Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Bicycling

Safety education

We all must take responsibility to follow the law, pay attention and share the road to keep everyone safe.

When driving

  • Be patient when passing a bicyclist - slow down and pass only when it’s safe. Allow clearance of at least three feet.
  • Look before you merge - check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.
  • Be on the lookout - watch for and yield to bicyclists before making a turn.
  • Use extra caution around young bicyclists - children’s movements can be unpredictable.
  • Be respectful - don’t speed past a bicyclist to make an upcoming right turn. It’s easy to misjudge how fast bicyclists are traveling.
  • Exit your vehicle safely - look for bicyclists before opening your car door.
  • Think before you honk - honking may startle a bicyclist and cause a crash.
  • Stay alert and avoid distracted driving

When bicycling

  • Follow the law - obey all traffic signs and signals. Ride in the same direction as traffic.
  • Ride predictable - maintain a straight course and avoid weaving between parked cars.
  • Communicate your intent - look, yield to traffic and signal before turning or changing lanes.
  • Use extreme caution near commercial vehicles - pass only on the left and recognize drivers’ blind spots.
  • See and be seen - wear bright colors, reflective gear and use head and tail lights.
  • Protect yourself - wear a helmet.
  • Stick to roads and trails - sidewalk riding puts you at risk for crashes at driveways and intersections. Always yield to pedestrians.
  • Avoid distracted bicycling - put away mobile devices and headphones.