Mississippi Bicycle Laws

Required under age

No statewide age requirement

Applies to passengers

—

Standard

—

Penalty

Mississippi has no statewide bicycle helmet law for any age, and no Mississippi municipality currently has a published bicycle-helmet ordinance. CPSC certification still applies to every helmet sold in the state under federal law (16 CFR Part 1203).

Statute

—

See our find your helmet size and kids bike sizing guide.

Statewide rule

Defers to local rules

Notes

Mississippi's bicycle code (Miss. Code §§ 63-3-1301 to 63-3-1321) does not address sidewalk cycling, and Miss. Code § 63-3-1303 makes cyclists subject to the rules of the road only when on a roadway. Sidewalk regulation is left to municipalities - Jackson and Hattiesburg prohibit sidewalk riding in their business districts; Oxford permits it citywide except where signed.

Statute

¹

See our commuter bike sizing guide and bike fitting guide.

Applies to bicycles

Yes

Separate cycling DUI statute

No

BAC limit

0.08

Penalty

Mississippi's DUI statute (Miss. Code § 63-11-30) applies to anyone operating a 'vehicle.' Miss. Code § 63-3-1303 makes every bicycle rider subject to all duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle when on a roadway. The first-offense penalty mirrors the motor-vehicle DUI: fine up to $1,000, possible jail, and a driver-licence suspension that applies even though no motor vehicle was involved.

Statute

¹²

— Not yet researched.

Front light required

Yes

Front spec

Lamp on the front emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, required between sunset and sunrise.

Rear requirement

Rear reflector or light

Rear spec

Red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety, visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower-beam headlamps. A red rear lamp visible from 500 feet may be used in addition to the reflector.

Side reflectors

No

Pedal reflectors

No

When required

Darkness

Statute

¹

See our bike lights that meet the law and winter and low-light cycling setup.

— Not yet researched.

Two abreast allowed

—

Conditions

—

Statute

—

Rule

—

Statute

—

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

Interstates

Prohibited

Notes

Bicycles are prohibited on Mississippi Interstate highways (I-10, I-20, I-55, I-59, I-220) under Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) controlled-access regulations. Conventional US and state routes (US-49, US-61 Great River Road, MS-25) remain open to bicycles.