It is illegal to ride bicycles on interstate highways.
Background information (if available):
Sec. 39-13. Pedestrians, bicycles, etc., prohibited on certain interstate highways. It shall be unlawful and an offense against the city for pedestrians to be upon, or for any person to operate a bicycle, a nonmotorized vehicle or a motor driven cycle of less than ten (10) horsepower, on any part of Interstate Highway 10 and Interstate Highway 65, including the entrance roads thereto, at any place within the city and its police jurisdiction. (Code 1965, ยง 41-26.1)
4 Responses to “It is illegal to ride bicycles on interstate highways.”
Comment from Reginald
Time May 12, 2011 at 2:09 pm
It’s only “reasonable” if you think the government needs to be your nanny and protect you from yourself.
Comment from Gerard
Time September 8, 2011 at 7:26 pm
This is an excellent law, not a stupid one. Cyclists riding at 30 mph with 75 mph traffic is stupid. Also the property tax from registration on cars goes to funding the road const./maint. and generally 40% of what you pay at the pump as well. The road would not exist without funds DIRECTLY produced from motor vehicles and their revolving fees. People need to realize that in fact, bikes really DO NOT have as much right to be there as a motor vehicle (as every cyclist tends to argue).
Comment from David
Time October 1, 2011 at 5:27 pm
Some people do need to be protected from themselves. Or have you forgotten about the idiotic suit against McDonalds when the moron burned themselves with coffee.
Yes, these laws sometimes seem stupid. And in the case of this particular law it is not only meant to protect the idiot riding their bicycle on an interstate, but it also protects someone who may accidentally hit someone riding a bicycle. If it is illegal then that takes liability away from the car driver.
Comment from cminus
Time May 12, 2011 at 1:13 pm
This actually isn’t a stupid law, it’s a reasonable law that sounds stupid without the context.
The context: federal law (http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/faq.htm#question15) allows bicycles to ride on the shoulders of interstate highways, but also allows state and local governments to limit or prohibit the practice. The lack of a federal prohibition is the result of request from a few western states, where low traffic levels and a shortage of other roads made it reasonable to allow bicycles to use the shoulder of the interstate. In most places, however, this would be a terrible idea (for obvious reasons), and so it’s prohibited.