1. "Bicycle" means either of the following: (1) A device having up to four wheels and having at least one saddle or seat for the use of a rider which is propelled by human power. (2) A low-speed electric bicycle.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.1[40.c.])
2. "Bicycle lane" means a portion of a street designed for exclusive or preferential use by persons using bicycles, electric scooters or personal transportation devices. Bicycle lanes are to be distinguished from the portion of the street used for motor vehicle traffic by physical barrier, striping, marking, or other similar device.
3. "Bicycle path" means a paved or unpaved surface, separate from the street, in the right-of-way at or greater than eight feet (8') in width under the jurisdiction and control of the state or a local political subdivision thereof for use primarily by bicycles, electric scooters, personal transportation devices, and pedestrians.
4. "Electric scooter" means a device weighing less than one hundred pounds that is equipped with two or three wheels, handlebars, and an electric motor, and which is solely powered by the rider or by an electric motor capable of propelling the device without additional propulsion supplied by the rider, at a maximum speed on a paved level surface of no more than twenty miles per hour, or both.
5. "Low-speed electric bicycle" means a device having a saddle or seat for the use of a rider, up to four wheels, equipped with fully operable pedals, and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty watts that meets the requirements of one of the following classes:
A. "Class 1 low-speed electric bicycle" means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used to provide assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty miles per hour or more.
B. "Class 2 low-speed electric bicycle" means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used exclusively to propel the bicycle and that is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty miles per hour or more.
C. "Class 3 low-speed electric bicycle" means a low-speed electric bicycle equipped with a motor that may be used to provide assistance only when the rider is pedaling and that ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches a speed of twenty-eight miles per hour or more.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.1[36A])
6. "Multi-use trail" means a paved or unpaved surface, separate from the street, in the right-of-way at or greater than eight feet (8') in width under the jurisdiction and control of the state or a local political subdivision thereof for use primarily by bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles, electric scooters, personal transportation devices, and pedestrians. No multi-use trail shall be considered as a street or highway.
7. "Other Power-Driven Mobility Device (OPDMD)" means any mobility device powered by batteries, fuel, or other engines that is used by individuals with mobility disabilities for the purpose of locomotion, including, electronic personal assistance mobility devices, or any mobility device designed to operate in areas without defined pedestrian routes, but that is not a wheelchair or a golf cart.
8. "Personal Transportation Device" means a mobility device under one hundred fifty pounds, which may be equipped with an electric motor for assistance or sole propulsion, designed for conveying the operator, with speeds of less than twenty miles per hour, but excluding a bicycle, low-speed electric bicycle, or electric scooter.
9. "Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
10. "Street" means the entire width between property lines of every way or place of whatever nature when any part thereof is open to the use of the public, as a matter of right, for purposes of vehicular traffic.
11. "Sidewalk" means a paved or unpaved surface, separate from the street, in the right-of-way less than eight feet (8') in width under the jurisdiction and control of the local political subdivision thereof for use primarily by pedestrians.
12. "Residential district" means a territory not comprising a business district and which is occupied mainly by structures for residential dwellings.
13. "Business district" means a territory not comprising a residential neighborhood and which is occupied mainly by buildings in use for business purposes.
These regulations shall apply whenever a bicycle, electric scooter, or personal transportation device is operated upon any public street, roadway, park road, any multi-use trail, sidewalk, or in any bicycle lane and path, subject to those exceptions and regulations stated herein.
1. Every person, including a peace officer, riding a bicycle, electric scooter, or personal transportation device upon a roadway or in a bicycle lane shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws of the State declaring rules of the road applicable to vehicles or by the Traffic Code of the City applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to those provisions that by their nature can have no application or those for which specific exceptions have been set forth regarding police bicycles. This does not apply to the use of a bicycle, electric scooter or personal transportation device in a parade authorized by proper permit from local authorities.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.234[2, 5])
2. Bicycles, electric scooters, or personal transportation devices are not subject to registration, licensure, titling, inspection, and proof of financial liability coverage provisions of Code of Iowa, Chapter 321.
3. Riders of bicycles, electric scooters, or personal transportation devices are not required to have possession of a driver's license or permit.
4. Whenever such person dismounts from a bicycle, electric scooter, or personal transportation device, the person shall be subject to all regulations applicable to pedestrians.
5. A peace officer riding a police bicycle in the line of duty may do any of the following:
A. Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation.
B. Exceed the maximum speed limits as long as the rider does not endanger life or property.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.231)
1. Bicycle lane right-of-way. Operators of all motor vehicles shall yield the right-of-way to bicycles, electric scooters, and personal transportation devices in a designated bicycle lane and shall not operate a motor vehicle within a bicycle lane, unless provisions of law establish other requirements and regulations at intersections and other places affecting such bicycle lanes, then such other provision of law shall control. No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane established on a roadway or street except as follows:
A. To prepare for a turn within a distance of 200 feet from the intersection.
2. Lateral Passing Distance. The driver of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle, electric scooter, or personal transportation device that is traveling on a paved shoulder or in a bicycle lane, shall give at least three feet of lateral passing distance between the outside of the vehicle and the rider and device.
3. Opening Doors. No person shall open any door of a motor vehicle located on a roadway or street without first taking precaution to ensure that this action does not interfere with the movement of traffic or endanger any other person or vehicle. In addition, no person shall leave open any door of a motor vehicle located on a roadway for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers or cargo.
4. Yield to persons in crosswalks. The driver of a motor vehicle shall yield right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian or person dismounted from a bicycle, electric scooter, or personal transportation device, or a person mounted on a bicycle, electric scooter, or personal transportation device within any marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
5. Parking. Drivers of motor vehicles shall not park in bicycle lanes, bicycle paths, or multi-use trails.
1. A person operating a motor vehicle shall not steer the motor vehicle unreasonably close to or toward a dismounted pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle, an electric scooter, or personal transportation device on a roadway or street, including the adjacent shoulder.
2. A person shall not knowingly project any object or substance at or against a dismounted pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle, an electric scooter, personal transportation device, or OPDMD on a roadway or street, adjacent shoulder, sidewalk, multi-use trail, or any other location.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 321.281)
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