Planning is currently underway for the League of Michigan Bicyclists to run six Community Safety for Bicycling Law Enforcement Trainings in 2014. This training is broken into two sessions that can be taken together or separately. The morning session will cover the laws pertaining to bicyclists as well as education, enforcement, and engineering topics. The afternoon session will teach participants how to run an effective bike rodeo. The trainings are open to law enforcement personnel and civilians.
Dates for the 2014 Trainings are being finalized, however host sites will be Norton Shores, Niles, Lansing, Traverse City, Sault Ste. Marie, and a TBD SE Michigan location. Watch LMB's website for dates on these trainings. Trainings will be conducted in April - June time frame.
Clubs, shops, organizations or individuals are encouraged to sponsor officers from your local police department to attend the trainings. This will not only help you or your group build a great rapport with your local law enforcement agency, but it will also provide important training concerning bicyclists rights under the law. The fees are set low on purpose with the morning training only costing $25.
Many bicycle crashes go unreported and therefore are not included in official statistics. Underestimation of crash rates results partly from a lack of recorded data on cyclist-only (CO) injury crashes, that is, crashes in which no contact is made with an automobile. Moreover, less severe injuries tend to get reported less frequently by law enforcement.
Michigan bicycle crash stataistics are collected by law enforcement using the UD-10 form.
Acording to the Office of Highway Safety Planning, in 2012, there were 1,981 bicycles involved in motor vehicles crashes, with 20 bicyclists killed and 1,598 injured. 13 of the bicyclists killed (65.0%) were reported by police to be "going straight ahead" just prior to crash. Addittional Michigan bicycle crash statistics can be found below.
Source: Michigan Traffic Crash Facts
2012 Michigan Bicycle Crash Data by League of Michigan Bicyclists
Just like bicycle education is more than a shove down the driveway, a bicycle rodeo is more than just an obstacle course. This "Guide to Bicycle Rodeos" is intended to give you the tools to run a successful event that provides a strong educational component for the participants.
When we remember back to our first bicycle, we remember that it provided fun, freedom, independence, transportation and responsibility. The bicycle is the most efficient machine known to mankind. The bicycle is playing a role in many of the issues facing us today, heath & wellness, environmental concerns and transportation. As more and more Americans rediscover the bicycle, it is critical that all users understand how to safely drive a bicycle.
Why run a bicycle rodeo, Well it first and foremost teaches bicycle safety if run properly. With time constraints it is an efficient, effective and concise way of presenting bicycle safety. The practical aspect of the training is a powerful tool. But most importantly, children have fun while learning.
Simply stated, it is education by practice. It is a bicycle skills event which provides an opportunity for bicyclists to practice and develop skills that will help them to become better bicyclists and avoid typical crashes.
For more information visit Bicycle Rodeos - How to run an event.
The following is a summary of the Motor Vehicle Code (MVC) and Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) and Administrative Rules pertaining to bicyclists. Local ordinances may not supersede the MVC, MCL, or Administrative Rules unless explicitly specified in statute. For more details concerning the following laws and penalties, please review the complete MVC at the Michigan State Legislature website. The following excerpts also appear in the Appendix of What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know.
"...a device propelled by human power upon which a person may ride, having either 2 or 3 wheels in a tandem or tricycle arrangement, all of which are over 14 inches in diameter."
"The regulations applicable to bicycles under sections 656 to 662 shall apply when a bicycle is operated upon a highway or upon a path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated in sections 656 to 662."
"Each person riding a bicycle...upon a roadway has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to the provisions of this chapter which by their nature do not have application." This includes speed limits, stop signs and stop lights.
(1) "The driver of a... bicycle upon a highway, before stopping or turning from a direct line, shall first see that the stopping or turning can be made in safety and shall give a signal as required in this section."
(4) When a person is operating a bicycle and signal is given by means of the hand and arm, the operator shall signal as follows:
(a) "For a left turn... shall extend ... left hand and arm horizontally."
(b) "For a right turn...shall extend ... left hand and arm upward or shall extend ... right hand and arm horizontally."
(c) "To Stop or decrease speed... shall extend ... left hand and arm downward."
"Upon each roadway of sufficient width, the driver of a vehicle shall drive the vehicle upon the right half of the roadway..." Since a bicyclist has all the rights and is subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle according to Section 257.657 then they must ride in the right half of the roadway.
A person operating a bicycle upon a highway or street at less than the existing speed of traffic shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except as follows:
(a) "When overtaking and passing another bicycle or any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction."
(b) "When preparing to turn left."
(c) "When conditions make the right-hand edge of the roadway unsafe or reasonably unusable by bicycles, including, but not limited to, surface hazards, an uneven roadway surface, drain openings, debris, parked or moving vehicles or bicycles, pedestrians, animals, or other obstacles, or if the lane is too narrow to permit a vehicle to safely overtake and pass a bicycle."
