Houston requires the use of a helmet for any child who rides on a bicycle or any side car, trailer, child carrier, seat or other device attached to a bicycle. Sept. 1, 1995. Cycling Laws » USA » TX – Texas » Houston » Houston Code of Ordinances Cycling laws in Houston, Texas. The deadline to apply is Sunday, January 24th. MISSION BikeTexas advances bicycle access, safety, and education. Searchable Code of Ordinances and City Charter; More Information. (Ord. He was indicted on Friday (12/18) by the Anne Arundel County Grand Jury and promptly arrested and detained for 7 crimes related […], When I (Maria of Bike Law Georgia) called Pattie Baker, the first Metro Atlanta Bicycle Mayor, she was trudging through marshland on her bicycle on Alpharetta’s Big Creek Greenway. In keeping with that purpose, the municipal courts are urged to consider deferred dispositions under article 45.54 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure whenever the circumstances warrant deferred dispositions. Sale or Lease of Bicycles by Houston Dealers. 95-813, § 1, 7-12-95), (a) The bicycle helmet fund is hereby created. The Houston bicycle ordinance prohibits riding on the sidewalk in the business district. In the State of Texas, electric bicycles are defined as bikes that are powered by an electric motor that have a top speed of 20 MPH on level ground.You don’t need a driver’s license or anything else to ride one, but you also can’t drive on highways. Join BikeHouston and help change the way Houston bikes, walks, drives and lives. Chapter 17 is Houston’s bicycle, transit and pedestrian design requirements. Monday, September 7, 2009. December 2020 Executive Director’s Report. (Code 1968, § 46-285). 95-813, § 1, 7-12-95). (b) The purpose of this division is to encourage the use of helmets. Ride Etiquette. I pictured her in my mind with her bike, wearing her signature skirts, and mud on her sandals. In this division the following words and terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context of their usage clearly indicates another meaning: Child means any person under 18 years of age. Helmets must fit correctly. Houston prohibits bicycle riding on sidewalks in business districts per §45-302. This is why it is important to understand the rights and responsibilities a bicycle has on the road. Ride from station-to-station across multiple Houston neighborhoods and #PedalDontPark. Statement: Cyclist Killed by Hit-and-Run Driver. (Ord. A bicycle is a vehicle and a person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties applicable to a driver operating a vehicle. Currently, Texas does not have a statewide helmet law. Bicycle Laws of Texas. Class 2: Electric bikes equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle … Sec. (b) The traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk outside a business district prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon by any person and, when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same. Helmet means a properly fitted bicycle helmet that is not structurally damaged and that conformed to the standards of the American National Standards Institute, the American Society for Testing and Materials, the Snell Memorial Foundation or any federal agency having regulatory jurisdiction over bicycle helmets, as applicable, at the time of the manufacture of the helmet. 551.102. (b) It shall be unlawful for any dealer to lease a bicycle to any person without providing a helmet for the use of each child who will operate or ride upon the bicycle or determining that each child who will operate or ride upon the bicycle has a helmet available. Public way means any property that is publicly owned or maintained, including, but not limited to, a “street or highway” as defined in section 45-2 of this Code, a publicly maintained trail, and any public parks facility. The statement shall be in a form promulgated by the chief of police. Searchable text-based Code of Ordinances and City Charter files are outsourced and can be found by clicking on the link below. (b) The fund shall be used exclusively for the purpose of providing bicycle helmets for the use of members of “very low income families” as defined in 24 Code of Federal Regulations, section 813.102, as computed for the city for purposes of section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937. Texas is teeming with bicyclists, especially in large cities like Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin where many Texans rely on bicycles as their primary form of transportation. Bike Valet. Texas Bicycle Laws So in my 5 years as a road biker I have heard many interpretations of bike laws. The directors of the parks and recreation department and the health and human services department shall jointly administer the fund and shall promulgate rules and procedures for the distribution of helmets. According to § 551.101(a), the law considers a bicycle a vehicle, and as such, a cyclist has … The traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs on any roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon and, when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same. BikeHouston Moonlight Ramble. (b) It is unlawful for a parent to suffer or permit a child under 14 years of age to operate or ride upon a bicycle or any side car, trailer, carrier, seat or other device attached to a bicycle unless the child is wearing a helmet. Houston has more than 300 miles of interconnected bike trails including: Buffalo Bayou Park; Terry Hershey Park The dealer may impose an additional fee for use of the helmet if the dealer sells or leases a helmet to the bicycle lessee. No. Upon request, the chief of police shall provide a sample of the required form to a dealer. We now focus on cities that have passed their own book of laws that also apply to bicyclists. No. (a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district. Houston’s traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs on any roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon and, when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same. Double Your Impact with a Dollar-for-Dollar Match! (A) less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adjacent to that lane; or (B) too narrow for a bicycle and a motor vehicle to safely travel side by side. