Bicycle safety: Rules of the road | News

GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM)- After a vehicle driven by the Grand Rapids police chief collided with two boys on a bike this week, our WZZM 13 viewers asked for information on laws regulating bicycle safety.

Investigators say the boy who suffered minor injuries after the collision with Chief Kevin Belk was crossing against the red light, violating bike riding rule number one: a bicyclist must obey the same traffic laws as a motorist.

According to state law:

- A bicyclist must also ride with the direction of traffic.

- A bicyclist is not required to ride in a bike lane.

- A rider does not have to wear a helmet.

- It is not illegal to use a cell phone while riding a bicycle, but it is considered unsafe.

- A bicyclist may ride on a sidewalk, except where it is specifically prohibited. The bicycle must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal when passing a pedestrian.

- Bicycles are also supposed to have brakes, bells and lights to ensure safe operation.

In addition to the state law, many municipalities have additional rules regulating bicycles. In Grand Rapids, for instance, people over the age of 15 may not ride a bike on the sidewalk in the central business district.