Rhode Island Bicycle Laws

Required under age

Required under age 16

Applies to passengers

Yes

Standard

CPSC

Penalty

RIGL § 31-19-2.1 requires every person under 16 to wear an approved protective helmet whenever operating or riding as a passenger on a bicycle. The first violation is dismissed if a helmet is purchased; subsequent offenses carry fines up to $50. The statute also applies to children riding in attached child seats and trailers.

Statute

¹

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

Statewide rule

Allowed with conditions

Notes

Rhode Island permits sidewalk cycling outside of downtown business districts, subject to the duty to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and give an audible signal before overtaking and passing (RIGL § 31-19-13). The same section allows cities and towns to prohibit sidewalk riding by local ordinance, and Providence restricts it in the downtown business district.

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

Rhode Island's DUI statute (RIGL § 31-27-2) applies to anyone who operates 'any vehicle' in the state, and RIGL § 31-19-2 makes cyclists subject to all duties of the operator of a vehicle. The Rhode Island Supreme Court has held the DUI statute reaches bicycle riders. A first offense carries fines starting at $100, mandatory community service, and - because the conviction is reported as a DUI - a driver-licence suspension of 30 to 180 days 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.

Rear requirement

Rear reflector or light

Rear spec

Red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the registrar of motor vehicles, visible from 50 to 300 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

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

— Not yet researched.

Two abreast allowed

Yes

Conditions

RIGL § 31-19-7 permits riding no more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Riders may not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.

Statute

¹

Rule

Prohibited

Statute

¹

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

Interstates

Prohibited

Notes

Bicycles are prohibited on Interstate and other limited-access highways in Rhode Island under RIDOT policy and the general limited-access framework in RIGL Title 24 / Title 31. I-95, I-195, I-295 and Route 4 are signed prohibited at every on-ramp.