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Gary Fountain, Contributor / Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 17 The C3FT unit, mounted on the bicycle's handlebars, records distance of passing motorists from the bicycle. As both a bicycle accident attorney and advocate for safer riding, prepared an article to serve as an overview of the laws, Apply to Become a 2021 Bike Law Ambassador, Top 3 Goals of the first Metro Atlanta Bicycle Mayor, In Memoriam: 10 Lessons from Justice Ginsberg. Cyclists must obey any signs that are in place. How does Texas define what an electric bike is? Helmets shall be provided on a first-come-first-served basis to the extent of available supply. For example, bicycle helmets are required for children when riding their bikes on public streets, sidewalks, or park property in Arlington, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Benbrook, Bedford, Coppell and Southlake. Arlington, Benbrook, Bedford, Coppell, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, and Southlake all have similar laws. Traffic Laws: Austin & Texas (summary) Austin (detailed) Texas, Bikes (detailed) Texas, Motorists (detailed) Helmet Laws. Authority to Prohibit Riding on Roadways Houston’s traffic engineer is authorized to erect signs on any roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon and, when such signs are in place, no person shall disobey the same. Electric bikes are classified as: Class 1: e-Bikes equipped with a pedal-assist only motor which stops when the bike reaches 20 mph. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and stay up-to-date on events and initiatives around Houston! 1, eff. Don't become a statistic! As a general matter, it is legal for all persons of any age to operate a bicycle without wearing a helmet unless otherwise provided by a municipal regulation. Therefore, a bicyclist should obey all traffic laws… Conditions of the deferral may include that the defendant, if financially able, has obtained a helmet and has agreed to make a contribution in support of the fund. Child means any person less than 18 years of age. The dealer may impose an additional fee for use of the helmet if the dealer sells or leases a helmet to the bicycle lessee. 95-813, § 1, 7-12-95), (a) It is unlawful for any child to operate or ride upon a bicycle or any side car, trailer, child carrier, seat or other device attached to a bicycle unless the child is wearing a helmet. You can find the majority of the traffic laws that apply to bicycles in Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551. 165, Sec. Laws are designed to improve the safety of everyone who uses the roadways. However, cities such as Austin, Houston, and Ft. Worth have passed mandatory helmet laws for children under 18. Vision Zero. Children under the age of 14 must wear a helmet when they ride on their … The fund shall accept donations of helmets and money to be used for the purchase of helmets. If you haven’t yet, read her profiles of and conversations with […]. (c) It is a defense to prosecution that the bicycle was not being operated upon a public way at the time of the alleged offense. State of Texas Bicycle Laws. Sale or lease of bicycles by dealers. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. §45-326. Houston’s New Dedicated Bicycle Lane Ordinance: What’s at Stake. (b) It is unlawful for a parent to suffer or permit a child under 14 years of age to operate or ride upon a bicycle or any side car, trailer, carrier, seat or other device attached to a bicycle unless the child is wearing a helmet. I have a feeling I will be biking a great deal. BikeHouston Inc. 616 Hawthorne Street Houston, Texas 77006. On one hand, I was feeling driven, empowered, and more motivated than ever to step things up a notch […], Rachael Maney is the Director of the Bike Law Network and of the non-profit Bike Law Foundation. Those selected will be notified on or before February 1. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful for any dealer to sell a bicycle, bicycle side car, trailer or child carrier without providing a written statement to the purchaser advising of the terms of this division. $10 fee to the City of Houston to take the ticket dismissal option; If you opt to request the BSC Deferred Disposition in person on your court date, be prepared to pay to post a bond as set by the court, a court cost, plus a $10 fee. The bicycle helmet fund was created to accept donations of helmets and money to be used for the purchase of helmets. In a long-overdue move, the City of Houston has passed an ordinance intended to make the roads safer for bicyclists and other non-car … Wearing a helmet means that the person has a helmet fastened securely to his head with the straps of the helmet securely tightened.(Ord. Instead, each state has its own set of traffic laws. Sec. While there are no state-level Texas bicycle helmet laws for adults, Houston’s bicycle helmet laws are as follows: Children under the age of 18 must wear bicycle helmets at all times, whether they are riders or passengers. Where do I take the Bike Safety Course? Houston law enforcement will now be ticketing drivers who park vehicles in bicycle lanes on the roads. We encourage and promote bicycling, increased safety, and improved conditions. City Secretary's Office All monetary gifts to the fund shall constitute a trust that shall be deposited in the Houston’s trust and agency account, which may be invested as provided in the Texas Local Government Code. A written description of my attempt at navigating Houston, TX strictly on a bicycle, car-pool or public transport for 9 months. (c) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. **Request by mail WILL NOT be accepted, you MUST appear IN PERSON. §45-327. (a) It shall be unlawful for any dealer to sell a bicycle, bicycle side car, trailer or child carrier without providing a written statement to the purchaser advising of the terms of this division. This is because bicyclists can pose a threat to heavy pedestrian areas and other traffic-dense places in the city. As a Minneapolis-based attorney, I live, work, play and bike in the city. Welcome To Houston > Code of Ordinances Code of Ordinances . Laws. Programs. City of Houston Vulnerable Road User Ordinance (Safe Passing) City of Houston Bicycle Ordinance. §45-301. RIGHTS AND DUTIES - A person riding a bike must follow the same laws that apply to a driver in a motor vehicle Sec. As most of you know, she has spent the last two weeks on these pages profiling 16 Women on Bikes leading up to yesterday’s inaugural Women’s Cycling Day. (b) A person operating a bicycle on a one-way roadway with two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near as practicable to the left curb or edge of the roadway. 