(d) "When operating a bicycle in a lane in which the
traffic is turning right but the individual intends to go straight through the intersection."
(e) "When operating a bicycle upon a 1-way highway or street that has 2 or more marked traffic lanes, in which case the individual may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable."
MVC Section 257.657 states: "Each person riding a bicycle...upon a roadway has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter..."
MCL 257.69 states: ... traffic means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars and other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel."
(1) "An individual operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian."
(2) "An individual shall not operate a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk if that operation is prohibited by an official traffic control device.
(3) "An individual lawfully operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or a pedestrian crosswalk has all of the rights and responsibilities applicable to a pedestrian using that sidewalk or crosswalk."
"Two or more individuals operating bicycles upon a highway or street shall not ride more than 2 abreast except upon a path or portion of the highway or street set aside for the use of bicycles."
"... nor shall a...bicycle, except as provided in this section...be permitted on a limited access highway in this state. Bicycles shall be permitted on paths constructed separately from the roadway and designated for the exclusive use of bicycles."
(1) "A bicycle...being operated on a roadway between 1⁄2 hour after sunset and 1⁄2 hour before sunrise shall be equipped with 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 which shall be visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a 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."
LMB strongly recommends using a rear red light when bicycling in the dark. A bicyclist may only use a "white" light on the front. A "blue" light is reserved for emergency services and may not be used. A "white" light may not be used on the rear of a bicycle. Red is the preferred color for the rear.
MVC Section 257.662 (4) and (5) also makes it illegal to sell a bicycle or bike pedal without pedal reflectors, or a bike without "either tires which have reflective sidewalls or with wide-angle prismatic spoke reflectors."
"A bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement."
(1) "An individual may park a bicycle on a sidewalk except as prohibited by an official traffic control device.
(2) "An individual shall not park a bicycle on a sidewalk in such a manner that the bicycle impedes the lawful movement of pedestrians or other traffic.
(3) "An individual may park a bicycle on a highway or street at any location where parking is allowed for motor vehicles, may park at any angle to the curb or the edge of the highway, and may park abreast of another bicycle.
(4) "An individual shall not park a bicycle on a highway or street in such a manner as to obstruct the movement of a legally parked motor vehicle.
(5) "Except as otherwise provided in this section, an individual parking a bicycle on a highway or street shall do so in compliance with this act and any local ordinance."
"A person operating a bicycle...shall not carry any package, bundle, or article that prevents the driver from keeping both hands upon the handlebars of the vehicle."
"Overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in same direction; limitations, exceptions, and special rules; violation as civil infraction.
(1) The following rules shall govern the overtaking and passing of vehicles proceeding in the same direction
(a) The driver of a vehicle overtaking another vehicle proceeding in the same direction shall pass at a safe distance to the left of that vehicle, and when safely clear of the overtaken vehicle shall take up a position as near the right-hand edge of the main travelled portion of the highway as is practicable.
(2) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction."
(1) A person operating a vehicle on a highway shall operate that vehicle at a careful and prudent speed not greater than nor less than is reasonable and proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the highway and of any other condition then existing. A person shall not operate a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than that which will permit a stop within the assured, clear distance ahead.
Motorists must have their vehicle under control when following bicyclist to be able to react safely if the bicyclist has to make an emergency maneuver.
(1) "A person who violates any of sections 656 to 661a is responsible for a civil infraction.
(2) "The parent of a child or the guardian of a ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit the child or ward to violate this chapter."
(1) "A person propelling a bicycle ... shall not ride other than upon and astride a permanent and regular seat attached ..."
(2) "A bicycle ... shall not be used to carry more persons at 1 time than the number for which it is designed and equipped."
"A person riding upon a bicycle ... shall not attach the same or himself to a streetcar or vehicle upon a roadway."
"Roadway means that portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel." Therefore the gutter is not considered part of the roadway.
"A person shall not open a door of a vehicle in a manner that interferes with or impedes the flow of traffic."
A bicycle would be included under this protection, since it is legally traffic according to MCL 257.69; "... traffic means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, street cars and other conveyances either singly or together using any highway for purposes of travel."
(1) A person shall not operate a vehicle on or across a bicycle lane, except to enter or leave adjacent property.
(2) A person shall not park a vehicle on a bicycle lane, except where parking is permitted by official signs.
(3) A person who violates this rule is guilty of a misdemeanor.
We strongly recommend that all bicyclists carry some type of picture ID when riding their bicycle. In case of an emergency law enforcement or safety personnel may need to identify you. If you have health issues of any kind we believe it is critical that you carry identification that identifies you and what your health issues are.