Thursday, November 13, 2008

Legislation - What is the legal status of cyclists using paved shoulders on state highways?

13. What is the legal status of cyclists using paved shoulders on state highways?

a. Required to use the shoulder
b. Permitted to use the shoulder
c. Shoulder is not considered a travel lane for bicyclists

3 comments:

Kim Broughton said...

§17C-11-5. 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.

Unknown said...

According to WV Code, the shoulder is not part of the roadway.

§17C-1-37. Roadway.

"Roadway" means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder. In the event a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" as used herein shall refer to any such roadway separately but not to all such roadways collectively.

Anonymous said...

I have a question about this: On Rt. 50 from Parkersburg to Clarksburg, there are signd indicating it is a bike route. I see bikes all the time riding the shoulder of Rt. 50, and I assume that since the signs indicating bike route are there, this is ok. But according to this law, it isn't. Are the bikers REALLY supposed to ride on the 4-lane? Or are there noted exceptions to this law?