JULY 2009 - Colin Goodier Protection Act passed into law (the Revised Statutes of Louisiana) by the state legislature and signed by Governor Jindal Here is the wording of Act 147 as passed into law: Section 1. R.S. 32:76.1 and 201 are hereby enacted to read as follows: §76.1. Limitations on passing bicycles A. This Section shall be known as the Colin Goodier Protection Act B. The operator of a motor vehicle, when overtaking and passing a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle. C. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of motor vehicles, is directed to include a summary of this Section in any instructional publication for drivers. D. The Department of Transportation and Development is directed to place signs in areas frequently used by bicyclists in an effort to make motorists aware of the need to share the road with bicyclists. E. The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is directed to engage in public awareness campaign to notify motorists and bicyclists of the provisions of this Section. F. Any person who violates this Section shall be fined not more than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00). §201. Harassment of bicyclists prohibited; penalties A. It shall be unlawful to harass, taunt or maliciously throw objects at or in the direction of any person riding a bicycle. B. Any person who violates this Section shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) or imprisoned for not more than thirty (30) days. Bicycle Laws - State of Louisiana: The laws listed below are only some of the laws applying to bicycles. To find them all please go to http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/toc.htm and look for the Revised Statutes. Bicycles are vehicles under the law (Revised Statues of Louisiana 31:1.4, 92) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway of this state shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this Chapter, except as to special regulations in this Part and except as to those provisions of this Chapter which by their very nature can have no application. (RS 32:194) Every person operating a bicycle
upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as
practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one
proceeding in the same direction. (RS 32:197) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. (RS 32:197) Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway. (RS 32:197) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear and a reflector on each side facing outward at a right angle to the bicycle frame, all of a type approved by the department which shall be visible from all distances within six hundred feet to one hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful lower beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. (RS 32:329)
Bicycle Laws - City-Parish of Baton Rouge: The laws listed below are only some of the laws applying to bicycles. To find them all please go to http://www.municode.com/Resources/gateway.asp?pid=10107&sid=18 .
Title 10: Chapter 7. Sec. 10:500. Definition.(City) The term "bicycle,"
as used in this chapter, shall include tricycles and shall be deemed to
mean any vehicle propelled by human power by action of the feet upon
pedals, upon which a person may ride, having wheels with a diameter of
twenty (20) inches or larger. [thus exempting children's bicycles and tricycles from this law. ed.]
(City Code 1951, Title 10, § 500)
Title 11: Chapter 1: Sec. 11:221. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.(City) Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject
to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by the laws
of this state declaring risks of the road applicable to the driver of
the vehicle, except as to special regulations in this chapter and
except as to those provisions of laws and ordinances which by their
nature can have no application.
Title 2: Chapter 3: Sec. 2:150. Riding on sidewalks.(Parish) (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to ride or
drive horses, carts, carriages or any vehicle whatsoever, except baby
carriages and children's tricycles, on any sidewalks of the city and
parish.
(b) Any person violating the provisions of this
section shall be fined in a sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars
($25.00) or imprisoned for not more than twenty (20) days, or both, at
the discretion of the judge.
Title 11: Chapter 20: Sec. 11:230. Riding on sidewalks.(City) (a) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk within a business district.
(b) The chief of police is authorized to erect signs
on any sidewalk or roadway prohibiting the riding of bicycles thereon
by any person and when such signs are in place no person shall disobey
the same.
(c) Whenever any person rides a bicycle upon a
sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian
and shall give audible signals before overtaking and passing such
pedestrian.
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> We are traffic! So, what does all this mean? It means bicycles are legally vehicles, not toys. We are “traffic.” As you can see from the laws cited above, bicyclists must follow traffic rules. Motor vehicle operators, under the law, must treat bicycles as vehicles. That means that you have the right to be on any road unless specifically prohibited (like the Interstate). That also means that cars must treat cyclists as they would another vehicle. Will they actually do so? Most of the time, yes. It’s those few motorists who are distracted or malicious enough to ignore your right to beon the road that you have to worry about. Avoid being hit; know your rights; accept reality. Be aware of your surroundings at all times; never ride with ear phones in or covering both ears; never use your cell phone while riding. Don't ride on the sidewalk; it may seem safer but it isn't. Never assume any other vehicle operator, including other bicyclists, will obey the rules. Be visible and predictable. Signal your intentions using approved hand signals. For an excellent bicycle safety review go to http://bicyclesafe.com/ .
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