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Traffic Laws

Man wearing helmet rides down 7th Street

All quoted regulations are taken from the Cincinnati Municipal Code (CMC), Title V “Traffic Code,” or Ohio Revised Code (ORC) Title 45 Motor Vehicles – Aeronautics – Watercraft. The CMC generally governs operation of bicycles on Cincinnati streets, but any operational issues not addressed by the CMC could be covered by ORC Title 45.

Cincinnati Municipal Code Title V

Ohio Revised Code Title 45 

NOTICE: The online version of the Cincinnati Municipal Code, related legislation, and regulations is not the official version. The only officially published version is available through the office of the Clerk of Council, located in Room 308 of City Hall, phone 513-352-3246. This online version may, occasionally, differ from the official version and should be relied upon for general information purposes only.

YES

CMC 506-71 (b) states that, “The operator of a motor vehicle overtaking a bicycle proceeding in the same direction on a roadway shall leave a safe distance, but not less than 3 feet, when passing the bicycle and shall maintain that distance until safely past the overtaken bicycle.

The State of Ohio also has a 3-foot passing law, which was passed via House Bill 154 in 2017 and is described in ORC 4511.27. 

YES

Cyclists have to obey traffic laws, including stopping at red lights and stop signs. According to CMC 506-4, “Every person riding a bicycle or motorized bicycle shall obey the rules of operation and right-of-way for all vehicles as provided by this chapter except when clearly exempted from any section thereof.”

YES

According to CMC 506-4 (c), it is legal to ride two abreast. However it is not legal to ride more than two abreast in a single lane except during legally permitted events.

YES

Cyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic. According to CMC 506-4(b), “Persons operating bicycles or motorized bicycles shall ride in the same direction as all other vehicular traffic.”

NOT ALWAYS

According to CMC 506-4(a), “Every person operating a bicycle or motorized bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.”

However, ORC 4511.55 and 4511.25 clarify that cyclists are allowed to move away from the right side of the roadway under the following situations: 

  • When it is unreasonable or unsafe to remain to the right
  • To avoid fixed or moving objects 
  • To avoid parked or moving vehicles
  • To avoid surface hazards
  • When the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane

Other situations where it is unreasonable or unsafe to stay to the right may include: 

  • When preparing to make a left turn 
  • When a right-turn-only lane is present but you wish to continue straight-ahead

NO

Many cyclists feel safer riding in bike lanes and prefer to use them; however, there are no regulations which state that bicyclists must use a bike lane when one is provided.

SOMETIMES

Only those who are 15 years old or younger may ride on the sidewalk. In these situations the cyclist must always yield to pedestrians (CMC 506-5). 

However, some wider sidewalks are specifically designated for joint use by bicyclists (of all ages) with pedestrians. A special sign indicates the limits of these “shared paths” (CMC 501-1-B3).

Additionally, named bike-hike trails (i.e. Ohio River Trail) sometimes use wide sidewalks and are designated with more specific signs.

NO

According to CMC 508-1-A, “No person shall stand or park a vehicle except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or with the provisions of the traffic code or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or a traffic-control device, on any on-street path or lane designated by official signs or markings for the exclusive use of bicycles.”