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(--- from TN Code. Copied from Judicial link of TN web site 5-2-98 ----)
MISC LAW
TN Code
TN Code: Operation of bicycles
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(Editors note: most of the verbage that follows is not unique to the
State of Tennessee, and can be found verbatim in the bicycle codes of
some other states.)
(c) These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply
whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon
any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles subject
to those exceptions stated herein.
History
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 71; T.C.A., § 59-872; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]
55-8-172. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles - Penalty.
Statute text
(a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway is granted all
of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable
to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter and chapter 10,
parts 1-5 of this title, except as to special regulations in
§§ 55-8-171 - 55-8-177, and except as to those provisions of
this chapter and chapter 10, parts 1-5 of this title which
by their nature can have no application.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
History
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 72; T.C.A., § 59-873; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]
55-8-173. Riding on bicycles - Playing and use of play vehicles - Penalties.
Statute text
(a) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than
upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached
thereto, except for a certified police cyclist who is
performing duties that require riding in a side dismounting
position.
(b) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one (1)
time than the number for which it is designed or equipped.
(c) No person shall play on a highway other than upon the
sidewalk thereof, within a city or town, or in any part
of a highway outside the limits of a city or town, or use
thereon roller skates, coasters or any similar vehicle or
toy or article on wheels or a runner, except in such areas
as may be specially designated for that purpose by local
authorities.
(d) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
History
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 73; T.C.A., § 59-874; Acts 1985,
ch. 138, § 3; 1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1995, ch. 140, § 4.]
55-8-174. Clinging to vehicles - Penalty.
Statute text
(a) No person riding upon any bicycle, roller skates, sled
or toy vehicle shall attach such bicycle, roller skates,
sled or toy vehicle, or such person's own body, to any
streetcar or vehicle upon a roadway.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not be construed
to prohibit the attachment of a bicycle trailer or
bicycle semitrailer to a bicycle if such trailer or
semitrailer is designed specifically for such purpose.
(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
History
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 74; T.C.A., § 59-875; Acts 1985,
ch. 138, § 4; 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]
55-8-175. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths - Penalty.
Statute text
(a) (1) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway
at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time
and place and under the conditions then existing
shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand
curb or edge of the roadway, except under any of
the following situations:
(A) When overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding
in the same direction;
(B) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or
into a private road or driveway; or
(C) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including,
but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or
moving vehicles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards,
or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to
continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For
purposes of this section, "substandard width lane"
means a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and
another vehicle to travel safely side by side within
the lane.
(a standard width lane is elsewhere defined as 12')
(2) This subsection does not apply to a certified police
cyclist engaged in the lawful performance of duty
relating to traffic control.
(b) (1) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not
ride more than two (2) abreast except on paths or
parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use
of bicycles. Persons riding two (2) abreast shall
not impede the normal and reasonable movement of
traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride
within a single lane.
(2) This subsection does not apply to a certified police
cyclist engaged in the lawful performance of duty
relating to traffic control or in pursuit of an
actual or suspected violator of the law.
(c) (1) This subsection (c) shall be known and may be cited as the
"Jeff Roth and Brian Brown Bicycle Protection Act of 2007.”
(2)The operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and
passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on the
roadway, shall leave a safe distance between the motor
vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet (3')
and shall maintain the clearance until safely past the
overtaken bicycle.
(d) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
History
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 75; T.C.A., § 59-876; Acts 1985, ch. 138, § 5;
1989, ch. 591, § 113; 1995, ch. 140, §§ 5, 6; 2007, ch. 81, § 1.]
55-8-176. Carrying articles on bicycles - Penalty.
Statute text
(a) No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package,
bundle or article which prevents the driver from keeping
at least one (1) hand upon the handlebars.
(b) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
History
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 76; T.C.A., § 59-877; Acts 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]
55-8-177. Bicycle lamps and brakes - Penalties.
Statute text
(a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped
with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light
visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet
(500') to the front and with a red reflector on the rear
of a type approved by the department of safety which shall
be visible from all distances from fifty feet (50') to
three hundred feet (300') to the rear when directly in
front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor
vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a
distance of five hundred feet (500') to the rear may be
used in addition to the red reflector.
(b) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake or brakes
which will enable its driver to stop the bicycle within
twenty-five feet (25') from a speed of ten miles per hour
(10 mph) on dry, level, clean pavement.
