The following are articles written by Earl Hill that appeared in the North Iowa Touring Club Newsletter in the August/September 2004 & October/November 2004 issues.  Each article pertains to Iowa law and cycling.

Iowa Bicycle Laws

Several weeks ago, Jim Thompson and I were riding north of Meservey on Cerro Gordo County blacktop No. 5-14. We were northbound and had just passed the north intersection with Cerro Gordo County blacktop No.8-63 when a Cerro Gordo County deputy sheriff pulled along side and scolded us for riding two abreast. Jim was riding next to the shoulder and I was between him and the centerline. There wasn't another vehicle as far as the eye could see. At the time I did not argue with the deputy nor did I change my riding position as the deputy was wrong.

A few days later on a Wednesday Night Ride, I discussed the matter with Rolf Aronsen, who pulled a copy of Iowa law from his backpack rack. (Imagine a. lawyer with a copy of the law on his bicycle-an interesting concept to say the least. ) In any event, it was decided at the last NITC board meeting that I would prepare a series of articles for the upcoming newsletters that discuss Iowa law and the manner in which it has been interpreted by the Iowa Supreme Court. Following are the portions of the 2003 Iowa Code as it pertains to bicycles:

“321.324 Bicycles, animals, or animal-drawn vehicles.

1. (pertains to animals)

2. A person, including a peace officer, riding a bicycle on the highway is subject to the provisions of this chapter and has all the rights and duties under this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions for which specific exceptions have been set forth regarding police bicycles.

3. A person propelling a bicycle on the highway shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle.

4. A person shall not use a bicycle on the highway to carry more persons at one time than the number of persons for which the bicycle is designed and equipped.

5. This section does not apply to the use of bicycle in a parade authorized by proper permit from local authorities.

321.236. Powers of local authorities. Local authorities shall have no power to enact, enforce, or maintain any ordinance, rule or regulation in any way in conflict with, contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter, and no such ordinance, rule or regulation of said local authorities heretofore or hereafter enacted shall have any force or effect, however the provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed to prevent local authorities with respect to streets and highways under their jurisdiction and within the reasonable exercise of the police power from:

10. Regulating the operation of bicycles and requiring the registration and licensing of the same, including the requirement of a registration fee. However, the regulations shall not conflict with the provisions of section 321.234.

321.358. Stopping, standing or parking.

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or it compliance with the directions of a police office or traffic control device, in any of the following places:

1. On a sidewalk, except a bicycle may stop, stand, or park on a sidewalk if not prohibited by a local jurisdiction.

321.397. Lamps on bicycles.

Every bicycle shall be equipped with a lamp on the front exhibiting a white light, at the times specified in section 321.384, visible from a distance of at least three hundred feet to the front and with a lamp on the rear exhibiting , red light visible from a distance of three hundred feet to the rear; except that a red reflector may be used in lieu of , rear light. A peace officer riding a police bicycle is not required to use either front or rear lamps if duty so requires.

321.434. Bicycle sirens or whistles.

A bicycle shall not be equipped with and a person shall not use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle. This section shall not apply to bicycles ridden by peace officers in the line of duty."

C A V E A T: Another source for bicycle law is the Iowa Department of Transportation website. It has an excellent page pertaining to "Sharing Iowa's Roads with Bicycles." I commend it to you for your reference.

Iowa law controls the unincorporated areas of the State. Incorporated areas (that is cities) will usually have their own ordinances that govern bicycle riding within the specific city. Therefore, please do not feel that the following necessarily regulates bicycle riding with in the city limits of any given town. Violations of the law are usually fact specific. Therefore, if you have a problem, you should contact your personal attorney.

In addition, simply because you are right may not mean that you are riding intelligently. (For instance, it probably is not wise to ride two abreast when you have a string of cars behind wanting to pass. Be sure to use common sense when enjoying this great sport.)

-Earl W. Hill