Rules Of The Road For Cyclists

Sioux Falls, SD

Motorists and cyclists can be found sharing the roadways every day in Sioux Falls, and the differences can create conflict.

"Sometimes it's drivers that are impatient or annoyed that the bicyclists are on the roadway. Sometimes we have bicyclists that aren't obeying the laws of the road and doing things they're not supposed to be doing," Sioux Falls Police Public Information Officer Sam Clemens said.

People riding a bike can use sidewalks and roads to get around the city. When they're on the sidewalk, they have to be especially aware of pedestrians.

"They have to make sure that they're yielding to pedestrians, give some kind of audible noise or alert that they're coming and they're going to pass them," Clemens said.

Once they're on the road, the rules change completely. They are just like any other vehicle and have to follow the laws of the road.

"They have to stop at stop signs, stop at red lights. You can't be going through an intersection just because you're on a bicycle and there's a red light," Clemens said.

If the roads are normal size, bikes need to stay to the right, but riders can be in the middle of the lane if the road is smaller. There are also special laws to protect them, including a required three-foot space for drivers to safely pass cyclists.

"Any time a bicycle meets up with any type of motor vehicle, it's a lose situation for the bicyclist, so there's a lot of things that are done to try and ensure the safety of the bicyclists, but we also need to remind bicyclists that if you're on the roadway that you're operating like a motor vehicle," Clemens said.

If you would like to see a full list of rules that cyclists must follow while they're on the roads, visit the Sioux Falls City Planning website.

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