Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry signed HB2926 Into Law on National Bike-To-Work Day (Friday, May 19). The new law takes effect July 1, 2006.
 

 This powerful new law:

1.       Re-defines 'bicycle' for the purposes of the state's vehicle code, eliminating restricting wheel sizes and configurations.

2.       Eliminates confusing language as to where bicyclists should ride on the road. Bicyclists are required only to ride as far right as is "safe", not "practicable". Practicable is a word so seldom used that it had been often misunderstood and misapplied. "Safe" is better understood. "Safe" often means riding more to the center or left of the travel lane; for instance, when preparing for a left hand turn, when riding at the same speed as other traffic, to avoid roadway hazards, to improve visibility, or when a lane is not wide enough to be safely shared by a bicyclist and a motor vehicle side-by- side.

3.       Eliminates the state mandate to ride on side-paths / sidewalks if required by local ordinance. Note: Tulsa did away with their "mandatory side-path" ordinance in the late 1990's, but several surrounding communities still have them on their books.

4.       Eliminates the mandatory side light requirement for bicycles. The new law repeals the requirement for bicycles ridden after dark to have sidelights that are visible for 1000 feet (Section 78, Chapter 411, O.S.L. 2003 (47 O.S. Supp. 2005, Section 12-705)). Headlights and taillights as well as reflectors are still required.

5.       Establishes a minimum safe-passing distance of three feet and sets up fines (in addition to other citations and penalties for manslaughter, improper use of a motor vehicle, etc.) for a motorist who injures or kills a cyclist. Oklahoma is now the third state to have a safe-passing law and the second to back it up with specific fines. Arizona and Utah are the other states with safe-passing laws, with Arizona having specific fines. Advocates in other states can now use Oklahoma's law for legal precedence to aid them in their work.

Tulsa City Bicycle Ordinances

(The new state law will take precedence over existing city ordinances.)


SECTION 1000. TRAFFIC CODE APPLICABLE
Every person operating a bicycle in the City of Tulsa shall be subject to the provisions
of this title applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to those provisions which by
their very nature can have no application. Any such person shall obey the instructions
of official traffic signals, signs and other control devices applicable to vehicles unless
otherwise directed by a police officer.

SECTION 1001. MANNER OF RIDING
A person operating a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride the permanent and
regular seat attached thereto nor carry any other person upon such bicycle other than
upon a firmly attached and regular seat thereon.

SECTION 1002. SPEED
No person shall operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent
under the conditions then existing.

SECTION 1003. RIDING ON RIGHT SIDE
Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right-hand
side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle
or one proceeding in the
same direction.

SECTION 1004. RIGHT-OF-WAY
The operator of a bicycle emerging from an alley, driveway or building shall, upon
approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across such alley or driveway,
yield the right-of way to all pedestrians approaching on such sidewalk or sidewalk area,
and upon entering the roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching
on such roadway.

SECTION 1005. HOLDING ON TO CAR
No person riding upon any bicycle shall attach the same or himself to any car or vehicle
upon a roadway.

SECTION 1006. RIDING ABREAST
Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast, except
on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

SECTION 1007. CARRYING PACKAGES
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents
the rider from keeping both hands upon the handlebars.

SECTION 1008. PARKING
No person shall park a bicycle in such manner as to unreasonably obstruct pedestrian
traffic.

SECTION 1009. RESTRICTIONS OF CERTAIN VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN
A BUSINESS DISTRICT AND CIVIC CENTER COMPLEX
A. No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district. The
Director of Public Works is authorized to erect signs on any sidewalk or roadway
prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon. Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon
a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an
audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
B. No person shall travel, coast, or skate by means of any skateboard, roller skate,
bicycle, tricycle, motorcycle, minibike, go-cart, or any vehicle or motorized carriage,
upon:
1. The stairs and sidewalks adjacent to the Maxwell Convention Center, including the
podium on the second level, and all structures immediately adjacent to the stairs,
sidewalks and podium;
2. The fountains or sides thereof in the Civic Center Plaza; or
3. The pedestrian skybridge which spans West Sixth and West Seventh Streets between
the Maxwell Convention Center and the parking structure to the south of the
Convention Center.
C. No person shall travel, coast, or skate upon the sidewalks or rampways in the Civic
Center Parkade by means of any skateboard, roller skate, bicycle, tricycle or go-cart.
D. The provisions of this section shall not apply to vehicles designed for and being
utilized by handicapped persons to travel in a safe and orderly manner.
Ord. No. 17252

SECTION 1010. LIGHTS
Every bicycle or person operating a bicycle which is used at night shall be equipped
with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light, when lighted, of sufficient size
and candlepower to be visible from a distance of at least five hundred (500) feet to the
front and with a red reflector on the rear which shall be of sufficient size to be visible
up to and including three hundred (300) feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful
upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.

SECTION 1011. BRAKES
Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make
the braked wheel skid on a dry, level, clean pavement.

SECTION 1012. PARKING ZONES
The Director of Public Works may designate certain zones upon the streets for parking
of only bicycles; and wherever such zones are designated, bicycles shall be parked in
those blocks only in the
designated zones.

SECTION 1013. PENALTY
Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of an offense and,
upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine of not less than ONE DOLLAR ($1.00)
nor more than TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS ($25.00), excluding costs, fees and
assessments, or the bicycle used at the time of the violation may be ordered by the
court to be impounded by the Police Department for a period of twenty (20) days, or
punishment may be by both such fine and impoundment.