Rules of the Road

When you ride a bike on the road in Oregon, you have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. Read Chapter 6.20 of the City of Grants Pass Uniform Code (PDF) (page 34-38) for additional rules and regulations for riding a bike within the city limits.

Riding Rules

• Ride as far to the right as practical. On 1-way streets within the city, you may ride on the far left as well.
• Never ride against oncoming traffic on shoulder or shared lanes. This is illegal and very dangerous.
• Ride single file, or no more than 2 abreast.
• If you ride on the sidewalk, always give the right of way to pedestrians and announce your presence loudly when you overtake and/or pass a pedestrian. Do not ride on the sidewalks in the following areas:
  • 6th and 7th streets, between A and M streets
  • G Street between 4th and 7th streets

Safety

• After dark, equip your bike with a white light visible at least 500 feet to the front and a red light or reflector visible at least 600 feet to the rear.
• Safety helmets and visible clothing is recommended. For children under 16, helmets are required. Read through Fitting Your Bicycle Helmet (PDF), provided by the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration.

Three-foot rule

All vehicles must provide a 3-foot safety zone to any bicyclist. 

The 3-foot rule does not apply to:

• Pedestrians if they encroach into the bicyclist's path in a sudden, unanticipated movement
• Bicyclists if
  • They move suddenly into the zone
  • They are traveling against the flow of traffic
  • There is a striped bicycle lane adjacent to where the motor vehicle is traveling.