(c) A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
History
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 77; T.C.A., § 59-878; Acts 1985,
ch. 138, § 6; 1989, ch. 591, § 113.]
55-8-178. Regulations governing nonmotor vehicles and animals - Penalty.
Statute text
(a) Every driver or person having charge of any nonmotor
vehicle, on any of the public roads in or of this state,
on meeting and passing another vehicle, shall give one
half (1/2) of the road by turning to the right, so as not
to interfere in passing.
(ed. note: this same verbage in one other state code is
clarified as meaning simply to ride on the right -side-
of the road)
(b) When nonmotor vehicles on such roads are traveling in the
same direction, and the driver of the hindmost desires to
pass the foremost, each driver shall give one half (1/2)
of the road, the foremost by turning to the right, and the
hindmost to the left.
(c) (1) No driver shall stop a nonmotor vehicle on any of the
public roads, for any cause or pretense whatever, without
turning so far to the right as to leave at least one half
(1/2) of the road free, open, and unobstructed for other
travelers and vehicles.
(2) This subsection does not apply to a certified police
cyclist engaged in the lawful performance of duty relating
to traffic control.
(d) Drivers of nonmotor vehicles on public roads shall pass
each other in a quiet, orderly, and peaceable manner, and
shall not make any noise intended to disturb or frighten
the driver or the animals drawing nonmotor vehicles.
(e) No person shall willfully, by noise, gesture or by other
means, on or near public roads, disturb or frighten the
driver or rider or the animals ridden or drawing vehicles
thereon.
(f) (1) An intentional or careless violation of this section
is a Class C misdemeanor.
(2) A willful or malicious violation of this section, whereby
the death of any person is occasioned, is a Class E felony.
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55-8-117. Overtaking a vehicle on the left. --
The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of
vehicles proceeding in the same direction. subject to those
limitations, exceptions and special rules hereinafter stated:
(1) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding
in the same direction shall pass to the left thereof at a safe
distance and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway
until safely clear of the overtaken vehicle: and
(2) Except when overtaking and passing on the right is permitted,
the driver of an overtaken vehicle shall give way to the right in
favor of the overtaking vehicle on audible signal and shall not
increase the speed of the overtaken vehicle until completely passed
by the overtaking vehicle [Acts 1955, ch. 329, && T.C,A., § 59-817.]
55-8-119, Limitations on overtaking on the left. -- No vehicle shall
be driven to the left side of the center of the roadway in overtaking
and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction unless
such left side is clearly visible and is free from oncoming traffic
for a sufficient distance ahead to permit such overtaking and passing
to be completely made without interfering with the safe operation of
any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction or any vehicle
overtaken. In every event the overtaking vehicle must return to the
right-hand side of the roadway before coming within one hundred feet
(100') of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction.
[Acts 1955, ch. 329, § 18; T.C.A., B 59-819.]
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55-52-105. Child bicycle safety rules and regulations.
55-52-106. Penalty - Defense - Inadmissibility as evidence in civil action.
55-52-101. Short title.
Statute text
This chapter is and may be cited as the "Child Bicycle Safety Act."
History
[Acts 1993, ch. 399, § 2.]
55-52-102. Legislative findings and declarations.
Statute text
The general assembly hereby finds and declares that:
(1) Disability and death of children resulting from injuries
sustained in bicycling accidents are a serious threat to
the public health, welfare, and safety of the people of
Tennessee, and the prevention of such disability and
death is a goal of such people;
(2) Head injuries are the leading cause of disability and
death from bicycling accidents;
(3) The risk of head injury from bicycling accidents is
significantly reduced for bicyclists who wear proper
protective bicycle helmets; yet helmets are worn by
fewer than five percent (5%) of child bicyclists
nationwide; and
(4) The risk of head injury or of any other injury to a
small child who is a passenger on a bicycle operated
by another person would be significantly reduced if
any such child-passenger sat in a separate restraining
seat.
History
[Acts 1993, ch. 399, § 3.]
55-52-103. Definitions.
Statute text
As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Bicycle" means a human-powered vehicle with two (2) wheels
in tandem designed to transport, by the action of pedaling,
one (1) or more persons seated on one (1) or more saddle
seats on its frame. "Bicycle" also includes a human-powered
vehicle designed to transport by pedaling which has more
than two (2) wheels where the vehicle is used on a public
roadway, public bicycle path or other public right-of-way,
but does not include a tricycle.
(2) "Operator" means a person who travels on a bicycle seated
on a saddle seat from which that person is intended to
and can pedal the