WBWC - Regulations affecting Washtenaw County Cyclists

Regulations affecting Washtenaw County Cyclists

The Big Picture

Briefly, as a cyclist, you have the same right to the road as other vehicles, and are subject to the same regulations; in particular, this means observing stop signs, and riding with traffic, not against it. This is true in all 50 states. However, there are common exceptions which treat bicycles differently from other vehicles. For example:

The law requires you to ride to the right side of the road, allowing other vehicles to pass you in the same lane if the lane is wide enough. However, this does not supersede other rules of the road, and does not require you to ride unsafely. In particular, cyclists should use left- and right- turn lanes the same way that other vehicles do, and should not ride too close to parked cars. (It's hard to tell when someone may be about to open a car door in your path.)
In some areas (though none we are aware of locally) you may be prohibited from using the road when a bicycle path is available next to it.
You may be permitted to ride your bicycle on the sidewalk, but when doing so you are required to yield to pedestrians.

Details on Regulations in Washtenaw County

Cyclists are subject to the "bicyclists" section of the Ann Arbor city code within Ann Arbor, and to the relevant parts of the Michigan vehicle code elsewhere in Michigan. (There could be other local governments with their own bicycling ordinances, but Ann Arbor is the only one we're aware of.)

A summary of some of the important provisions from the two codes follows, but our summary is incomplete; follow the links above for the details.

Michigan	Ann Arbor
"Every person riding a bicycle or moped upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature do not have applications."	Similar language.
"A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction." In a later paragraph, explicitly permits passing on the left.	Similar, but only requires cyclists to ride as far to the right "as practical", mentions specific exceptions for "left turns and when through traffic is not permitted in the right lane", and allows cyclists to use the left-hand edge on one-way streets.
"Where a usable and designated path for bicycles is provided adjacent to a roadway, a bicycle rider may, by local ordinance, be required to use that path."	"Whenever a bicycle path has been provided adjacent to a roadway and has been designated by City Council resolution as a bicycle path for mandatory use, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway." Note that although there are facilities within the city marked as bike lanes or bike paths, none of them are mandatory.
"A person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk constructed for the use of pedestrians shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing the pedestrian."	The requirement to give an "audible signal" is removed, but cyclists are still required to yield the right of way.
Bicycles may ride two abreast, but no more.	Similar, but bicyclists are also required to switch to single-file when a motor vehicle behind them sounds its horn.
Both codes require cyclists to use lights at night.
No registration requirement.	Bicycles must be registered; see the link above for details.