The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 23 : Motor Vehicles

Chapter 013 : Operation of Vehicles

Subchapter 012 : OPERATION OF BICYCLES, ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES, AND PLAY VEHICLES

• § 1139. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths

  [Subsection (a) effective until July 1, 2026; see also subsection (a) effective July 1, 2026 set out below.]

  (a) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. Bicyclists generally shall ride as near to the right side of the improved area of the highway right-of-way as is safe, except that a bicyclist:

  (1) Shall ride to the left or in a left lane when:

  (A) preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private roadway or driveway;

  (B) approaching an intersection with a right-turn lane if not turning right at the intersection; or

  (C) overtaking another vulnerable user.

  (2) May ride to the left or in a left lane when taking reasonably necessary precautions to avoid hazards or road conditions. Examples include objects on the road, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface conditions that may impair the bicyclist’s stability, or safety hazards caused by a narrow road or steep embankment, road geometry, or unfavorable atmospheric conditions.

  [Subsection (a) effective July 1, 2026; see also subsection (a) effective until July 1, 2026 set out above.]

  (a) Due care and riding on the right. An individual operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall exercise due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. Bicyclists generally shall ride as near to the right side of the improved area of the highway right-of-way as is safe, except that a bicyclist:

  (1) Shall ride to the left or in a left lane when:

  (A) preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private roadway or driveway;

  (B) approaching an intersection with a right-turn lane if not turning right at the intersection; or

  (C) overtaking another vulnerable user.

  (2) May ride to the left or in a left lane when taking reasonably necessary precautions to avoid hazards or road conditions. Examples include objects on the road, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface conditions that may impair the bicyclist’s stability, or safety hazards caused by a narrow road or steep embankment, road geometry, or unfavorable atmospheric conditions.

  [Subsection (b) effective until July 1, 2026; see also subsection (b) effective July 1, 2026 set out below.]

  (b) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles or except as otherwise permitted by the Commissioner of Public Safety in connection with a public sporting event in which case the Commissioner shall be authorized to adopt such rules as the public good requires. Persons riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.

  [Subsection (b) effective July 1, 2026; see also subsection (b) effective until July 1, 2026 set out above.]

  (b) Riding two abreast. Individuals operating 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 or except as otherwise permitted by the Commissioner of Public Safety in connection with a public sporting event in which case the Commissioner shall be authorized to adopt such rules as the public good requires. Individuals riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.

  [Subsection (c) effective until July 1, 2026; see also subsection (c) effective July 1, 2026 set out below.]

  (c) [Repealed.]

  [Subsection (c) effective July 1, 2026; see also subsection (c) effective until July 1, 2026 set out above.]

  (c) Obedience to traffic-control devices and traffic-control signals. An individual operating a bicycle shall follow all traffic-control devices and traffic-control signals governing motor vehicles except that an individual operating a bicycle who is facing a “walk” signal, as defined in section 1023 of this chapter, may make a turn or proceed across the roadway or intersection in the direction of the signal but shall yield the right of way to any vehicles or pedestrians in the roadway or intersection.

  [Subsection (d) effective until July 1, 2026; see also subsection (d) effective July 1, 2026 set out below.]

  (d) Bicycles may be operated on the shoulders of partially controlled access highways, which are those highways where access is controlled by public authority but where there are some connections with selected public highways, some crossings at grade, and some private driveway connections. The Traffic Committee may determine that any portion of these highways is unsafe and therefore closed to bicycle operation.

  [Subsection (d) effective July 1, 2026; see also subsection (d) effective until July 1, 2026 set out above.]

  (d) Riding on a partially controlled access highway. Bicycles may be operated on the shoulders of partially controlled access highways, which are those highways where access is controlled by public authority but where there are some connections with selected public highways, some crossings at grade, and some private driveway connections. The Traffic Committee may determine that any portion of these highways is unsafe and therefore closed to bicycle operation. (Added 1971, No. 258 (Adj. Sess.), § 3, eff. March 1, 1973; amended 1989, No. 178 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. May 12, 1990; 1991, No. 175 (Adj. Sess.), § 22, eff. April 1, 1993; 1993, No. 8, § 1; 1999, No. 18, § 41u, eff. May 13, 1999; 2003, No. 160 (Adj. Sess.), § 38, eff. June 9, 2004; 2009, No. 114 (Adj. Sess.), § 6; 2015, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 44; 2025, No. 66, § 41, eff. July 1, 2026.)