Bicycle Laws of North Carolina

       In North Carolina, the bicycle has the legal status of a vehicle. This means that bicyclists have full rights and responsibilities on the roadway and are subject to the regulations governing the operation of a motor vehicle. North Carolina traffic laws require bicyclists to:

• Ride on the right in the same direction as other traffic
• Obey all traffic signs and signals
• Use hand signals to communicate intended movements
• Equip their bicycles with a front lamp visible from 300 feet and a rear reflector that is visible from a distance of 200 feet when riding at night.

      In addition, the Child Bicycle Safety Act of 2001 requires that:

• All bicycle operators under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle helmet on public roads, public paths and public rights-of-way

Full Version:  A Guide to the North Carolina Bicycle and Pedestrian Laws -  (PDF 684 KB)