Bike Gwinnett Coalition

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Georgia Bicycle Traffic Law - 

There is no national traffic law. Each state writes its own laws and regulations. This is especially true for bicycles and bicyclists. Bicycle-specific traffic laws and regulations vary greatly from state to state.

In Georgia, the bicycle is legally a "vehicle".  The operator of a bicycle is required and entitled to the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle operator and should be given the right to use the roads and required to obey traffic law.

In Georgia, local governements may make special provisions (for example those governing sidewalk bicycling) that are local regulations only. The only way to know of these is to ask locally or observe posted signs. 

Wherever the code or regulation uses the phrase "vehicle" that section applies to all vehicles, including bicycles. When the term "motor vehicle" is used, that portion does not apply to bicycles.
Whenever the specific term "bicycle" is used, that portion applies only to bicycles or bicycle operators only. Special braking and lighting requirements are examples. Cyclists walking their bicycles are pedestrians, and they must follow the laws and regulations covering pedestrians. 


The following excerpts are those subsections of the traffic law that deal specifically with bicycle operation:
GEORGIA CODE UNANNOTATED 
GEORGIA SECTION  

40-6-292.

1.  A person propelling a bicycle shall ride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bike and shall not person to ride upon the handlebars.
2.  No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.
3.  No person shall transport a child under the age of one year as a passenger on a bicycle, however, a child under the age of one year may be transported on a bicycle trailer or in an infant sling so long as such child is seated in the bicycle trailer or carried in an infant sling according to the manufacturer's instructions and the bicycle trailer is properly affixed to the bicycle according to the bicycle trailer's manufacturer's instructions or the infant sling is properly worn by the rider of the bicycle according to the infant sling's manufacturer's instructions and such child is wearing a helmet as required.
4.  No child between the ages of one year and four years shall ride as a passenger on a bicycle or bicycle trailer or be transported in an infant sling unless the child is securely seated in a child passenger bicycle seat, bicycle trailer, or infant sling according to the child passenger bicycle seat's, bicycle trailer's, or infant sling's manufacturer's instructions and the child passenger seat or bicycletrailer is properly affixed to the bicycle according to the child passenger bicycle seat's or bicycle trailer's manufacturer's instructions or the infant sling is worn according to the infant sling's manufacturer's instructions. 
5.  No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway.

40-6-294.

1.  Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, except when turning left or avoiding hazards to safe cycling, when the lane is too narrow to share safely with a motor vehicle, when traveling at the same speed as traffic, or while exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction; provided, however, that every person operating a bicycle away from the right side of the roadway shall exercise reasonable care and shall give due consideration to the other applicable rules of the road. As used in this subsection, the term "hazards to safe cycling" includes, but is not limited to, surface debris, rough pavement, drain grates which areparallel to the side of the roadway, parked or stopped vehicles, potentially opening car doors, or any other objects which threaten the safety of a person operating a bicycle.
2.  Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
3.  Whenever a usable path has been provided adjacent to a roadway and designated for the exclusive use of bicycle riders, then the appropriate governing authority may require that bicycle riders use such path and not use those sections of the roadway so specified by such local governing authority. The governing authority may be petitioned to remove restrictions upon demonstration that the path has become inadequate due to capacity, maintenance, or other causes. 
4.  Electric assisted bicycles as defined in Code Section 40-1-1 may be operated on bicycle paths.

40-6-295.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or other article which prevents him from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.

40-6-296.
1.  Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a light on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety which shall be visible from a distance of 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlights on a motor vehicle. A light emitting a red light visible from a distance of 300 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
2.  Every bicycle sold or operated shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level pavement.
3.  No bicycle shall be equipped or operated while equipped with a set of handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate his hands above his shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
4.  No bicycle shall be equipped, modified, or altered in such a way as to cause the pedal in its lowermost position to be more than 12 inches above the ground, nor shall any bicycle be operated if so equipped.
5.  No person under the age of 16 years shall operate or be a passenger on a bicycle on a highway, bicycle path, or sidewalk under the jurisdiction of this state or any local political subdivision thereof without wearing a bicycle helmet.
6.  The term "bicycle helmet" means a piece of protective headgear which meets or exceeds the impact standards for bicycle helmets set by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Snell Memorial Foundation.
7.  A person shall be deemed to wear a helmet only if a helmet of good fit is fastened securely upon the head with the straps of the helmet.
8.  No bicycle without an accompanying protective bicycle helmet shall be rented or leased to or for the use of any person under the age of 16 years unless that person is in possession of a bicycle helmet at the time of the rental or lease. 

40-6-297.
1.  It shall be unlawful for any person to sell a new bicycle or a pedal for use on a bicycle unless the pedals on such bicycle or such pedals are equipped with reflectors of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety. The reflector on each pedal shall be so designed and situated as to be visible from the front and rear of the bicycle during darkness from a distance of 200 feet. The commissioner of public safety is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations and establish standards for such reflectors. 

40-6-298.
1.  It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this part.
2.  The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this part.