Arizona Traffic Laws and Safety Tips for Bicyclists

November 6, 2019

No matter how much experience you have riding a bicycle on Arizona streets, it is still important to review state laws for bicyclists. These laws are designed to help keep you safe and prevent accidents with cars that could cause severe injuries.

You should also review some of the best practices for bicyclists recommended by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Many of these are common sense tips, but it is easy to develop bad habits and forget to do simple things that could keep you safe and help lower your risk of a dangerous crash.

If you are ever injured in a bicycle crash, you should contact our Phoenix car accident attorneys for a free legal consultation. There is no obligation to take legal action and there are no upfront costs for having us represent you if we determine you have a case.

Arizona Laws for Bicyclists

Arizona has various laws governing what bicyclists can and cannot do on the road. For example, Arizona statutes say bicyclists must:

• Obey traffic lights and stop signs
• Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians who are in crosswalks or on sidewalks
• Always have at least one hand on the handlebars
• Have a minimum of one brake on the bike that makes the wheel skid when it is applied
• Have a regular seat on their bike
• Look behind, signal before changing lanes and yield to traffic already in the lane ”“ extend your right arm for a right turn or left arm for a left turn
• Ride in the right-hand lane or as close to the right edge of the road as possible, unless you are getting ready to turn
• Wear a bicycle helmet if you are under the age of 18 and are riding in Tucson, Sierra Vista, Yuma or Pima county

Arizona law prohibits the following:

• Holding onto another vehicle
• Riding next to more than one bicycle ”“ you cannot ride next to another bicycle if you are on an exclusive bike path
• Riding at night without a headlight that is visible from at least 500 feet away and a rear reflector that can be viewed from 50 to 300 feet

Safety Tips for Riding Your Bicycle

Arizona’s Department of Public Safety also has tips for bicyclists to help reduce their risk of injury. This includes:

• Making sure your bicycle works properly before hitting the road
• Learn how to look behind you without swerving or losing your balance
• Put on brightly-colored clothing to make yourself more visible to drivers
• Watch for hazards and be prepared to maneuver to avoid them
• Even if you have the right of way, check for oncoming traffic at intersections
• Always wear a helmet, no matter how short of a trip you are taking

For example, you should not ride on the sidewalk. The problem with sidewalks is trees, hedges, parked cars and buildings can create blind spots and make it difficult to avoid hazards that appear. You should also avoid passing pedestrians until you know you have their attention.

This site also emphasizes the importance of wearing a helmet, particularly for children. Helmets should be level on the head, just above the eyebrows and not be too far forward or back. The strap should be tight when the child opens his or her mouth wide. If a child is ever involved in a crash, he or she should get a new helmet before his or her next bicycle ride.

Contact Our Firm for a Free Case Evaluation

Injured in a bicycle crash with a car?

The driver could be at fault and you could be eligible for compensation. It is important to review the situation with a licensed attorney who can determine if you may have legal options.

Our experienced attorneys have a proven track record of recovering fair compensation for Arizona injury victims. We have obtained more than $1 billion in more than 27 years.

Call us today to discuss what happened. 1-800-706-3000