The operation of bikes within the city is controlled by one or more city ordinances. To help with the distribution and understanding of such rules and regulations, they have been included here. It should be noted that every effort has been made to ensure this information is accurate and up to date. The transcripted information provided here is in no way to supercede the actual codes, ordinances, rules, or regulations from which they were taken.

Ordinance 949, 7/8/96 Portions Closed to Skateboards, In-line Skating and Bicycles

a) No person shall ride and/or maneuver a skateboard on the Washington Square Mall between Shiawassee Street and Michigan Avenue or on the S. Washington Avenue right of way between Michigan Avenue and Lenawee street or in the area bounded by the north street curb line of Michigan Avenue on the south, the east line of the River Walk on the west, the north street curb line of Museum Drive on the north, and the west right of way line of Cedar street on the east, except as provided in section 812.08.

b) No person shall in-line skate on the Washington Square Mall between Shiawassee Street and Michigan Avenue or on the S. Washington Avenue right of way between Michigan Avenue and Lenawee street or in the area bounded by the north street curb line of Michigan Avenue on the south, the east line of the River Walk on the west, the north street curb line of Museum Drive on the north, and the west right of way line of Cedar street on the east, except as provided in section 812.08.

c) Riding of bicycles is regulated in accordance with section 1.003A and 6.19(2) of the Traffic Code.

Ordinance 749, 4/13/87 Animals, Vehicles and Bicycles on Grassplots

No person shall bring animals, vehicles or bicycles onto any park or onto any grassplot in any street, or deface the grounds or vegetation therein.

Ordinance 749, 4/13/87 Bicycles

No person shall ride a bicycle in Riverfront Park, between Kalamazoo Street on the south and Grand River Avenue on the north, when an organized event is taking place therein, which event is sponsored or cosponsored by the City. Such events include, but are not limited to, the Ethnic Festival, the Riverfest, the North Lansing Fun Fest, the Black Cultural Festival and the Mexican Festival.

Traffic Codes

Chapter 6. Operation of Bicycles, Motorcycles, Mopeds and Toy Vehicles

Sec. 6.3 Bicycles; Ordinances Applicable

The provisions of this code that are applicable to bicycles shall apply when a bicycle is operated on any street or on any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, subject to those exceptions stated in this code.

Sec. 6.4 Riders to Obey Traffic Law

Every person who rides a bicycle on a roadway shall be granted all of the rights, and shall be subject to all the duties, applicable to the driver of a vehicle pursuant to the laws of Michigan which declare rules of the road applicable to vehicles or pursuant to the traffic ordinances of this governmental unit which are applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except as to special regulations in this chapter and except as to those provisions of laws and ordinances which by their nature do not apply.

Sec. 6.4a Limited Access Highway; Pedestrians and Certain Vehicles Prohibited

A person shall not operate a moped, farm tractor, motorcycle with less than a 125-cubic centimeter engine, or other self-propelled farm implement, nor shall any pedestrian, bicycle, except as provided in this code, or other non-motorized traffic be permitted, on any limited access highway in this state. Bicycles shall be permitted on paths which are constructed separately from the roadway and which are designated for the exclusive use of bicycles.

Sec. 6.5 Bicycles; Riding on Part of Riverwalk Prohibited

No person shall operate a bicycle on that portion of the Riverwalk which is between the R.E. Olds Museum and the Lansing Center.

Sec 6.6 Obedience to Traffic-Control Devices

Any person who operates a bicycle shall obey the instructions of official traffic-control signals, signs, and other control devices applicable to vehicles, unless otherwise directed by a police officer.

Sec. 6.7 Obedience to Pedestrian Regulations when Dismounting from a Bicycle

When authorized signs are erected which indicate that right, left, or U-turns are not permitted, a person who operates a bicycle shall obey the direction of any such sign, except where the person dismounts from the bicycle to make such turn, in which event the person shall then obey the regulations applicable to pedestrians.

Sec. 6.9 Bicycles; Number and Manner of Carrying Persons

A person who propels a bicycle shall not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto and shall not carry more persons at one time than the number for which the bicycle is designed and equipped.

Sec. 6.10 Riding on Roadways and Bicycle Paths

A person who operates a bicycle, motorcycle, or moped on a roadway shall ride as near to the right-hand side of the roadway as practicable and shall exercise due care when passing a standing vehicle or a vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

A person who operates a moped, motorcycle, or bicycle shall not pass between lines of traffic, but may pass in an unoccupied lane on the left of traffic moving in his or her direction in the case of a 2-way street and on the left or right of traffic in the case of a 1-way street.

Sec. 6.11 Riding 2 Abreast Prohibited

Every person who operates a bicycle, motorcycle, or moped on a roadway shall not ride more than 2 abreast, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of such vehicles.

Sec. 6.12 Bicycles; Use of Paths Required When Provided

When a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.

Sec. 6.13 Clinging to Other Vehicles Prohibited

A person who rides on any bicycle, motorcycle, or moped, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall not attach the same or himself or herself to any vehicle on a roadway.

Sec. 6.14 Bicycles; Speed

A person shall not operate a bicycle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions then existing.

Sec. 6.14a Bicycles; Careless and Reckless Operation

No person shall drive a bicycle in a careless or reckless manner upon any public way or publicly owned parking area with the city.

Sec. 6.15 Emerging from Alley, Driveway, or Building; Yielding Right-of-Way

The operator of a bicycle who emerges from an alley, driveway, or building shall, upon approaching a sidewalk or the sidewalk area extending across any alleyway, yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians approaching on the sidewalk area and, upon entering the roadway, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles approaching on the roadway.

Sec. 6.16 Carrying Articles

A person who operates a bicycle, motorcycle, or moped shall not carry a package, bundle, or article which prevents the driver from keeping both hands on the handlebars of the vehicle.

Sec. 6.17 Bicycles; Parking on Sidewalks

A person shall not park a bicycle on a sidewalk where bicycle parking is prohibited by official traffic-control devices. A person shall not park a bicycle o a sidewalk in a manner that would unreasonably obstruct pedestrian or other traffic.

Sec. 6.17a Impoundment

The police department may take into its custody and impound any bicycle from a public way or publicly owned property when:

(a) It is deemed to have been abandoned.
(b) It is improperly parked and creating a hazard as described in section 6.17.

Sec. 6.17b Disposition of Impounded Bicycles

When a bicycle is impounded, the police department shall, within 10 days, give notice by first-class mail t the owner, if such can be ascertained, of the fact of impoundment, reasons therefor and procedures to be followed for release of the bicycle.

A bicycle shall not be released prior to the receipt of any impounding fees and/or charges.

Unclaimed bicycles and parts of such bicycles shall, 30 days following notification of impoundment, become the property of the city and may be sold at public sale in substantially the same manner as provided for motor vehicles in 257.252 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.

Sec. 6.18 Obedience to Signs Prohibiting Riding of Bicycles

When a sign is erected on a sidewalk which prohibits the riding of bicycles thereon by any person, a person shall obey the sign.

Sec. 6.19 Riding on Sidewalks; Right-of-Way; Pedestrian Malls

When any person is riding a bicycle on a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.

Sec. 6.20 Bicycles; Lights; Red Reflector

Every bicycle, when in use at nighttime, shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which shall emit a white light that is visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the front and shall be equipped with a red reflector on the rear that is visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet to the rear when the bicycle is directly in front of the lawful upper beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp that emits a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.