Comments on: OHIO’S BIKE LAWS

By: chris

chris — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:54:03 +0000

@ Connie Jones It all depends. If the roadway is narrow, or if it hides many blind hills or it’s marked “No Passing Zone” then they are legal. I have seen many motorists pass bikes on blind curves, and had a very close call on a mountain road last year, when an impatient motorist passed on a blind hill and nearly collided with the oncoming traffic. There is no roadway that a cyclist cannot legally be on, except interstate and limited access highways, or roads that prohibit bicycling.

By: Sean Kirby

Sean Kirby — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:04:44 +0000

Same Question as Connie Jones but more. Licking County Ohio country roads are curved with lots of hills, and the speed limit is 45 mph. I constantly see Cyclists riding in the middle of the road or lane. I also see them doing “Indian rides” were the person in front of the line moves to the left and drops back to the last spot. I came across this today and the car in front of me almost nailed the Cyclists as he moved to the left to drop back. Luckily he slammed on his brakes in time. I thought the Cyclists had to stay as safely to the right as possible. I think these country roads should be off limits to Cyclists due to the blind curves and hills, especially during rush hour.

By: Connie Jones

Connie Jones — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:40:12 +0000

I enjoy summer and riding my bike as much as anyone. However several times during the summer when driving my car, I will end up behind a bicylist on a road where the posted speed limit is 45 and above. There is no place for the rider to go and I can not pass them safely. Many back roads have cars that go atleast 45 or higher. Or the rider will be trying to ride up a hill and will have 5 or 10 cars behind them because again the car can not pass safely. So my question is are there certain roads where it is illegal for a bicylist to ride such as roads with a certain speed limit.

By: Tricia Kovacs

Tricia Kovacs — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:57:53 +0000

Steve,
Excellent article. I’m looking at the municipal codes in central Ohio and will use some of your clarifications when requesting that the codes be changed, especially the one on sidewalk riding.
Another change that SB 174 proposes is to remove the phrase that the overtaken vehicle must “give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle”.
Tricia