45-301. Thanks for your support and willingness to work together to make bicycling safer for all. There are no federal laws outlining rules of the road. The fund shall be used exclusively for the purpose of providing bicycle helmets for the use of members of “very low income families.” The directors of the parks and recreation department and the health and human services department shall jointly administer the fund and shall promulgate rules and procedures for the distribution of helmets. No. These "rules of the road" are based on Texas Transportation Code statutes. Eight Great Local Bike Shops in Georgia […], Last month after Justice Ginsberg passed away, I went on one of those long solo rides to pedal things out. Houston BCycle is the city's premier bike share program. Authority to prohibit riding on roadways. Which traffic laws apply to cyclists? Parent means the natural or adoptive parent or court-appointed guardian or conservator of a child. All laws and signs that regulate the movement of vehicles upon the roadway also apply to bicycles. 45-302). 95-813, § 1, 7-12-95). Fund means the bicycle helmet fund created under section 45-329 of this Code. We used a number of sources to verify rules regarding bicycles on sidewalks, including non-profit Bike Houston and the City of Houston’s bicycle ordinance. Houston’s ordinance recognizes a defense to prosecution if the bicycle was not being operated upon a public way at the time of the alleged offense. If you want real legal opinion, contact an attorney. Bike Parking. Copyright ©2021 Bike Law, All rights reserved. In addition to this, counties, cities, and towns may have their own traffic regulations, … (a) Any person who violates any provision of this division shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined an amount not exceeding $50.00 upon first conviction and an amount not exceeding $100.00 upon the second and each subsequent conviction. If you have any questions about these laws or how they may apply, please feel free to contact us via email or phone (1-844-531-7530) to discuss this topic further. And today, although she is not an astronaut, as a chemical engineer who worked for Boeing on the NASA space station project, she put her knowledge and talents to use keeping the astronauts safe and sound in […], We have so many amazing local bike shops in the Atlanta Metro Area and in Georgia that it’s hard to single out any for the service that they provide, but here’s a short list of some of the shops from various parts of town and throughout the state. Source: TS §662.105. The Texas Legislature has made two attempts in recent years to enact statewide laws requiring everyone on a bicycle to wear a helmet for their own safety. Houston Bike Plan The City of Houston Planning & Development Department in coordination with the Department of Public Works & Engineering and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department led … Moreover, this section mandates that bicyclists properly on a sidewalk shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. After representing hundreds of cyclists in bicycle accident cases, our Bike Law network of bicycle accident lawyers have realized that bicycle crashes are rarely bike accidents. Bike Safety Tips: Be visible: Wear bright reflective clothing. Unfortunately, bicycles don’t provide riders with nearly as much protection as motor vehicles, and bicycle accidents often result in serious injuries and even death. This article focuses on relevant bicycle laws in Houston, Texas, which are listed in its Code of Ordinances at Article 12. Always on the go, the newly minted Metro […], When Alabama bike advocate Jamie Miernik was growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she dreamed of being an astronaut. However, some individual cities in Texas have instated bicycle laws for kids and teens. Houston has made it illegal to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk in “business districts” and other such crowded areas of the city. 551.101. CLICK HERE FOR THE APPLICATION. Bike Barn Monthly Workshop. Although my city might be known for its lakes and our infamous Juicy Lucy, Minneapolis’ dedication to having safer streets for all should be included in that list. Source: Houston, Texas Code of Ordinances. Find the complete bicycle code at the bottom of the page. Unless specifically provided otherwise, a provision of this chapter that applies to a person operating a bicycle applies only to a person operating a bicycle on: (1) a highway; or (2) a path set aside for the exclusive operation of bicycles. Luckily, that might be about […], BIKE LAW ANNOUNCES THE INDICTMENT OF CARL BEHLER FOR KILLING CYCLIST AND INJURING OTHERS Today, Carl Behler appeared in court for the first time for killing cyclist Arthur Carter and injuring others. Texas Bicycle Laws We're not lawyers, so nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. As both a bicycle accident attorney and advocate for safer riding, I previously prepared an article to serve as an overview of the laws that apply to riders while bicycling in Texas. The Houston bicycle laws also state, “No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district” (Sec. However, printing of distribution copies shall be at the dealer’s expense. Helmet laws for kids and teens based on Texas Transportation Code statutes - a person riding a bicycle upon sidewalk! Deadline to apply is Sunday, January 24th 17 is Houston ’ s at Stake,... Yet, read her profiles of and conversations with [ … ] reflective clothing nothing. 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