On A Bicycle
A.R.S. 28-812 — a driver's rights and duties, the right edge, and three feet to pass
In Arizona, a person riding a bicycle on a roadway or on a shoulder next to it has all the rights and is subject to all the duties of the driver of a vehicle, except the special bicycle rules and provisions that by their nature can have no application.
Where on the road. Below the normal speed of traffic, a rider stays as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge, except when passing, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazards, or riding in a lane too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side. Riders may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for bicycles.
Three feet to pass. A driver passing a bicycle going the same direction leaves a safe distance of not less than three feet until safely past. A violation causing serious physical injury carries a civil penalty of up to five hundred dollars, and one causing death up to one thousand dollars.
- At night, a white front lamp visible from at least five hundred feet and an approved red rear reflector.
- A brake that can make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
- No siren or whistle.
A bicycle ticket is not a driving ticket. A civil traffic violation on a bicycle is not considered toward suspending a driver license, and an insurer may not treat it as a moving violation for rates or cancel a policy over it.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA bicycle ticket counts against a driver license | What the law actually doesIt is not considered for suspension, or by insurers as a moving violation |
| The assumptionA cyclist must always hug the edge | What the law actually doesNot when passing, turning left, avoiding hazards, or in a lane too narrow to share |
Local ordinances on sidewalks, paths and bicycle registration are not all on this page. How these rules apply to a particular crash or ticket is a question for a licensed Arizona attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- A.R.S. 28-812 — Applicability of traffic laws to bicycle riders
- A.R.S. 28-815 — Riding on roadway and bicycle path; bicycle path usage
- A.R.S. 28-817 — Bicycle equipment
- A.R.S. 28-735 — Overtaking bicycles; civil penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Arizona attorney.