Subd. 1. Traffic laws apply. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles 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 chapter, except as to special regulations in this chapter and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
Subd. 2. Manner and number riding.
A. It is unlawful for any person propelling a bicycle to ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.
B. No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except on a baby seat attached to the bicycle, provided that such seat is equipped with a harness to hold the child securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the child’s feet hitting the spokes of the wheel or in a seat attached to the bicycle operator.
Subd. 3. Hitching Rides. It is unlawful for any person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, toboggan, sled, skateboard or toy vehicle to attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle upon a roadway.
Subd. 4. Where to ride.
A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, when preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway or when reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including fixed or moving objects, vehicle, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or narrow width lanes, that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.
B. If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder of a roadway, the bicycle shall travel in the same direction as adjacent vehicular traffic.
C. Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two abreast and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, shall ride within a single lane.
D. Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such paths and shall not use the roadway.
Subd. 5. Right of way - sidewalks. Whenever a person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian. Provided, that it is unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk in a Business District or to park a bicycle upon a sidewalk except where parking stalls have been provided. A person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
Subd. 6. Carrying articles. It is unlawful for any person operating a bicycle to carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
Subd. 7. Lighting and brake equipment.
A. Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with, or its operator shall carry, a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety which is visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. No person may, at any other time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead, operate a bicycle unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with reflective surfaces that shall be visible during the hours of darkness from 600 feet when viewed in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. The reflective surfaces shall include reflective materials on each side of each pedal to indicate their presence from the front or the rear and with a minimum of 20 square inches on each side of the bicycle or its operator, of white reflective material. All reflective materials used in compliance with this subdivision shall meet the requirements as prescribed by the Commissioner of Public Safety.
B. Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
C. No person shall operate upon a roadway any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate the hands above the level of the shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
D. No person shall operate upon a highway any bicycle which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from stopping the bicycle, supporting it with at least one foot on the highway surface and restarting in a safe manner.
Subd. 8. Sale with reflectors. It is unlawful for any person to sell or offer for sale any new bicycle unless it is equipped with such reflectors as are prescribed in Subd. 8.
Subd. 9. Impoundment. Any person apprehended by a police officer in violation of the provisions of this Section does, by his or her use of the public streets and sidewalks, consent to the impoundment by said police officer of his or her bicycle for a period of three days upon the first offense, seven days upon the second offense, and 30 days upon the third offense.