The flat roads and open spaces in some parts of the state make Texas great for cycling. If you are planning on doing a cross-country ride or a bike marathon in Texas, you will be pleased to hear that Texas is a very bicycle-friendly state when it comes to riding on public roads. In fact, bicycling is permitted on most Texas roadways, including most highways. While this is great for serious cyclists, Texas lax bicycle safety laws are not always great for casual or city riders. This article will explore the rules that exist as well as those that are lacking for Texas bicycles.
Can You Ride Your Bicycle on Texas Highways?
With the exception of toll roads and certain designated limited-access highways, riding your bicycle on Texas highways is legal. In fact, Texas Transportation Code 551 prohibits local authorities from excluding bicycles from any road designed for vehicles other than toll roads and designated limited-access highways. In fact, Texas is only one of eleven states that allow bicyclists to ride on Interstate highways.
Both local and state governments can limit the use of limited-access highways, but they are required to post signs making clear which part is restricted to bicycle travel. However, when riding on a Texas highway, bike riders are required to 1) observe all traffic laws that apply to vehicles in general (unless it is not plausible for a bicycle) and 2) follow the bicycle safety laws found in Texas Transportation Code 551.
Texas Bicycle Safety Laws for Roadways
In addition to following the Texas Rules of the Road for drivers, bicyclists must also follow a second set of safety laws found in Texas Transportation Code 551. Some of these rules are practical and make sense. Others seem kind of silly, but then you have to realize they are written to apply on city streets as well as highways, so they cover all types of riders under one law.
Riding a Bicycle in Faster-Moving Traffic
When a bicycle is traveling on a road and is moving at a slower pace than the vehicles, bikes are required to ride next to the right-hand side curb unless they are
- going around a vehicle, pedestrian, or object,
- turning left at an intersection or private drive, or;
- the person is operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is:
- less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane or
- too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side.
There is one exception to the above rule. When the road the bicycle is on is a one-way road, the cyclist has the option to ride by the left curb instead.
Is it Legal to Ride Bicycles Side-by-Side on the Road?
Riding two or more bicycles side-by-side is permitted in Texas so long as they are riding in a single lane of traffic and are not impeding the normal flow of traffic. Cyclists may not ride more than two abreast unless they are on a road or part of the roadway that is set aside exclusively for bikes per Texas Transportation Code section 551.103. This law allows riding more than two abreast when the road has been roped off for a race or cycling event and when there is a designated bicycle lane wide enough to allow it.
Other Bicycle Rules to Know
In addition to the above rules, 551.102 contains some practical rules for bikes. You must ride on the seat. Bike riders cannot carry anything that prevents them from having at least one hand on the handlebars at all times, nor carry more riders than the bike is designed to carry. Additionally, attaching yourself or the bike to another moving vehicle or a streetcar while riding it is illegal. A light is also required on the bike.
Bicycles on Sidewalks
While local authorities cannot prohibit bicycle use on most roadways, they can regulate sidewalk use. Thus, before you ride within city limits, you need to check to see what your city rules allow when it comes to sidewalks.
Bicycle Helmets
Despite all of the various bicycle safety laws and laws allowing bicycles on highways, Texas law is mysteriously silent on requiring riders to wear helmets. Motorcyclists are required to wear helmets in Texas, but bicyclists, even those riding on highways, are not. There are also no federal laws that specify whether helmets must be worn when riding on highways. Of all the laws to omit, this seems like it would be the most important, particularly for highway riders.
Final Thoughts
Bicycles are free to use most of the roads in Texas, making it a great place to cycle. There are a few rules and laws to keep in mind, but most are common sense. You might be surprised to know that you can ride on most highways, and no helmet is required. However, just because you can ride without a helmet on the road does not mean it is a smart thing to do. You only get one brain, so regardless of the silent law, please wear a helmet if you are riding around cars.
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