Oregon Bicycle Laws

Required under age

Required under age 16

Applies to passengers

Yes

Standard

CPSC

Penalty

ORS 814.485 makes it a Class D traffic violation for a person under 16 to operate or ride a bicycle on a public way without an approved helmet. The presumptive fine is $25. Parents and guardians can also be cited under ORS 814.486 for knowingly permitting an unhelmeted child to ride.

Statute

¹²

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

Statewide rule

Allowed with conditions

Notes

Oregon allows sidewalk cycling unless prohibited by local ordinance. Riders must give an audible warning before overtaking a pedestrian, must travel at a speed no greater than an ordinary walk when entering a crosswalk or driveway, and must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians (ORS 814.410). Many Oregon cities - including Portland, Eugene, and Salem - prohibit sidewalk riding in their downtown business districts.

Statute

¹

See our commuter bike sizing guide and bike fitting guide.

Applies to bicycles

Yes

Separate cycling DUI statute

Yes

BAC limit

—

Penalty

Oregon prosecutes cycling under the influence under a separate statute (ORS 814.014 - Unlawful operation of bicycle while under the influence) rather than the standard auto DUII law (ORS 813.010). Cyclists are expressly excluded from the DUII statute by ORS 814.400(2)(a). A bicycle DUII is a Class B traffic violation rather than a misdemeanor; there is no statutory BAC threshold and the case turns on observable impairment. The offense is not a DUII conviction, so it does not trigger an automatic driver-licence suspension.

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.

Rear requirement

Rear reflector or light

Rear spec

Red reflector or red lighting device on the rear visible from all distances up to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower-beam headlamps.

Side reflectors

—

Pedal reflectors

—

When required

Darkness or low visibility

Statute

¹

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

— Not yet researched.

Two abreast allowed

Yes

Conditions

Oregon permits riding two abreast. ORS 814.430 (improper use of lanes) requires cyclists to ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway, with carve-outs for sub-standard-width lanes; ORS 814.420 controls bicycle-lane use. Two-abreast riding is allowed where it does not improperly use the lane.

Statute

¹²

Rule

—

Statute

—

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

Interstates

Allowed

Notes

ODOT's bicycling policy permits cycling on the shoulders of most rural Interstate segments in Oregon (notably much of I-5, I-84 and I-82) where no reasonable alternative exists. Specific urban segments, the Portland metro area, and certain bridges are signed prohibited; always confirm against ODOT's bicycling-on-Oregon-highways guidance before riding.