Arizona Bicycle Laws
Every state in the United States comes with some bicycle laws that you must know before you start biking there. If you end up violating any of these rules, then you may be penalized heavily. Knowing the laws of only one state isn’t enough. While most of the states enact some common laws, some of them come with laws unique to that state only.
This is why we encourage knowing Arizona bike laws before you start biking there. In this article, we’re going to compile the most important rules as well as the special biking rules of Arizona.
The information provided in this article is not legal advice. None of our writers are lawyers and they also do not provide legal advice. The information published in this blog is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only. We do our best to explain the rules and regulations in easy to understand language. Although we do extensive research to make sure our information is accurate and useful, our synopsis may not reflect current legal developments or address your situation. We disclaim all liability for actions you take or fail to take based on any content on this article.
Contents
General Arizona Bike Laws
In this section, we’ll go through the rules that every biker has to follow in Arizona. The first thing that every biker must know is that Arizona doesn’t distinguish bikers from the drivers of other vehicles when it comes to duties and rights. The bikers will enjoy the same rights and will perform duties the same as the drivers of other vehicles. This means all bicyclists must follow the traffic lights as well as the stop signs.
If you’re going shopping or to the school on a bike, Arizona bike laws will make your life easier. In Arizona, you need to keep at least one hand on the handle at all times. So, you’ll have the other hand free to carry bags or any other stuff. The Arizona bike laws will let you carry any object that doesn’t prevent you from riding the bike or is impractical to carry on a bike.
Furthermore, bikers must equip a white headlight and a red reflective patch at the tail of the bike if they ride after the sunset. Bikers must yield to pedestrians. You can’t attach any other vehicle to your bike.
In Arizona, you’ll also be responsible for letting the other drivers know where you’re going. As bikes don’t come equipped with indicators, you’ll have to signal the other drivers with your hands. If you don’t provide any signal and end up in an accident, you won’t be able to defend yourself later.
Arizona Electric Bike Laws
Electric bikes are very popular in Arizona, and there are a lot of contributing factors to this. Under Arizona bike law, bikes with motors that weigh under 75 pounds, can’t exceed a speed of 25 mph, and has two handlebars, are considered electric bikes.
Related reading: Arkansas Bicycle Laws
Now, these are very popular because you don’t need any registration, licensing, or insurance to ride these in Arizona. These vehicles are much faster, convenient, and comfortable than regular bicycles, and thus they are favored by a majority of bikers.
If you have an electric bike, you can take that to Arizona without any hesitation!
Arizona Bike Helmet Laws
In Arizona, three cities require you to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. These cities are Sierra Vista, Tucson, and Yuma. So, if you’re in these cities, you better wear a helmet. However, this law applies to people under the age of 18 only. Once you’re over 18, wearing a helmet becomes your choice.
However, you’re recommended to wear a helmet when you’re riding, especially if it’s at night. Wearing helmets can save you from severe brain injury, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t wear them.
Arizona Bike Lane Laws
Every biker must drive as far right as the road allows. However, one biker can cross another if the road allows, just the way one car can cross another. To do so, the biker who’s behind the slower biker must shift to the left and cross fast.
Although you should stick to the far right when riding a bike, you are allowed to switch to the left-most lane just before you take a left turn. You can also switch to a lane left to you if you need to cross any obstruction, pedestrian, or any other vehicle that’s stationary or moving slower than you. The bikers are required to maintain all the lane laws.
In the case of riding side by side, not more than two bikes are allowed to do that.
Related reading: Alaska Bicycle Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ride a bike on the sidewalk in Arizona?
Now, whether you can ride a bike on the sidewalk doesn’t depend on the state, but the city you’re in. The state of Arizona hasn’t enacted any law that prohibits riding on the sidewalk on a bike, as of yet. However, it lets the cities enact their laws regarding driving.
So, if the city you’re riding in prohibits riding a bike on the sidewalk, then you shouldn’t do that. This is why it’s important to learn the local rules once you arrive there.
Conclusion
These were the Arizona bike laws that you need to follow. If you’re planning on biking in Arizona anytime soon, we highly recommend memorizing these laws and following them accordingly. Doing so will not only help you ride safe, but it’ll help others ride safe too.
Remember that certain cities in Arizona might have slight differences in-laws. Once you visit those cities, you better know the rules of the city and follow them accordingly. Hopefully, this article will help you ride easily and safely in Arizona!
