Bicycle Safety

Important Safety Reminders

All bicyclists should wear properly fitted bicycle helmets every time they ride. A helmet is the single most effective way to prevent head injury resulting from a bicycle crash.  Be certain that your helmet meets the uniform safety standard by looking for a label or sticker on the helmet. The helmet will not protect your head if it is not properly fitted. Never ride a bicycle without wearing a helmet, even on short trips.

Bicyclists are considered vehicle operators; they are required to obey the same rules of the road as other vehicle operators, including obeying traffic signs, signals, and lane markings. When cycling in the street, cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic.

Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists. Be courteous – allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road, look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space, and yield to cyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals. Be especially watchful for cyclists when making turns, either left or right.

Bicyclists should increase their visibility to drivers by wearing fluorescent or brightly colored clothing during the day, dawn, and dusk. To be noticed when riding at night, use a front light and a red reflector or flashing rear light, and use retro-reflective tape or markings on equipment or clothing.

Chesapeake City Codes

Sec. 74-341.   Bicyclists and riders of motorized push scooters subject to traffic regulations. Every person riding a bicycle or motorized push scooter upon a street shall be subject to the provisions of Code of Virginia, § 46.2-800 et seq., and the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle, unless the context of the provision clearly indicates otherwise.

Sec. 74-343. Use of handlebars; headphones.
No person shall ride a bicycle or motorized push scooter upon any street without having his or her hands upon the handlebars

Sec. 74-344. Riding on right-hand side of road; two or more abreast.
Every person riding a bicycle or motorized push scooter on any street shall keep as close as safely practicable to the right traffic lane so they will be proceeding in the same direction as other traffic and shall not ride more than two abreast. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, shall move into a single file formation as quickly as practicable when being overtaken from the rear by a faster moving vehicle, and, on a laned roadway, shall ride in a single lane.

Sec. 74-345.  Riding on sidewalks.

1. Persons riding bicycles shall be permitted on sidewalks, whether paved or unpaved, eight feet or greater in width.
2. The following persons may ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk less than eight feet in width, whether paved or unpaved:
   1. Persons younger than 15 years of age;
   2. Parents, guardians and other family members accompanying persons younger than 15 years of age; and
   3. Police officers while on duty or patrol.
3. Whenever any person shall ride a bicycle on the sidewalk, whether paved or unpaved, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian and shall ride in single file.

Sec. 74-346.  Holding on to moving vehicles and towing persons, vehicles, or conveyances prohibited.
No person riding a bicycle or motorized push scooter shall take or catch hold of any moving automobile, bus or other vehicle of any kind upon any street for the purpose of being drawn or propelled by the vehicle. No person operating a motorized push scooter shall tow any person on a bicycle, skateboard, skates, or any other vehicle or method of conveyance.

Sec. 74-347.  Lights and reflectors.
Every bicycle or motorized push scooter when in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible in clear weather from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the chief of police which shall be visible from all distances in clear weather from 50 feet to 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible in clear weather from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in lieu of or in addition to the red reflector. Any such red reflector or light shall be positioned at least 18 inches above street level.

Sec. 74-348.  Brakes.
Every bicycle or motorized push scooter when operated upon a street shall be equipped with a brake adequate to control the movement of and to stop such bicycle or motorized push scooter when necessary. Such brake shall be maintained in good working order at all times.

Sec. 74-349.  Bells or other signals.
Every bicycle or motorized push scooter operated on the streets shall be equipped with a bell, horn or other signal device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least 100 feet. Only bicycles operated by the city police may be equipped with a siren or whistle.

Sec. 74-354.  Reckless riding.
No person shall ride a bicycle or motorized push scooter recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb or property of the rider or of any other person.