Laws for bicyclists — Massachusetts Permit Test

A bicyclist can use the full lane anywhere, anytime, and on any street, even where there is a bike lane, except on limited-access or express state highways where signs prohibiting bicycles are posted.

A rider in the middle of the lane is where the law allows them to be, usually to get clear of a door or a pothole. The one place the right stops is a limited-access highway posted against bicycles.

You can use the full lane anywhere, anytime, and on any street (except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted), even if there is a bike lane.

A bicyclist must bike in the same direction as traffic unless signs or markings say otherwise.

Riding against traffic doubles the closing speed and puts the rider where no driver is looking.

You must bike in the same direction as traffic unless otherwise indicated by signs or markings.

A bicyclist must stop at red lights and stop signs.

The same signals apply. A bicycle arriving at a red light is traffic, and so is whatever is crossing in front of it.

You must stop at red lights and stop signs.

No more than two bicycles may be operated side by side, and on a road with more than one lane in the direction of travel they must stay in one lane.

Two abreast is legal, and they still have to leave a passing vehicle room to overtake.

No more than two bicycles can be operated side-by-side.

A bicycle helmet approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission must be worn by any bicycle operator or passenger under 16.

Under 16 it is not a choice, and it has to be secured to the head rather than just carried.

A bicycle helmet approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission must be worn by a bicycle operator or passenger under 16 years old.

A bicycle must have a brake system able to stop it from 15 mph within 30 feet.

It is a measurable standard rather than a working-order rule. Thirty feet from fifteen miles an hour is about two car lengths.

You must have a proper working brake system to stop from 15 MPH within 30 feet.

From half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, a bicycle must have a white lamp in front visible up to 500 feet and a red rear light or reflector visible up to 600 feet.

Front and rear are different distances because the rear is what a car coming up behind has to see first.

From a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise, you must have a white lamp in front visible from up to 500 feet and a rear facing red light or reflector visible up to 600 feet.

A bicyclist cannot carry a person between one and four years old, or weighing 40 pounds or less, except in a baby seat attached to the bicycle.

The seat has to hold them upright in a harness with their feet away from the spokes. A child under a year old cannot be carried at all.

You cannot transport a person who is between one and four years old or who weighs 40 lbs. or less except in a “baby seat” attached to the bicycle.

A bicyclist must report any crash involving personal injury, and any crash with more than $100 of property damage, to the police where it happened.

A hundred dollars of damage is a low bar, and the report goes to the municipality rather than to the Registry.

You must report any crash involving personal injury and any crash involving property damage in excess of $100 to the police in the municipality where it occurred.

Bicyclists must signal their intent by either hand to stop or turn, but the signal does not have to be continuous or made at all if both hands are needed to ride safely.

It is the one signaling rule with an exception built in, because letting go of the handlebars can be the more dangerous act.

However, the signal does not have to be continuous or be made at all if both hands are needed for the bicycle’s safe operation.

A bicyclist on a sidewalk or shared use path must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking or passing.

The signal cannot be a siren or a whistle. A bell or a voice is what the law has in mind.

If on a sidewalk or shared use path, you must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking or passing

Bicyclists should ride at least three feet from parked cars, outside the door zone.

A door opening into a rider gives no warning at all. Three feet is the width of an open door.

Bicyclists should ride at least three feet from parked cars to avoid doors, both on streets with and without bike lanes.

Where may a bicyclist use the full lane?

On any street, except posted limited-access highways. A rider in the middle of the lane is where the law allows them to be, usually to get clear of a door or a pothole. The one place the right stops is a limited-access highway posted against bicycles. Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.112: “You can use the full lane anywhere, anytime, and on any street (except limited access or express state highways where signs specifically prohibiting bicycles have been posted), even if there is a bike lane.”