Operation of a Bicycle

Iowa

A person riding a bicycle on the highway has all the rights and duties that are applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions, which by their nature can have no application. A person propelling a bicycle on the highway shall not ride other than on a permanent and regular seat attached to the bicycle. 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. No bicycle shall be equipped with nor shall any person use upon a bicycle any siren or whistle. A bicycle may stop, stand, or park on a sidewalk if not prohibited by a local jurisdiction.

Minnesota

Traffic laws apply
Every person operating a bicycle shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle. 

Manner and number riding
No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed and equipped, except (1) on a baby seat attached to the bicycle, provided that the baby seat is equipped with a harness to hold the child securely in the seat and that protection is provided against the child's feet hitting the spokes of the wheel or (2) in a seat attached to the bicycle operator. 

Clinging to vehicle
Persons riding on any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, toboggan, sled or skateboard shall not attach the same or themselves to any vehicle on a roadway. 

Riding on roadway or shoulder

• Every person operating a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under certain situations.
  
• If a bicycle is traveling on a shoulder of a roadway, the bicycle shall travel in the same direction as adjacent vehicular traffic. 
  
• Persons riding bicycles on a roadway or shoulder shall not ride more than two side by side and shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.
  
• A person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal when necessary before passing any pedestrian. 
  
• An individual operating a bicycle or other vehicle on a bikeway shall leave a safe distance when passing a bicycle or individual traveling in the same direction. 
  
• A person operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances. 
  

Carrying articles
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars or from properly operating the brakes.

Bicycle equipment

• No person shall operate a bicycle at night unless the bicycle or its operator is equipped with a lamp that is visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and with a red reflector which is visible from 100 feet to 600 feet. No person may operate a bicycle at any time when there is not sufficient light to make persons and vehicles on the highway clearly visible. A bicycle may be equipped with a rear lamp that has a red flashing signal. 
  
• No person shall operate a bicycle unless it is equipped with a brake. 
  
• No person shall operate on a highway any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate the hands above the level of the shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area. 
  
• No person shall operate on a highway any bicycle, which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from stopping the bicycle in a safe manner. 
  

Turning, lane change
An arm signal to turn right or left shall be given continuously during the last 100 feet traveled by the bicycle before turning, unless the arm is needed to control the bicycle, and shall be given while the bicycle is stopped waiting to turn. 

Bicycle parking

• A person may park a bicycle on a sidewalk unless prohibited or restricted by local authorities. A bicycle parked on a sidewalk shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of pedestrian or other traffic. 
  
• A bicycle may be parked on a roadway at any location where parking is allowed if it is parked so that it does not obstruct the movement of a legally parked motor vehicle. 
  

AAA Minnesota/Iowa recommends that all bicycle riders wear a safety helmet at all times even though state laws don’t cover the use of safety helmets. Wearing a helmet can reduce serious injury to the head up to 85 percent.