State Bike Laws
Riding a bike is a healthy, fun and safe activity. However, it isn't without some risk. The following information highlights 13 areas of law that may minimize that risk and have the potential to reduce conflicts between bikes and cars (and other traffic). These highlights only cover statewide laws and are not comprehensive.
If you want to learn more about state bicycling policies and efforts, check out our Bicycle Friendly State program.
Check out our Smart Cycling videos if you are interested in bicycling education videos.
All laws mentioned here were compiled as part of a research project in the fall of 2012 and may be subject to change. We update laws as we work with our member advocacy organizations to pass better laws and as advocates or the public tell us about changes. Please help us keep them updated by contacting [email protected] with any updates.
Select your state from the list below to review that state's bike laws.
Alabama
Safe Passing Laws
Alabama requires that all vehicles are overtaken and passed at a safe distance. For the purposes of a vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle, a safe distance shall mean not less than three feet on any of the following:
- A roadway that has a marked bicycle lane, or
- A roadway without a marked bicycle lane if the roadway has a marked speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less and the roadway does not have a double yellow line separating cars from oncoming traffic indicating a no passing zone.
Alabama law states that the definition of a safe distance as not less than three feet when passing a bicyclist shall only apply when a cyclist is riding within two feet of the right shoulder of the roadway.
Source: COA §32-5A-82
Helmet Law
Alabama requires that any person under the age of 16 riding a bicycle, as an operator or passenger, must wear a protective bicycle helmet.
Sources: COA §§32-5A-283; 32-5A-285
Share the Road license plates
Alabama began offering “I Share the Road” license plates in 2017. The net proceeds of the program are used by the Fairhope Cycling Project to promote, educate, and help make the communities of Alabama bicycle and pedestrian friendly.
Source: COA §32-6-64
Vulnerable Road User Laws
Alabama does not have any vulnerable road user laws at this time. There are currently no national standards for laws protecting vulnerable road users, but the League of American Bicyclists has drafted a Model Vulnerable Road User statute, which you can find here.
Source: N/A
Distracted Driving Laws
Alabama has passed a law prohibiting writing, sending, or reading text messages on an electronic device while operating a motor vehicle. This law has not yet been codified and made available through Alabama’s state statute directory, although the law is nevertheless effective.
Source: See Act 2012-291
Where to Ride
Alabama requires that bicyclists ride as far to the right as practicable. Alabama does not provide for any exceptions to that requirement.
Source: Ala. Code §32-5A-263
Sidewalk Riding
Alabama prohibits the driving any vehicle upon a sidewalk or sidewalk area except upon a permanent or duly authorized temporary driveway. This prohibition applies to bicycles since they are defined as vehicles in Alabama and there are no other statutes which authorize the use of bicycles on sidewalks.
Source: Ala. Code §§32-5A-52; 22-27-90
Mandatory Use of Separated Facilities
Alabama requires that wherever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.
Source: Ala. Code §32-5A-263
Bicycling Under the Influence
In Alabama, bicycles are defined as vehicles. Alabama’s law prohibiting driving while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances is written so that it applies to all vehicles and therefore applies to bicyclists. Bicycles should not be operated while intoxicated and operating a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or other controlled substances may result in severe punishments.
Source: Ala. Code §§32-5A-191; 22-27-90
“Idaho Stop” and Vehicle Detection Errors
Alabama does not provide any modifications to the requirement to come to a complete stop when directed to stop by traffic control devices and does not authorize bicyclists to disobey traffic lights that fail to detect bicyclists. Source: N/A
Authorization for Local Regulation of bicycles
Alabama does not specifically provide for local authorities to regulate the operation of bicycles or require registration of bicycles, although such authorities may regulate the operation of bicycles through the exercise of their other legal powers.
Source: N/A
Dooring laws
Alabama requires that no person open the door of a motor vehicle on the side available to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic. In addition, no person shall leave a door open on the side of a vehicle available to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.
Source: Ala. Code §32-5A-82
Treatment as a Vehicle
In Alabama are vehicles according to the statute that defines vehicles and a person riding a bicycle has all of the rights and duties of the driver of a vehicle as provided in Chapter 32-5A.
Source: Ala. Code §§32-1-1.1(81); 32-5A-260