Utah Bicycle Laws

Basic Rights and Responsibilities

  • Bikes are “vehicles” and must follow most vehicle laws (41-6a-1102).

  • Cyclists may treat stop signs as yield signs. This means that cyclists don’t have to completely stop, but are required to slow to a reasonable speed and yield to any other traffic within the intersection.

    • Drivers must give at least 3 feet of space when passing a cyclists (41-6a-706.5)

    • It is illegal to distract a cyclists or force them off the road.

    • Drivers may cross the centerline to pass safely (41-6a-701).

    • White headlight at night (14-6a-1114).

    • Rear taillight or reflector at night (14-6a-1114).

    • Side-facing reflectors or lights at night (front light is often visible from the side).

    • Brakes capable of stopping within 25 ft at 10mph on dry pavement (41-6a-1113).

    • Bells are options. No sirens or whistles allowed (41-6a-1113).

    • A peace officer may stop and inspect your bike if there is reasonable cause to believe your bike is missing proper equipment or is not in good condition (41-6a-1110).

  • Ride in the same direction as traffic (41-6a-1105).

  • Obey traffic signals including signs and road markings (41-6a-305)

  • Ride as far right as practicable. Cyclists may take up the entire lane if there are obstructions or other reasons that make riding in the glass and garbage filled gutter unsafe. (41-6a-1105).

  • Two cyclists may ride side-by-side if they don’t block traffic (41-6a-1105).

    • You may ride on the sidewalk unless prohibited by city laws (41-6a-1106)

    • Ride at a reasonably slow and safe speed

    • Cyclists must give an audible signal before passing a pedestrian.

    • Cyclists may park on the sidewalk as long as they don’t block ped traffic (41-6a-1402).

  • If an off-street bike path is provided, road signs or markings may require you to ride there rather than on the road (41-6a-1105).

  • Always keep at least one hand on the handlebars (41-6a-1112)

  • Don’t attach yourself to a moving vehicle (41-6a-1104).

  • Don’t race on the road unless approved by a highway authority (41-6a-1111).

  • How to turn left:

    • Use the left turn lane in the same way a car would turn left; or

    • Stay on the right side of the road, ride through the intersection, stop, turn left and wait to cross in the next direction.

    • When riding on a road, cyclists are required to signal at least 2 seconds before turning or stopping (41-6a-804).

    • You are not required to continuously signal if you need your hands to steer (41-6a-1109).

    • Once stopped in a designated turn lane, you do not need to signal again before completing the turn (41-6a-1109).

E-Bike Laws

  • E-bikes must follow the same laws as regular bikes (41-6a-1115.5)

  • E-bikes are allowed on non-motorized state and local trails, unless prohibited by the city.

  • E-bikes are not allowed on non-motorized federal trails (US Forest Service).

  • You may not drink any alcoholic beverage or have an open alcoholic beverage with you while operating a class 2 e-bike (41-6a-526).

    • Under 8 years old - cannot operate any class e-bike

    • 8-14 years old - must have adult supervision

    • Under 16 years old - cannot operate class 3 e-bike

E-Bike Classes