Wisconsin Bicycle Laws

Required under age

No statewide age requirement

Applies to passengers

—

Standard

—

Penalty

—

Statute

—

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

Statewide rule

Prohibited statewide

Notes

Wisconsin generally prohibits sidewalk cycling: Wis. Stat. § 346.94(1) bars driving any vehicle upon a sidewalk except to enter or leave an adjoining property, and § 340.01(5) defines 'vehicle' to include bicycles. However, § 349.23(2)(a) authorises local governments to permit bicycle operation on sidewalks; Madison, Milwaukee, and several other cities allow sidewalk riding outside their central business districts. Always check the municipal code before riding the sidewalk.

Statute

¹²

See our commuter bike sizing guide and bike fitting guide.

Applies to bicycles

No

Separate cycling DUI statute

No

BAC limit

—

Penalty

Wisconsin's operating-while-intoxicated statute (Wis. Stat. § 346.63) applies only to a person who operates a 'motor vehicle' under the influence. Because a bicycle is not a motor vehicle in Wisconsin, the OWI statute does not reach bicycle riders. An impaired cyclist may still be cited for public intoxication or reckless conduct.

Statute

¹

— 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 Department of Transportation, visible from 50 to 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper-beam headlamps. A flashing or steady 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

Wis. Stat. § 346.80(3)(b) permits persons riding bicycles upon a roadway to ride no more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. Riders riding two abreast shall not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and on a laned roadway shall ride within a single lane.

Statute

¹

Rule

—

Statute

—

— Not yet researched.

Bicycle registration required

No

Operator license required

No

Interstates

Prohibited

Notes

Wis. Stat. § 346.075 and Wis. Admin. Code Trans 276 prohibit bicycles, pedestrians and other non-motorized traffic on Wisconsin Interstate highways and other expressways designated as freeways. I-39, I-41, I-43, I-90, I-94 and I-535 are signed closed at on-ramps.