Arkansas Bicycle Laws

Required under age

No statewide age requirement

Applies to passengers

—

Standard

—

Penalty

Arkansas has no statewide bicycle-helmet law. A few municipalities — including Fayetteville and Little Rock — have considered local helmet ordinances for minors, but none are currently in force statewide.

Statute

—

Statewide rule

Defers to local rules

Notes

Arkansas has no statewide statute that authorises or prohibits sidewalk cycling. Local governments regulate the practice under their general municipal authority; Little Rock prohibits sidewalk riding in the central business district (Little Rock Code § 32-494) and Fayetteville restricts it on Dickson Street and adjacent commercial blocks. Outside those zones, sidewalk cycling is generally tolerated.

Statute

—

Applies to bicycles

No

Separate cycling DUI statute

No

BAC limit

—

Penalty

Arkansas's DWI statute (Ark. Code § 5-65-103) applies only to operators of a 'motor vehicle,' and Ark. Code § 27-49-219 explicitly defines bicycles as devices that are not motor vehicles. Cyclists impaired in public may still face public-intoxication charges under § 5-71-212, but the DWI penalties — including a six-month licence suspension — do not attach to bicycle operation.

Statute

¹²

— Not yet researched.

Front light required

Yes

Front spec

White lamp on the front, visible from a distance of at least 500 feet.

Rear requirement

Rear reflector or light

Rear spec

Red reflector on the rear visible from all distances from 100 to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful upper-beam headlamps. A red rear lamp visible from 500 feet may be used in addition to (but not in lieu of) the reflector.

Side reflectors

No

Pedal reflectors

No

When required

Darkness

Statute

¹

— Not yet researched.

Two abreast allowed

Yes

Conditions

May not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. UVC §11-1205 derivative.

Statute

¹

Rule

—

Statute

—

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

Interstates

Prohibited

Notes

Bicycles are prohibited on all Interstate highways in Arkansas under ARDOT policy. Conventional state highways and US numbered routes are open by default; individual bridges and urban-freeway segments may be signed prohibited.