In the state of Wisconsin, bicycles are considered vehicles and are required to follow all the rules of the road like other motor vehicles. As a cyclist in Wisconsin, it is important to be aware of the legal rules specific to bikes to avoid accidents or collisions on the road. The following five laws describe statutes that are in place to protect the safety and rights of people riding bicycles in Wisconsin.
Cycling Two Abreast in Wisconsin
According to Wisconsin law, it is legal to ride a bike two abreast, or side-by-side, on the road as long as the cyclists are not impeding the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. This statute applies only when two bicyclists are riding beside one another with bodies in line. In a case in which a cyclist is behind another cyclist but is slightly off to one side, the statute would not apply. Wisconsin legislature also specifies that people riding bicycles can not ride more than two abreast except on any path, trail, or lane set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, electric scooters, and electric personal assistive mobility devices.
Three Foot Bicycle Law
In Wisconsin, the law requires motor vehicle drivers to give bicycle riders a minimum of three feet of space when passing. Wisconsin’s state law allows for motor vehicle drivers to cross a double yellow line in order to safely pass a person riding a bicycle. If a driver can not allow three feet of space between their vehicle and the bicycle rider when trying to pass, they must wait until the cyclist has moved out of the way. Wisconsin’s three foot law helps protect bicyclists by requiring drivers to leave a safe distance of clearance until fully past the overtaken bicycle. Drivers can be held strictly liable for violations of this law resulting in injuries of bicycle riders from passing too closely.
Wisconsin Dooring Law
In a bicycle dooring accident, the person opening a car door is responsible for looking to see if a cyclist will be hit by their door if it is opened. Wisconsin’s dooring law states that a person who is opening the door to a motor vehicle must take due precaution and ensure that their action will not endanger any other person or interfere with the movement of traffic, which includes bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and other vehicles. Riding three feet away from parked cars can help protect bicyclists from being hit by an open car door and prevent them from sustaining serious injuries.
Bicycle Lights At Night
Wisconsin law states that no person can ride a bicycle or motor bicycle on a highway or bicycle lane after dark unless either the person is wearing or the bicycle is equipped with a lamp emitting a white light visible from at least 500 feet. It is also legally required for bikes to have a red reflector with a diameter of at least 2 inches of surface area mounted on the rear and visible from 50 to 500 feet when in front of headlamps on a motor vehicle. Alternatively, Wisconsin law states that a steady or flashing red light visible from 500 feet to the rear of a bicycle may be used as a safety light for riding a bike at night.
Wisconsin Bicycle Helmet Laws
In the state of Wisconsin, the law does not require people to wear a helmet while riding a bike. Though it is known that wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle can significantly reduce the risk of death or severe injury in an accident, there are no legal consequences for cycling on the road without a helmet in Wisconsin. While there is no legal requirement for bicyclists to wear a helmet, there is a Wisconsin state law which states that failing to wear a helmet shall not reduce recovery for injuries or damages by the person or their legal representative in any civil action. Because of this, in cases in which a person riding a bicycle gets injured while not wearing a helmet, it cannot be argued in court that they are either partially or wholly at fault for their injuries. The Milwaukee bicycle accident attorneys at Cannon & Dunphy have successfully represented injured bicyclists and recovered compensation from at-fault motor vehicle drivers.