Dubuque Bicycle Club - Laws

I made the following list of bicycle-related laws using the Iowa Code 1997 Searchable Index. This is by no means a complete list. (For example, I removed references to motor bicycles.) I also edited the laws in this list to make the list as useful as possible to the widest variety of people. If you want to check me up, feel free to consult the 1997 Iowa Code yourself.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, so if you have any questions about any of the following laws, I'm afraid I won't be much help.

The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them.

40. c. "Bicycle" means a device having two wheels and having at least one saddle or seat for the use of a rider which is propelled by human power.

Internal References
Referred to in § 123.48, 319.12, 321.24, 321.27, 321.121, 321.126, 321.285, 321.449, 321.471, 321.474, 321.486, 321A.1, 321E.7, 321E.14, 321E.26, 321G.6, 321G.9, 321G.20, 321G.24, 321J.4, 321J.6, 321J.8, 322.3, 322.35, 322D.1, 326.2, 327F.39, 422B.2, 423.1, 423.4, 452A.74A, 452A.76, 455B.301, 462A.34A, 481A.54, 537B.2, 537B.4, 669.14, 670.4, 707.6A, 714.2, 714.8, 805.8(2A), 805.9, 805.16, 811.9

1. A person riding an animal or driving an animal drawing a vehicle upon a roadway is subject to the provisions of this chapter applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

2. A person 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 of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

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 a bicycle in a parade authorized by proper permit from 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.

Internal References
Referred to in § 321.237, 321.285, 331.362, 364.3, 602.8106, 805.6, 805.8(2a, 2g, 2h, 2j, 2l)

No person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer 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.

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 a red light visible from a distance of three hundred feet to the rear; except that a red reflector meeting the requirements of this chapter may be used in lieu of a rear light.

No bicycle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle.

1. Application. Except as otherwise indicated, violations of sections of the Code specified in this section are scheduled violations, and the scheduled fine for each of those violations is as provided in this section, whether the violation is of state law or of a county or city ordinance. The criminal penalty surcharge required by section 911.2 shall be added to the scheduled fine.

j. For violations by pedestrians and bicyclists under section 321.234, subsections 3 and 4, section 321.236, subsection 10, section 321.257, subsection 2, sections 321.325, 321.326, 321.328, 321.331, 321.332, 321.397, and 321.434, the scheduled fine is ten dollars. (321.325, 321.326, 321.328, 321.331, 321.332 not applicable to bicycles).

Internal References
Referred to in § 123.47A, 123.50, 142B.6, 232.8, 321.236, 321.284, 321.383, 321.446, 321.486, 321E.16, 453A.3, 456A.24, 456A.37, 473.8, 481A.137, 481A.142, 803.3, 805.1, 805.6, 805.9, 805.11, 805.14, 805.15, 903.1

1. It is lawful for a person to conduct any of the contests specified in subsection 2, and to offer and pay awards to persons winning in those contests whether or not entry fees, participation fees, or other charges are assessed against or collected from the participants, but only if all of the following are complied with:

a. The contest is not held at an amusement concession.

b. No gambling device is used in conjunction with, or incident to the contest.

c. The contest is not conducted in whole or in part on or in any property subject to chapter 297, relating to schoolhouses and schoolhouse sites, unless the contest and the person conducting the contest has the express written approval of the governing body of that school district.

d. The contest is conducted in a fair and honest manner. A contest shall not be designed or adapted to permit the operator of the contest to prevent a participant from winning or to predetermine who the winner will be, and the object of the contest must be attainable and possible to perform under the rules stated.

b. Horse races, harness racing, ski, airplane, snowmobile, raft, boat, bicycle and motor vehicle races.

Persons fourteen and fifteen years of age may be employed or permitted to work in the following occupations:

6. Errand and delivery work by foot, bicycle, and public transportation.

308A.1 Department of natural resources and transportation commissions to co-operate.

The department of natural resources, in consultation with the state transportation commission, is hereby authorized to establish recreational bikeways within this state for the use, enjoyment, and participation of the public in nonmotorized bicycling. The routes established for such bikeways shall be designed to maximize the safety of cyclists and motorists and may utilize secondary roads when the normal flow of motor vehicle traffic will not be hindered, as well as other infrequently traveled roads, streets, parkways, and appropriate thoroughfares. Such bikeways shall be routed, wherever possible, to allow the enjoyment of scenic views and points of historical interest, and may connect state parks and other recreational areas throughout the state.

Bikeway routes shall be clearly marked with appropriate signs to guide cyclists and to alert motorists. Such signs shall be placed at intervals and designed in such form as prescribed by the department of natural resources in consultation with the state transportation commission.

The department of natural resources is hereby authorized to co-operate with county conservation boards, boards of supervisors, city councils, or any private organizations interested in the establishment of bikeways, and may consult with such groups in the planning of appropriate bikeway routes and related activities.

2. The mission of the authority is to research, develop comprehensive plans, and implement strategies which emphasize the creation of multipurpose recreational areas that foster and accent the natural characteristics of the Missouri river and which provide for environmentally sound land and water use practices for land adjacent to the Missouri river; to designate and prioritize for purchase parcels of land which are located in areas critical for the environmental health of the Missouri river waterway; to develop plans for and to acquire parcels of land to establish a public greenbelt along the banks of the Missouri river; to develop plans for public recreational use of lands adjacent to the Missouri river, including but not limited to a public bicycle trail; and to cooperate with county and city authorities, and federal and state authorities in order to fulfill the mission of the authority.

The general assembly finds that recreation trails provide a significant benefit for the health and well-being of Iowans and state visitors. Iowa has a national reputation as a place for hiking, walking, and bicycling. The use of recreation trails has a significant influence on Iowa's economy. Iowa's scenic landscapes, many small communities, and existing natural and transportation corridors are ideally suited for new recreation trails to support recreation and tourism activities such as walking, biking, driving for pleasure, horseback riding, boating and canoeing, skiing, snowmobiling, and others.

The general assembly finds that a program shall be established to acquire, develop, promote, and manage existing and new recreation trails. The objective of a statewide trails program shall be for the state to acquire and develop two thousand miles of new recreation trails and completion of existing trail projects before the year 2000.