When you're riding a bicycle or scooter, 

• Have both hands ready to take hold of the handlebars.
• Put your phone away in a backpack or pocket.
• If you are wearing wide-legged pants, clip or tie your right pants leg so that it doesn’t get caught in the chain when you pedal.

WEAR A HELMET:

• Wear a helmet that fits properly.
• If you’re riding a bicycle, you must wear a helmet if you’re under 16.
• If you’re riding an e-scooter, you must wear a helmet if you’re under 18.
• Helmets are designed to help protect you from head injury if you fall off your bicycle or scooter.

RIDING ON THE SIDEWALK: 

• When you ride on a sidewalk where people are walking, you should slow down and be considerate.
• Watch out for cracks, potholes, uneven surfaces, and obstructions such as trash cans and branches.
• At an intersection with a pedestrian signal, use the pedestrian signal. Do not start to cross the road when the signal is a steady or flashing UPRAISED HAND (symbolizing DON’T WALK).

RIDING IN THE ROAD:

• You must stop at stop signs and red lights.
• Use hand signals when you’re turning or moving to the left or right.
• Stay at least 3 feet away from parked cars.
• You must not wear headphones or earbuds in both ears.

RIDING IN THE DARK:  If you ride in the dark, your bicycle or scooter must have a white light on the front, and a red light or reflector on the back.

E-BIKES: 

• An e-bike has fully operable pedals and a motor with 750 watts or less.
• A vehicle that has a motor with more than 750 watts and/or that provides assistance when the vehicle is going faster than 28 mph:
  • is not an e-bike.
  • may require a moped permit or driver’s license.
  • is not legal for people younger than 16.

E-SCOOTERS:

• You must be at least 14 years old to ride an e-scooter.
• You must not go faster than 15 mph on an e-scooter.

GOING FURTHER?

• Each RideOn bus and Metrobus has a rack on the outside front of the bus that can hold two bicycles.
• Folding e-scooters or bicycles should be folded and stored between your legs or under the seat while you’re on the bus.

When you're driving,

WEAR SEAT BELTS:  The driver and all passengers of a motor vehicle must wear a safety belt or be buckled in a child safety seat.

OBEY THE SPEED LIMIT:

• The posted speed limit is the maximum legal speed you can travel on a road under ideal (perfect) conditions.
• You may drive slower than the posted speed limit based on road conditions, but it is against the law to drive any faster.

TURN SIGNALS: When turning, switch on your turn signal before you get to the turn to let other people know what you plan to do.

U-TURNS: U-turns can be extremely dangerous and are not lawful everywhere.

STOP SIGNS: You must make a complete stop at a stop sign before entering the intersection.

TRAFFIC SIGNALS:

• At a red signal, come to a complete stop before the crosswalk and before entering the intersection.
• Unless a sign prohibits it, after coming to a complete stop, you may turn right on red.
• When turning on a red signal, you must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and all other traffic.

DISTRACTED DRIVING:  Activities that contribute to distracted driving include: eating and drinking, adjusting the radio or other source of music, adjusting or programming a GPS, dealing with children or pets, talking or texting on a cell phone, and interacting with others in the vehicle.

DON'T USE YOUR CELL PHONE: It is against the law to use a hand-held cell phone, including texting, while driving.

CROSSWALKS:

• A crosswalk is where pedestrians can cross a road, and drivers must stop to let them cross.
• Some crosswalks are marked on the pavement, but others are not.
• Most intersections have a crosswalk even if it is not marked.
• It is against the law to stop, stand, or park a vehicle on a crosswalk.

YIELD TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS:

• You must yield to pedestrians when turning on a green signal, or when turning on a red signal is permitted after stopping.
• Bicyclists have the same right of way as pedestrians in a crosswalk.

SCHOOL BUSES:

• If a school bus has stopped on the road with its flashing red lights on, as you approach it you must stop at least 20 feet away.
• You may not start moving again until the school bus starts moving or turns off its flashing red lights.
• If you are on a multiple-lane road divided by a physical barrier, do not stop if the bus is on the other side of the barrier.

WATCH FOR CHILDREN ON BICYCLES:

• Children on bicycles are sometimes unpredictable, so expect the unexpected. Remember they are small and may be hard to see.
• Young bicyclists are most likely to change direction without warning.
• Be aware of bicyclists entering the road from driveways or near parked cars.
• Obey speed limits in school zones and residential areas, so you have time to see and drive safely around young bicyclists.

AVOID COLLISIONS:

• A basic rule of driving is that, at all times, the driver should control the vehicle to avoid a crash.
• When you drive a motor vehicle, you are responsible for operating it safely.
• When overtaking a person on a bicycle or e-scooter, pass safely at a distance of at least 3 feet.
• You must exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian and any bicycle or e-scooter being ridden by a person.
• You must exercise proper precaution when observing any child.

SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES:

• It is against the law to drive on the sidewalk.
• It is against the law to stand, stop, or park your vehicle in a bikeway.