On A Bicycle
Minn. Stat. 169.222 — a driver's rights, as far right as the rider finds safe, and three feet
In Minnesota, every person operating a bicycle has the rights and duties of the driver of any other vehicle, including on the shoulder, except provisions relating expressly to bicycles and those that cannot reasonably apply. On a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, the rider has a pedestrian's rights and duties.
As far right as the rider determines is safe. A rider stays as close to the right-hand curb or edge as the rider determines is safe, and need not when avoiding unsafe conditions, including narrow-width lanes, or when in a right-hand turn lane before an intersection. Riders may not go more than two abreast and, on a laned roadway, ride within a single lane.
Three feet, or half the width of the car. A motorist passing a bicycle leaves a safe distance, in no case less than three feet. To pass by crossing to the left side of the roadway, the driver gives the greater of three feet or one-half the width of the vehicle, or moves completely into the left lane.
Sidewalks and turn lanes. A rider yields to pedestrians on a sidewalk or crosswalk and gives an audible signal when necessary before passing, may not ride on a sidewalk in a business district unless local authorities allow it, and may cross an intersection from the leftmost one-third of a right-hand turn lane without turning right.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionA cyclist must ride at the very edge | What the law actually doesAs close to the right as the rider determines is safe |
| The assumptionDrivers may pass a bike with inches to spare | What the law actually doesIn no case less than three feet |
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 Minnesota attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Minn. Stat. 169.222 — Operation of bicycle
- Minn. Stat. 169.18 — Driving rules
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Minnesota attorney.