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Arkansas

![Arkansas bicycle laws - open road with bike lane markings](/images/laws/states.webp?w=source)

# Arkansas Bicycle Laws

Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 by [BikeSize Editorial](/about/editorial-policy)

An overview of Arkansas's bicycle laws, reviewed and cited to primary sources. Use the sections below to jump to a specific rule, or the Sources block at the end for the full citation list. Start with the [national bike-laws guide](/guides/bike-laws), then confirm equipment fit with the [helmet size calculator](/calculators/helmet-size).

This guide is for general information only and is not legal advice. Laws change - verify current rules with your state DOT or a licensed attorney before relying on this for any legal matter. [Read full disclaimer.](/legal/disclaimer)

## Helmet rules

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

—

Confirm equipment fit with the [helmet size calculator](/calculators/helmet-size "helmet size calculator") before relying on an age rule alone.

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/helmet-laws)

## Sidewalk riding

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

—

A bell does not replace yielding or signaling, but it can warn other path users; compare [bike bells and horns](/articles/best-bells-horns-2026 "bike bells and horns").

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/sidewalk-riding)

## DUI on a bicycle

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

[1](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)[2](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)

If alcohol or drugs may impair the rider, do not ride; arrange another way home and secure the parked bike with a [lock suited to the theft risk](/articles/best-locks-2026 "lock suited to the theft risk").

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/dui-on-bicycle)

## Hand signals

— Not yet researched.

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/hand-signals)

## Lights & reflectors

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](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)

For equipment that matches the visibility requirement, compare [bike lights by beam and runtime](/accessories/lights "bike lights by beam and runtime").

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/bike-lights-and-reflectors)

## Bike-lane rules

— Not yet researched.

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/bike-lane-laws)

## Group riding & two-abreast

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](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)

For low-light road and group visibility, compare [bike lights for commuting and unlit roads](/articles/best-lights-2026 "bike lights for commuting and unlit roads").

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/group-riding-laws)

## Headphones & earbuds

Rule

—

Statute

—

A mirror can supplement direct observation but cannot replace shoulder checks or hearing traffic; compare [bike mirrors by mount type](/articles/best-mirrors-2026 "bike mirrors by mount type").

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/headphones-and-earbuds)

## Child passengers

— Not yet researched.

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/child-cycling-laws)

## Registration & licensing

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

For theft prevention when the bike is parked, compare [bike locks for different risk levels](/articles/best-locks-2026 "bike locks for different risk levels").

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/registration-and-licensing)

## Highways & interstates

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.

For low-light road and group visibility, compare [bike lights for commuting and unlit roads](/articles/best-lights-2026 "bike lights for commuting and unlit roads").

[Read the full topic guide →](/guides/bike-laws/cycling-on-highways)

## Sources

1. [Ark. Code § 5-65-103 (Unlawful acts - driving while intoxicated)](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)
2. [Ark. Code § 27-49-219 (Definitions - 'vehicle' / 'motor vehicle')](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)
3. [Ark. Code § 27-36-220 (Lamps and other equipment on bicycles)](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)
4. [Ark. Code § 27-49-111 (Riding on roadways and bicycle paths)](https://advance.lexis.com/container?config=0345494EJAA5ZjE0MDIyYy1kNzZkLTRkNzktYTkxMS04YmJhNjBlNWUwYzYKAFBvZENhdGFsb2fcIFfJnJ2IC8XZi1AYM4Ne&crid=arkansas-code)

**Not legal advice.** BikeSize publishes bicycle law summaries for general educational purposes. We are not a law firm and nothing on this site creates an attorney-client relationship. Bicycle laws are set by state legislatures, county boards, and city councils, and they change frequently. Penalties, exemptions, and enforcement vary by jurisdiction and by the specific facts of any incident. Before acting on anything you read here - including contesting a citation, filing an insurance claim, or planning a ride that crosses jurisdictions - confirm the current statute with your state DOT, a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction, or local law enforcement.

We make a good-faith effort to cite primary sources (state statutes, CPSC, NHTSA, state DOTs) and to review every page at least annually.

_Last reviewed: 2026-04-26 by BikeSize Editorial._

[One size question, fifty answersFind the right bike (and helmet) size for your riderState helmet and child-passenger rules cover what you must wear. Our calculators cover what will actually fit.Open the kids bike size calculator](/calculators/kids-bike-size)

## Related

[← Back to the US bicycle laws hub](/guides/bike-laws)

[Helmet Size CalculatorConvert head circumference to a CPSC-certified helmet size in seconds.](/calculators/helmet-size)[Kids Bike Size CalculatorFind the right wheel size by age, height, and inseam.](/calculators/kids-bike-size)[Saddle Height CalculatorSet saddle height with the 109%, Hamley, or LeMond methods.](/calculators/saddle-height)