Bicycling in Dubuque

Registration

Bicycle Safety and Security Information

• Always wear an appropriately fitted helmet.
• Only ride a bicycle suitable for your size and needs.
• Always secure your bike when not in use with a good quality lock.
• Take pictures of your bike and record its serial number.
• Use appropriate lighting and reflectors and wear bright clothing.
• Wear eye protection while riding.
• Wear comfortable clothing that will not interfere with the operation or mechanics.
• Use hand signals.
• Keep both hands on the handlebars.
• Obey all applicable traffic/bicycle laws (below).
• Ride on the right hand side of the road, with traffic.
• Yield and thoroughly survey the area before entering traffic or crossing an intersection.
• Do not ride a bicycle while intoxicated or under the influence of any substance.

Sharrows

Dubuque's Bicycle Laws

• Bicycles must be equipped with:
  • A white light on the front
  • A red light on the rear
  • A functional brake
  • A permanent and regular seat
• A bicycle can only be ridden by the number of people it was designed for. Pegs are not intended to carry passengers.
• Operators must keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.
• Every person riding a bicycle upon a street shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle except as modified by Title 7, Chapter 7.
• No bicyclist shall attach the bicycle or himself to any vehicle.
• Every person driving a bicycle shall ride in the right hand through lane of the roadway except:
  • When driving in a bicycle lane
  • When preparing for a left turn
  • When necessary for safety
  • When passing on the left
  • When on a one-way street, driving in the left through lane
  • When driving on a sidewalk as permitted by section 7-7-18
• If any person drives a bicycle so slow as to impede or block the normal and legal forward movement of traffic proceeding immediately behind such vehicle, then such person shall drive within the right four feet of the street until such impeded traffic has passed by, except when reasonably necessary for safety. A person driving on a one-way street may satisfy this requirement by driving in the left four feet of the street.

• The driver of a bicycle is exempted from giving the hand and arm signal continuously if the hand is needed in the control or operation of the bicycle, but it shall be given for a substantial period while stopped waiting to turn.
• A bicycle may pass on the right if it is traveling to the right of vehicles stopped or moving in the right hand lane of travel, but the bicycle may not pass the first vehicle stopped at an intersection unless the bicycle is preparing to turn right and the vehicle is not signaling a right turn, nor may the bicycle pass a moving vehicle that is signaling a right turn, nor may the bicycle pass vehicles within an intersection except a vehicle signaling a left turn.
• No driver of any bicycle shall pass another vehicle other than a bicycle within the same lane, but any bicycle may pass to the left of a bicycle within the same lane if it is done safely.

Hand Signals

• Bicyclists on a street or a bicycle path shall not ride more than two abreast. Bicyclists operating bicycles two abreast on a laned street shall do so within a single lane. Bicyclists operating vehicles two abreast on a street should not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
• A person driving a bicycle upon a sidewalk or in a crosswalk shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian.
• No bicyclist shall operate a bicycle recklessly or at a speed faster than is reasonably proper or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of the bicyclist or of any other person.
• The owner of a bicycle shall firmly attach the registration sticker or decal to the frame of the bicycle for which issued.
• No person shall remove a license sticker or decal from a bicycle except upon transfer of ownership as provided herein.

In the Event of an Accident

• Driver info including name, phone, license plate info (state and plate number)
• Insurance company
• Time and location of accident
• Witness info including, name, phone, email address

Bike Trails

Sustainable Dubuque

Bicycle Owners Guide