Cycling through Auburn can be a quite enjoyable ride. But do you know there are laws and ordinances in place that affect you and your alternative form of transportation? Please read up and become more informed. The more you know, the safer you can ride.

The simplified versions will be posted first, followed by the complete text of the laws and ordinances.

State Laws:

• $112.00 Fine - Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special regulations and provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.
• $112.00 Fine - Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. (b) Persons riding 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. (c) Wherever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and not use the roadway.
• $112.00 Fine - Every bicycle when in use at nighttime 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 of a type approved by the department 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 rear reflector. A citation for the first offence may be waived pursuant to the offender's purchase and installation (if appropriate) of reflectors or reflective clothing within forty-eight (48) hours of the offense and proof of purchase (material and receipt) is presented to the citing officer within forty-eight (48) hours.
• $112.00 Fine - No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it was designed.
• $112.00 Fine - No person riding a bicycle shall attach themselves or the bicycle to any vehicle upon a roadway.
• $112.00 Fine - No person operating a bicycle shall carry anything which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars.

City Ordinances:

• $145.00 Fine - No one shall ride a bike on the sidewalks of Downtown Auburn.
• $112.00 Fine - No one shall park their bicycle in Downtown Auburn, except in bicycle parking racks.
• $25.00 Fine - All bicycle must have an operating headlight on the front of their bicycle and reflectors on the front and rear spokes of the wheels and pedals. A citation for the first offence may be waived after the offender's purchase and installation (if appropriate) of reflectors or reflective clothing within forty-right (48) hours of the offense and proof of purchase (materials and receipt) is presented to the citing officer within forty-eight (48) hours.

Complete Text:

State Laws:

• Minimum $112.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) - Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles. Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be 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 those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application. Article 12 Bicycles and Play Vehicles: Section 32-5A-260 (Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-102.)
• Minimum $112.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) - Riding on roadways and bicycle paths. (a) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. (b) Persons riding 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. (c) Wherever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway. Article 12 Bicycles and Play Vehicles: Section 32-5A-263 (Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-105.)
• Minimum $112.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) - Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. (a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime 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 of a type approved by the department 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. (b) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement. A citation for the first offense may be waived pursuant to the offender's purchase and installation (if appropriate) of reflectors or reflective clothing within forty-eight (48) hours of the offense and proof of purchase (materials and receipt) is presented to the citing officer within forty-eight (48) hours. Article 12 Bicycles and Play Vehicles: Section 32-5A-265 (Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-107.)
• Minimum $112.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) - Riding on bicycles. (a) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto. (b) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped. Article 12 Bicycles and Play Vehicles: Section 32-5A-261 (Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-103.)
• Minimum $112.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) - Clinging to vehicles. No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway. Article 12 Bicycles and Play Vehicles: Section 32-5A-262 (Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-104.)
• Minimum $112.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) - Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars. Article 12 Bicycles and Play Vehicles: Section 32-5A-264 (Acts 1980, No. 80-434, p. 604, §12-106.)

City Ordinances:

• Minimum $145.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) – It shall be unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle on the sidewalks in the Downtown Business District of the City of Auburn, Alabama. Ordinance #988. September 19, 1979.
• Minimum $112.00 Fine (Includes Court Costs) – It shall be unlawful for any person to park a bicycle in the Downtown Business District of the City of Auburn, Alabama, except in bicycle parking racks. Ordinance #988. September 19, 1979.
• $25.00 Fine (First Offense) (Includes Court Costs) – All bicyclists must have an operating head light on the front of their bicycles and reflectors on the front and rear spokes of the wheels and pedals of their bicycles that give an indication of the bicyclist’s presence through reflected light from the head lamp beams of motor vehicles at a distance of a minimum of five hundred (500) feet. A citation for the first offense may be waived pursuant to the offender's purchase and installation (if appropriate) of reflectors or reflective clothing within forty-eight (48) hours of the offense and proof of purchase (materials and receipt) is presented to the citing officer within forty-eight (48) hours. Ordinance #1272. March 15, 1988.