North Dakota Bicycle Laws

Required under age

No statewide age requirement

Applies to passengers

—

Standard

—

Penalty

—

Statute

—

Confirm equipment fit with the helmet size calculator before relying on an age rule alone.

Statewide rule

Allowed with conditions

Notes

North Dakota allows sidewalk cycling statewide subject to two duties: a rider must yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian on the sidewalk and must give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian (NDCC § 39-10.1-09). Cities and counties may further restrict sidewalk riding by local ordinance - Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks each prohibit it in designated downtown business districts.

Statute

¹

A bell does not replace yielding or signaling, but it can warn other path users; compare bike bells and horns.

Applies to bicycles

No

Separate cycling DUI statute

No

BAC limit

—

Penalty

North Dakota's DUI statute (NDCC § 39-08-01) reaches anyone in actual physical control of a 'vehicle,' but the general vehicle definition in NDCC § 39-01-01 expressly excludes devices moved by human power. As a result, the standard DUI statute does not reach a person riding a bicycle. An impaired cyclist who endangers others may instead be charged under reckless-operation or public-intoxication statutes.

Statute

¹²

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.

— Not yet researched.

Front light required

Yes

Front spec

Lamp on the front emitting a white light visible from at least 500 feet to the front.

Rear requirement

Rear reflector or light

Rear spec

Red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the highway commissioner, visible from 100 to 600 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper-beam headlamps. A red rear lamp visible from 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the reflector.

Side reflectors

—

Pedal reflectors

—

When required

Darkness

Statute

¹

For equipment that matches the visibility requirement, compare bike lights by beam and runtime.

— Not yet researched.

Two abreast allowed

Yes

Conditions

Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Persons riding two abreast may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and, on a laned roadway, must ride within a single lane.

Statute

¹

For low-light road and group visibility, compare bike lights for commuting and unlit roads.

Rule

—

Statute

—

A mirror can supplement direct observation but cannot replace shoulder checks or hearing traffic; compare bike mirrors by mount type.

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

For theft prevention when the bike is parked, compare bike locks for different risk levels.

Interstates

Prohibited

Notes

Bicycles, pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic are prohibited on the Interstate system in North Dakota under NDDOT policy and the limited-access framework in NDCC § 24-01-01.1; cyclists must use parallel state highways and county roads.

For low-light road and group visibility, compare bike lights for commuting and unlit roads.