Bicycle lighting and lane use — Tennessee Permit Test

Tennessee law requires a bicycle used at night to have a front lamp showing white light visible from at least 500 feet.

A rider without a light is nearly invisible to a driver at night. The lamp gives you time to see the bike and slow down.

Tennessee law requires that a bicycle used at night must be equipped with a lamp on the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and either a red reflector or lamp emitting a red light that is visible from distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.

At night, a bicycle must show a white light to the front and a red reflector or red lamp to the rear.

The colors tell a driver which way the bike is going. White ahead and red behind match what you expect from any vehicle.

Tennessee law requires that a bicycle used at night must be equipped with a lamp on the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and either a red reflector or lamp emitting a red light that is visible from distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.

A red or orange pennant flag on a bicycle commonly means the rider has impaired hearing; slow down.

A rider who cannot hear will not know you are behind them. They may swerve into your path without warning.

If you see a bicyclist with a red or orange pennant flag on the antennae attached to the bike, slow down: this is a common symbol to indicate the rider has impaired hearing.

If a lane is marked and signed for bicycle use only, drivers must never use it as a turning lane, passing lane or for parking.

Cutting into a bike lane to turn or park puts your car right where riders expect a clear path.

If the lane is marked and signed (as shown at right) for bicycle use only, drivers must NEVER use this lane as a turning lane, passing lane or for parking.

A bicyclist may take the full lane when the lane is too narrow for a car and a bicycle to share it safely.

In a narrow lane, a car squeezing past a bike has no room. A rider in the middle of the lane is riding properly, not being rude.

The lane is too narrow for both a vehicle and a bicycle to safely share the lane.

From how far ahead must a bicycle's front lamp be visible at night under Tennessee law?

500 feet. A rider without a light is nearly invisible to a driver at night. The lamp gives you time to see the bike and slow down. Tennessee Comprehensive Driver License Manual, p.106: “Tennessee law requires that a bicycle used at night must be equipped with a lamp on the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and either a red reflector or lamp emitting a red light that is visible from distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.”