While riding a bike can offer numerous benefits, from exercise to cost-effective commuting, it offers little in protection in the event of a collision. Wrecks can be especially devastating if they involve larger motor vehicles.
Denton Laws Regulating Bicycle Use
Under Texas Transportation Code §551.101, bicycles are included in the list of vehicles that must comply with the legal obligations for traveling on local roadways and have the same rights afforded to other vehicles. For example, cyclists must obey traffic signals and are subject to distracted driving laws, under the Code of Ordinances of the City of Denton, Texas (Denton Code) § 18-36(k).
Cyclists must accept a certain level of responsibility for their safety, and Texas has enacted laws to help bikers avoid harm. For example, under Transportation Code § 551.103 and Denton Code § 18-36(d) require riders to hug the right side of the road to the extent possible if riding at a slower speed than the traffic flow. These same code sections explain when riders may ride two abreast in the roadway and when that behavior is prohibited. Cyclists must also ensure that they control their bikes and warn others on the road of their presence.
Other requirements for bicyclists in Texas include:
- Using appropriate hand signals to indicate stopping or turning
- Avoiding carrying items that preclude keeping at least one hand on the handlebars
- Refraining from riding with more persons than the bike’s design intended
- Equipping bikes with headlamps and reflectors if riding at night
Denton law also allows cyclists to ride their bicycles on the sidewalk unless a posted sign states otherwise, as per Denton Code § 18-13. If a cyclist is determined to have been violating a Denton law at the time of the accident, they should speak with an experienced attorney about how that could impact their case.
