West Virginia Code

WVC 17 C- CHAPTER 17C. TRAFFIC REGULATIONS AND LAWS OF THE ROAD.
WVC 17 C- 11 - ARTICLE 11. OPERATION OF BICYCLES AND PLAY VEHICLES.

WVC 17 C- 11 - 1 §17C-11-1. Obedience to article; duty of parents and guardians; applicability of article to bicycles.
(a) It is a misdemeanor for any person to do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required in this article.

(b) The parent of any child and the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this chapter.

(c) These regulations applicable to bicycles shall apply whenever a bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles subject to those exceptions stated herein.

WVC 17 C- 11 - 2 §17C-11-2. Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.
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 this chapter, except as to special regulations in this article and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

WVC 17 C- 11 - 3 §17C-11-3. Riding on bicycle seats; carrying more than one person on bicycle.
(a) A person propelling a bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto.

(b) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped.

WVC 17 C- 11 - 4 §17C-11-4. Clinging to vehicles.
No person riding upon any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or himself to any streetcar or vehicle upon a roadway.

WVC 17 C- 11 - 5 §17C-11-5. Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.
(a) 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.

(b) 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.

(c) 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.

WVC 17 C- 11 - 6 §17C-11-6. Carrying articles.
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.

WVC 17 C- 11 - 7 §17C-11-7. Lamps and other equipment on bicycles.
(a) 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 of a type approved by the department which shall be visible from all distances from fifty feet to three hundred feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of head lamps 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.

(b) No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a bell or other device capable of giving a signal audible for a distance of at least one hundred feet, except that a bicycle shall not be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle.

(c) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

Recent legislation affecting the Code

Citation	Year/Session	Short Title
§17 C- 15 - 42 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 515 PASSED - Regular Session SB515 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to use of television receivers and other devices in vehicles
§17 C- 14 - 15 - (Amended Code) §17 C- 15 - 49 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2108 PASSED - Regular Session HB2108 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Making the offense of failure to wear safety belts a primary offense
§17 C- 19 - 3 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2351 PASSED - Regular Session HB2351 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Authorizing law enforcement to issue a charge by citation when making an arrest for driving with a suspended or revoked license
§17 C- 1 - 67 - (New Code) §17 C- 1 - 68 - (New Code) §17 C- 5 - 4 - (Amended Code) §17 C- 5 - 6 - (Amended Code) §17 C- 5 - 7 - (Amended Code) §17 C- 5 - 8 - (Amended Code) §17 C- 5 - 9 - (Amended Code) §17 C- 5 - 12 - (New Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2513 PASSED - Regular Session HB2513 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Improving enforcement of drugged driving offenses
§17 C- 5 A- 2 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2733 PASSED - Regular Session HB2733 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to hearings before the Office of Administrative Hearings

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Recent legislation affecting the Code