tallsteve
07-01-2019, 09:16 AM
I'm hoping one of our fellow attorney's, like Scott Card, will see this and has some experience and the knowledge to comment. In layman's terms, how is the cycling 2 abreast / impeding the flow of traffic up our Wasatch Front canyons, deciphered according to Utah State law? I can read the law as stated but, everyone seems to have a different opinion of what it actually means. For some it means that riding 2 abreast, if impeding traffic, is against the law, period. For others, they read it as if they can still ride 2 abreast, purposefully taking the lane, impeding traffic and forcing cars to pass when they can do so because the canyon road is so narrow. What say ye?
41-6a-1105. Operation of bicycle or moped on and use of roadway -- Duties, prohibitions.
(1)
A person operating a bicycle or a moped on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as near as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway except when:
(a)
overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
(b)
preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
(c)
traveling straight through an intersection that has a right-turn only lane that is in conflict with the straight through movement; or
(d)
reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand edge of the roadway including:
(i)
fixed or moving objects;
(ii)
parked or moving vehicles;
(iii)
bicycles;
(iv)
pedestrians;
(v)
animals;
(vi)
surface hazards; or
(vii)
a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(2)
A person operating a bicycle or moped on a highway shall operate in the designated direction of traffic.
(3)
(a)
A person riding a bicycle or moped on a roadway may not ride more than two abreast with another person except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
(b)
If allowed under Subsection (3)(a) (https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6a/41-6a-S1105.html#41-6a-1105(3)(a)), a person riding two abreast with another person may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and shall ride within a single lane.
(4)
If a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, a bicycle rider may be directed by a traffic-control device to use the path and not the roadway.
41-6a-1105. Operation of bicycle or moped on and use of roadway -- Duties, prohibitions.
(1)
A person operating a bicycle or a moped on a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as near as practicable to the right-hand edge of the roadway except when:
(a)
overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction;
(b)
preparing to make a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;
(c)
traveling straight through an intersection that has a right-turn only lane that is in conflict with the straight through movement; or
(d)
reasonably necessary to avoid conditions that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand edge of the roadway including:
(i)
fixed or moving objects;
(ii)
parked or moving vehicles;
(iii)
bicycles;
(iv)
pedestrians;
(v)
animals;
(vi)
surface hazards; or
(vii)
a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(2)
A person operating a bicycle or moped on a highway shall operate in the designated direction of traffic.
(3)
(a)
A person riding a bicycle or moped on a roadway may not ride more than two abreast with another person except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
(b)
If allowed under Subsection (3)(a) (https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title41/Chapter6a/41-6a-S1105.html#41-6a-1105(3)(a)), a person riding two abreast with another person may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and shall ride within a single lane.
(4)
If a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, a bicycle rider may be directed by a traffic-control device to use the path and not the roadway.