fyi: road rules

Check out the rules of the road for peddlers according to the city of Memphis, posted below.

Bummer about the whole acrobatics (in red below) thing, huh? What, exactly, is the definition of "fancy bicycle riding?"

If you don't ride a bike, get one. Go here.

If you do ride a bike, be careful, get a helmet, get reflectors and lights. I realize I have not been the poster child for bike safety in the past, but if I can change, so can you.

Finally, when you're driving, please remember that "every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle."

Sharing's cool, y'all.


Memphis Municipal Code,
Title 11 Vehicles and Traffic, Chapter 11-24 Bicycles.

Sec. 11-24-1 Effect of regulations.
A. It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this chapter.
B. The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any provisions of this chapter.
C. These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any street or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles subject to those exceptions stated herein. (Code 1985 § 21-196; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-1)

Sec. 11-24-2 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this title, except as to special regulations in this title and except as to those provisions of this title which by their nature can have no application. (Code 1985 § 21-197; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-3)

Sec. 11-24-3 Removal or alteration of serial number.
A. It is unlawful for any person to wilfully or maliciously remove, destroy, mutilate or alter the serial number of any bicycle frame registered pursuant to this chapter.
B. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a representative of the traffic bureau of the division of police from stamping serial numbers on the frames of bicycles on which no serial number can be found, or on which such number is insufficient for identification purposes. (Code 1985 § 21-198; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-4)

Sec. 11-24-4 Equipment-Lights and reflectors.
A. Every bicycle, when in use during hours of darkness, shall be equipped with a forward-facing light upon the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet, and with a rearward-facing red reflector upon the rear which shall be visible from one hundred (100) feet to six hundred (600) feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlight or headlamps on a motor vehicle. A light emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.
B. All new bicycles purchased after July 1, 1975, shall, and all others should, also be equipped with a forward-facing white reflector, sideward-facing amber reflectors on the front and sideward-facing red reflectors on the rear; and amber reflectors on front and rear sides of each foot pedal.
C. Bicycles which are ridden in the streets are recommended to use safety visibility pennants. (Code 1985 § 21-199; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-5)

Sec. 11-24-5 Equipment-Brake.
Every bicycle, when operated upon streets in the city, shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement. Such brake shall be maintained in good working order at all times. (Code 1985 § 21-200; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-6)

Sec. 11-24-6 Equipment-Bell or other signal device.
No person shall operate a bicycle on any city street unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred (100) feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle. (Code 1985 § 21-201; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-7)

Sec. 11-24-7 Use of permanent seat required-Carrying excess persons forbidden.
A. A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
B. No bicycle shall be used at any time to carry more persons than the number for which it has been equipped per person in terms of seats and handlebars, with the exception of properly installed child carriers with hand and foot protection. (Code 1985 § 21-202; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-8)

Sec. 11-24-8 Riding on roadways.
A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway, excluding sidewalks, shall ride in the same direction as motor-driven traffic and shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.
B. No person shall operate a bicycle on any part of any roadway where official signs have been erected and are in place indicating the prohibition of such activity. (Code 1985 § 21-203; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-9)

Sec. 11-24-9 Obedience to traffic-control devices.
A. Any person operating a bicycle should dismount and walk his or her bicycle as a pedestrian across an intersection when traffic-control signals are in operation to regulate the flow of traffic.
B. Any person operating a bicycle shall obey the instructions of all official traffic-control devices applicable to vehicles, such as stop signs, unless otherwise directed by a police officer. (Code 1985 § 21-204; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-10)

Sec. 11-24-10 Riding on sidewalks.
A. Any person may operate a bicycle on a sidewalk except where official signs have been erected and are in place indicating the prohibition of such activity.
B. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or operator of sidewalk-type vehicles, such as tricycles, and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian or operator. (Code 1985 § 21-205; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-11)

Sec. 11-24-11 Parking on sidewalks.
No person shall park a bicycle upon a street other than upon the roadway against the curb or upon the sidewalk in a rack to support the bicycle or against a building or at the curb, in such manner as to afford the least obstruction to pedestrian traffic. (Code 1985 § 21-206; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-12)

Sec. 11-24-12 To be ridden in single file.
Every person, when operating a bicycle upon the streets in the city, shall ride such bicycle in single file only and at no time shall bicycles be operated two or more abreast. (Code 1985 § 21-207; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-13)

Sec. 11-24-13 Clinging to moving vehicles.
It is unlawful for any person riding upon a bicycle to cling or attach himself or herself or his or her bicycle to any other moving vehicle upon a street in the city. (Code 1985 § 21-208; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-14)

Sec. 11-24-14 Towing other vehicles.
The operator of a bicycle shall not tow or draw any coaster, sled, person on roller skates, toy vehicles or other similar vehicle. (Code 1985 § 21-209; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-15)

Sec. 11-24-15 Racing and endurance contests.
No person operating a bicycle upon a street in the city shall participate in any race of speed or endurance, or contest with any vehicle unless such activity is authorized by the director of public works and is supervised. (Code 1985 § 21-210; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-16)

Sec. 11-24-16 Acrobatic and unicycle riding.
A. No person shall remove both hands from the handlebars or both feet from the pedals of a bicycle while riding on any roadway or sidewalk. Acrobatic or fancy bicycle riding in roadways or on sidewalks is prohibited. (Code 1985 § 21-211; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-17)

Sec. 11-24-17 Bicycle routes and bikeways.
A. Bicycle operation within the city, and on city streets, is encouraged to be made on city street routes which have been identified by official signs and/or markings for bicycling.
B. 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. (Code 1985 § 21-212; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-18)

Sec. 11-24-18 Bicycle safety guide and bikeway map.
A. The city will make available to the public a bicycle safety guide citing the regulations pertaining to bicycle operation and handling in the city. When defined, a city bikeway map which will specify preferred and exclusive bikeway routes through the city will also be made available to the public.
B. All firms or persons engaged in the business of selling bicycles must provide, without charge, a copy of the “City of Memphis Bicycle Safety and Use Regulations” to the purchaser at the time of sale or delivery of the bicycle from and after the of July 1, 1975. (Code 1985 § 21-213; Ord. 2155 § 1, 5-20-75; Code 1967 § 10-19)