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BIKE SENSE—THE WISCONSIN BICYCLE OPERATOR’S MANUAL
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A bicyclist riding at night must use a
white front light and a red rear reflector
govern bicyclists are contained in the Wisconsin
Vehicle Code. A copy of the information below is
available as a card that can be carried in your bike
bag or jersey. Contact the Wisconsin Department
of Transportation or the Bicycle Federation of
Wisconsin to get a copy. [See the Who Can You
Contact section for contact information.]
Disclaimer: Please refer to Wisconsin State
Statutes for actual wording of the laws. These are
on the internet at www.legis.state.wi.us/rsb/
stats.html. Numbers in brackets below denote
relevant State Statutes.
Vehicular Status
• The bicycle is defined as a vehicle. [340.01(5)]
• The operator of a vehicle is granted the same
• When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe
conditions, including fixed or moving objects,
parked or moving vehicles, pedestrians, ani-
mals, surface hazards or substandard width
lanes [defined as a lane that is too narrow for a
bicycle and a motor vehicle to travel safely side
by side within the lane].
One Way Streets
• Bicycles on a one–way street with 2 or more
lanes of traffic may ride as near the left or
right–hand edge or curb of the roadway as
practicable (in the same direction as other traf-
fic). [346.80(2)(b)]
All bicyclists should be aware that the three most
common motorist-caused bicycle/motor vehicle
collisions are:
• An oncoming driver turns left in front of the
bicyclist.
• A driver on a cross street stops, and then pulls
out directly in front of the bicyclist.
• A driver barely passes the bicyclist and then
turns right.
Wisconsin Bicycle
Laws
Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibili-
ties as drivers of a motor vehicles. The laws that
rights and subject to the same duties as the
driver of any other vehicle. [346.02(4)(a)]
Lane Positioning
• Always ride on the right, in the same direction
as other traffic. [346.80(2)(a)]
• Ride as far to the right as is practicable (not as
far right as possible). [346.80(2)(a)]
• Practicable generally means safe and reason-
able. 346.80(2)(a) lists a few situations when it
is not practicable to ride far to the right:
• When overtaking and passing another vehicle
traveling in the same direction;
• When preparing for a left turn at an inter-sec-
tion or driveway;
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