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What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know

What Every MI Bicyclist Must Know

A Guide For Bicyclists

“What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know” is designed to help you safely and enjoyably share the public roads and trails of Michigan with other users. Although this publication includes information about many Michigan traffic laws, it is not meant to be a legal document or a substitute for the Michigan Vehicle Code.

This handy booklet is designed for bicyclists and is an excellent resource for anyone riding a bicycle in Michigan. Law Enforcement agencies and other organizations can request free copies for distribution.

Remember that you are ultimately responsible for your own safety. Keep yourself and your bicycle in good condition and ride within your own limits.

What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know is brought to through a partnership between the League of Michigan Bicyclists, the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Michigan Department of Transportation, and the Michigan Department of Community Health.

THESE ARE AVAILABLE AT YOUR LOCAL BIKE SHOP!
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What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know

This handy booklet is designed for bicyclists and is an excellent resource for anyone riding a bicycle in Michigan.			Date File size Hits	2010-01-25 4.96 MB 7565

Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes to School / Child Safety

Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is an international movement to make it safe, convenient and fun for children to bicycle and walk to school. When routes are safe, walking or biking to and from school is an easy way to get the regular physical activity children need for good health. SR2S initiatives also help ease traffic jams and air pollution, unite neighborhoods and contribute to students’ readiness to learn in school.

LMB helped to develop the original SR2S Michigan toolkit and currently sits on the Michigan Safe Routes to School steering committee.

Advocates across Michigan are using SR2S as a mechanism and funding resource to improve walking and bicycling infrastructure in and around schools in their communities. SR2S is just one more tool local you can use in your efforts to create a more bicycle friendly community. In fact, some advocates are even using SR2S as part of their efforts to change school policies that prohibit kids from bicycling to school. If schools in your area are not already participating in SR2S, LMB encourages you to work with other area parents and join the program today.

Learn more about Safe Routes To School in Michigan
www.saferoutesmichigan.org

SRTS_NationalPartnership LMB is also a member of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is a collaboration of bicycling and walking groups, as well as health advocates, schools, government agencies, and businesses. The partnership's goal is to advance the Safe Routes to School national movement. A key component of this goal is ensuring that the Safe Routes funding authorized by the new transportation law is put to the best possible use. The Bikes Belong Coalition is providing initial funding for this partnership. Deb Hubsmith—a nationally respected Safe Routes to School expert—has been selected to serve as the partnership's coordinator.

Learn More About the Safe Routes to School National Partnership

SR2S Background & Resouces

SRTS-_NationalCenter Visit the National Center for Safe Routes to School for additional resoucres.

In August, 2005, the Federal-aid SRTS Program was created by Section 1404 of the federal transportation bill, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient,Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA-LU). Housed in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, the SRTS Program is funded at $612 million over five Federal fiscal years (FY 2005–2009). Search a list of federally funded projects by state.

FHWA apportions SRTS funding annually to each State in conjunction with Federal-aid highway apportionments.

The national SRTS Program is federally funded, but managed and administered by each State Department of Transportation (DOT). It is the responsibility of each State to appoint a fulltime SRTS Coordinator, to develop a State SRTS program, and to disperse funds to local programs in accordance with State policies and any applicable Federal law.

Although some parameters have been spelled out in the legislation, States may structure their program in ways most suitable to their needs. States may also provide their own funds. For information on a specific State, please visit State SRTS Contacts. For more information on the Federal Safe Routes to School Program, including FHWA Program Guidance, please visit the Federal SRTS Program Web site.

Additional Resources For Parents

Here are just a few of the great articles and studies found on the American Academy of Pediatrics Website:
Choosing the Right Size Bicycle For Your Child
Bicycle Safety for Children: Myths and Facts
Safe Bicycling Starts Early
The Child As Passenger on an Adult's Bicycle
About Bicycle Helmets
More on Bicycle Helmets
Pediatric head injuries and deaths from bicycling in the United States
Cost-effectiveness analysis of bicycle helmet subsidies in a defined population
The bicycle: a developmental toy versus a vehicle

Last Updated on Saturday, 20 March 2010 16:59

Michigan Vehicle Code Pertaining to Bicyclists

MI Vehicle Code Bikes and the Law

The official Michigan Vehicle Code (MVC) pertaining to bicycles can be found on the Michigan State Legislature website. The following excerpts of the MVC also appears in the Apendex of What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know.

