At Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC, we are accomplished athletes. We have ridden thousands of miles on bicycles. We have run thousands of miles training for marathons. Both Mr. Griffen and Mr. Stevens have competed in the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. And we have seen the danger of cycling, bike lanes, speeding vehicles, intersections, and drunk drivers first hand.
We care about your case like it’s our own.
Arizona has an entire Article of the Arizona Traffic Code dedicated to bicycles. Yet, most drivers do not understand bicycle laws and the rights of Arizona’s cyclists and athletes. Here’s a look at some of those laws.
Same Rights as Arizona Drivers
In Arizona, a person riding a bicycle on a roadway or on a shoulder near a roadway is “granted all of the rights” applicable to drivers (see A.R.S. section 28-812). Similarly, a bicyclist in Arizona has the same duties as drivers and is not privileged to violate any traffic laws. Thus, when a bicyclist approaches a stop sign, in a bike lane, all of the drivers must treat that bicyclist just like any other vehicle. The bicyclist must stop at the stop sign or red light. The other drivers must yield to the bicyclist just the same as they would yield to another vehicle.
Passing Other Bicyclists
Bicyclists are legally allowed to pass other bicyclists, just a car can pass another car (if the roadway legally permits). For example, if a bicyclist is in a bike lane, or as far to the right of the road as safety allows, and the bicyclist comes up on another bicyclist who is traveling slower, the faster bicyclist can move to the left and pass the slower bicyclist. This is a legal pass (see A.R.S. section 28-815(A)(1).
Making a Left Turn and Avoiding Dangers
Bicyclists are also allowed to move left into a roadway when preparing to make a legal left turn at an intersection or to turn onto a driveway (see A.R.S. section 28-815(A)(2). The same concept applies if a bicyclist needs to move left into the roadway to avoid objects, parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, or other safety hazards (see A.R.S. section 28-815(A)(3).
Commuting on a Bicycle to Work or School
Most of Arizona’s towns and cities are bicycle-friendly. Flagstaff is a great example of a city with lots of cyclists who utilize bike lanes, urban trails, and large shoulders. With that in mind, a bicyclist going to work or school is going to need to carry things. Arizona law only requires a cyclist to have one hand on the handlebars. The law says that a bicyclist shall not carry anything that prevents the bicyclist from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars at all times (see A.R.S. section 28-816).
Arizona’s Injury Experts
Bicycle accidents involving vehicles often lead to serious injuries. Griffen & Stevens Law Firm, PLLC is Arizona’s bicycle injury expert law firm. We are bicyclists. We treat your injury case like it’s our own. And we fight hard for our clients every step of the way.
Contact us today for a free consultation on any personal injury case, including, of course, bicycle accidents.
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| Ryan J. Stevens, Esq. Ironman | Injury Lawyer |
