Hey club! I had a brief conversation with a triathlete who trains on route 17 in Middletown like I do. She said she was pulled over while riding on 17 by a police officer (not sure whether state or county). She said the officer said she wasn’t allowed to ride on 17 as it’s a 55 mph road. Well, I couldn’t chat for too long to find out all the details but I was curious as I’ve been riding on 17 for years without incident and so looked up the law. Turns out the officer was partially correct BUT only if you’re riding on the road part of a 50+mph road, not the shoulder. Here’s what the law says:
ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND – TRANSPORTATION
Bicycle Related Definitions and Laws
TITLE 21 VEHICLES LAWS – RULES OF THE ROAD
21-1205.1 Bicycles, motor scooters, and EPAMD’s prohibited on certain roadways and highways; speed limit. (a) In general – Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a person may not ride a bicycle or motor scooter; (1) On any roadway where the posted maximum speed limit is more than 50 miles per hour [Cyclists may operate on the shoulder of a roadway where the posted speed limit exceeds 50 mph unless otherwise prohibited.];
Now, in some references, on the MD State Highway Admin site, the clause in italics is not there. Therefore, I looked a bit more at the code. First off, (1) above uses the word “roadway”. Well according to Title 11-151, the roadway does not include the shoulder.
Keeping this in mind about the shoulder, part (b) of 21-1205.1 states the following:
(b) Roadway with bike lane or shoulder paved to a smooth surface. –
(1) Where there us a bike lane paved to a smooth surface or a shoulder paved to a smooth surface, a person
operating a bicycle or a motor scooter shall use the bike lane or shoulder and may not ride on the roadway, except in the
following situations:
(i) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, motor scooter, pedestrian, or other vehicle within the bike lane
or shoulder;
(ii) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway;
(iii) When reasonably necessary to leave the bike lane or shoulder to avoid debris or other hazardous condition; or
(iv) When reasonably necessary to leave the bike lane or shoulder because the bike lane or shoulder is overlaid
with a right turn lane, merge lane, or other marking that breaks the continuity of the bike lane or shoulder.
(2) A person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter may not leave a bike lane or shoulder until the movement can be
made with reasonable safety and the only after giving an appropriate signal.
(3) The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations pertaining to this subsection which will include, but not
limited to, a definition of “smooth surface.”
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All this can be found at http://www.marylandroads.com/exploremd/bicyclists/OPPE/Bicyclists6.asp
So know the law and know your rights.