The Minneapolis SAFE email list ^[1] just sent out a quiz on bicycle safety. I’m curious what people believe as far as the laws go, so thought I’d post it here so we could all play along. Questions are under the cut…

No cheating! I know I could easily look these up, but where’s the fun in that?

1. Cyclists are required by law to stay as far to the right of a roadway as practical. When can a cyclist legally ride in a regular vehicle lane?

a) If the road surface is blocked by debris or the pavement is damaged.
b) To avoid vehicle doors, which may open unexpectedly.
c) If the road width is too narrow to accommodate both a cyclist and a vehicle.
d) To make a left turn at an intersection or move into a left turn lane.

2. Minnesota law requires cyclists to ride on designated bike paths or trails, if such paths are separate from the regular vehicular roadway.

True or false?

3. At night, Minnesota law requires a bicyclist to have:

a) Reflectors on the pedals that are visible from front and rear.
b) A headlight and rear light.
c) A headlight and rear reflector.

4. On an officially designated bike path or bike route, who has the right of way, a pedestrian or a bike?

5. If a vehicle doesn’t have enough room to safely pass a bicycle…

a) the cyclist is required to pull off the road to make way.
b) the vehicle can pass after honking to warn the cyclist.
c) the motorist must follow at a safe distance until it is safe to pass.

6. While illegal, it’s safer to ride against traffic, on the left shoulder of the road, because you can see approaching vehicles and better avoid them.

True or false?

Hopefully without looking too foolish by getting many of these wrong, here’s what I think the answers are…
1 – all of the above; 2 – True; 3 – c; 4 – Bike; 5 – c; 6 – False

I’ll update this post with the correct responses when they mail those out in the next day or two.