Vermont Bicycle Laws

Required under age

Required under age 16

Applies to passengers

Yes

Standard

CPSC

Penalty

23 V.S.A. § 1139 requires every person under 16 to wear an approved bicycle helmet whenever operating or riding as a passenger on a bicycle on any public highway, including in a child trailer. The first offense is dismissed if a helmet is acquired; subsequent offenses carry a fine of up to $15.

Statute

¹

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

Statewide rule

Defers to local rules

Notes

Vermont's bicycle code does not address sidewalk riding statewide; regulation is left to municipalities. Burlington's Code of Ordinances allows sidewalk riding outside the Church Street Marketplace and downtown business district; Montpelier permits it citywide subject to yielding to pedestrians.

Statute

—

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

Vermont's DUI statute (23 V.S.A. § 1201) applies to a person who operates a 'vehicle' on a highway while under the influence. The Vermont Supreme Court held in State v. Goodhue, 2003 VT 85, that the term 'vehicle' in the DUI statute does not encompass bicycles. As a result, the standard DUI statute does not reach bicycle riders. An impaired cyclist may still be cited under public-intoxication or careless-and-negligent-operation statutes.

Statute

¹

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 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 commissioner of motor vehicles, visible from 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper-beam headlamps. A red rear lamp visible from 300 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

23 V.S.A. § 1140 permits persons riding bicycles to ride no more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Riders shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.

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 Interstate highways in Vermont under VTrans policy and the limited-access framework in 23 V.S.A. Chapter 23. I-89, I-91 and I-93 are signed closed at on-ramps; cyclists use the parallel US-2, US-4, US-5 and Route 7 corridors.

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