Where do Michigan laws apply to cyclists?

Section 257.656(3) of the Michigan Vehicle Code
("MVC" - Public Act 300 of 1949) states:

"The regulations applicable to bicycles under sections 656 to 662 shall apply when a bicycle is operated upon a highway or upon a path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated in sections 656 to 662."

Does a cyclist have to obey the same traffic laws as a motorist?

Yes. Section 257.657 of the MVC states:

"Each person riding a bicycle... upon a roadway has all of the rights and is subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to the provisions of this chapter which by their nature do not have application."

Does that include signaling?

Yes. Section 257.648 of the MVC states:

(1) "The driver of a...or bicycle upon a highway, before stopping or turning from a direct line, shall first see that the stopping or turning can be made in safety and shall give a signal as required in this section."

(3) "When a signal is given by means of the hand and arm, the driver shall indicate his or her intention to stop or turn by extending his hand and arm from and beyond the left side of the vehicle and signal as follows:

(a) "Left turn ..... hand and arm extended horizontally.

(b) "Right turn ..... hand and arm extended upward.

Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision

Bicycling 101 On January 1, 2009, the qualified bicycle commuting reimbursement was added to the list of qualified transportation fringe benefits covered in section 132 (f) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

The Bicycle Commuter Act was in front of Congress for seven years, and finally passed as an inclusion to the larger Renewable Energy Tax Credit legislation in 2008. The original intent of the provision was to provide a simple, equitable solution to put cyclists on the same footing as people who receive qualified transportation benefits (QTF)'s for taking transit or driving (or parking, actually) their cars to and from work. It was intended that the bike commuting benefit would be treated the same as the other QTF's.

The total anticipated cost of the provision, estimated by the Joint Committee on Taxation, is a very modest $1 million per year, as compared to the $4.5 billion annual cost of parking and transit benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Visit the League of American Bicyclists for FAQ and updated information on the Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision.

Download LMB's Bike Commuter Internal Guidelines:

Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision Guidelines

LMB's reimbursement policy for the Bicycle Commuter Tax Provision.			Date File size Hits	2010-02-09 218.5 KB 1157

Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 February 2010 12:42

Bike Commuting

Bicycling 101

Common Questions

How do I pick a route?

Use a local map or your current commute to find roads with lower traffic levels, wide right lanes, paved shoulders or bike lanes.

Is it safe to ride in traffic?

Bike crashes often happen to bicyclists when riding on sidewalks or not following the law. Riding on a sidewalk makes you invisible to drivers especially if you ride against traffic. Obey all traffic laws and be visible and predictable.

That's too far too ride!

Bike one way and take your bike on transit the other way. Drive to a park and ride lot or bus stop to skip troublesome areas and bike the rest.

Getting Started: Using Your Bike for Fun, Fitness and Transportation

Bicycling 101

Download Getting Started Brochure

Last Updated on Wednesday, 14 October 2009 10:32

LMB's Position on Helmet Use

Helmet Use

Adopted January 2003

Helmets are safety devices, which prevent or mitigate head injuries in a crash or fall and, coupled with bicycle safety education, are aimed at the prevention of crashes and falls and their consequences.

The League of Michigan Bicyclists encourages bicyclists to wear helmets and strongly recommends the wearing of helmets that

(a) are properly fitted to the rider and
(b) meet the bicycle helmet standards of either the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Society of Testing and Materials, or the Snell Memorial Foundation.

The League recommends that cyclists frequently check their helmets for wear and damage, and replace the helmets every few years and/or in the event of a crash, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. The League recommends that all of its affiliated bicycle clubs encourage their members and other bicyclists who participate in club rides to wear such helmets.

All League of Michigan Bicyclists bicycle tours will require helmets.

Last Updated on Monday, 19 October 2009 14:11

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Education

What Every Michigan Bicyclist Must Know

Safe Routes to School

Michigan Vehicle Code Pertaining to Bicyclists

Where do Michigan laws apply to cyclists?

Section 257.656(3) of the Michigan Vehicle Code
("MVC" - Public Act 300 of 1949) states: