: Bicycle Riding on Sidewalks and Crosswalks ........................101 LAWS City Ordinances Regarding Riding on the Sidewalk . .103 Miscellaneous Laws Regulating Bicycle Riding and Parking.............................113