The Kansas Bicycle Laws Cyclists Need to Be Aware Of

Kansas Bicycle Laws 101

When it comes to the safety and legality of cycling on the road, knowing the specific regulations of the state in which you live is crucial. Each state has its own laws governing the interaction between cyclists and drivers, and these can vary significantly across the United States. As an advocate for cyclist safety and lawful riding, this article will parse out the relevant laws pertaining to Kansas bicyclists. Knowing the law is critical to keeping yourself safe and avoiding any legal complications when you’re out on the road.
This is where Kansas bicycle regulations come into play. Having a thorough understanding of these laws empowers you to ride with confidence , making sure that you’re abiding by all local regulations and standing on common ground with law enforcement. In addition, knowing your rights will protect you if you are involved in any type of collision with a vehicle, giving you a much stronger foothold when negotiating with insurance companies and seeking out compensation for damage to your property. While some of these laws may seem obvious, others aren’t as well known—distinguishing between these two categories could prove crucial to avoiding fines, accidents, and other negative outcomes.
The following will cover some of the most important laws you’ll need to know when you’re riding in Kansas, guiding you toward a safer, more positive riding experience.

Required Equipment for Bicycles

The State of Kansas has mandatory equipment requirements for every one who rides a bicycle within the state in Section 8-1552:
(a) A bicycle when in use shall be equipped with the following:

(1) At least one and not more than two handlebars, each of which shall be equipped with handgrips for the purpose of controlling the steering of the bicycle;
(2) an adequate brake on the front wheel. Any rear brake or coaster brake may be attached to the rear wheel;
(3) a fixed or adjustable seat securely attached to the frame of the bicycle;
(4) a reflector on the rear of the bicycle;
(5) a light on the front of the bicycle; and
(6) a bell or other noise-producing signaling device.

(b) A person operating a bicycle during the hours of darkness shall have the bicycle equipped with all of the following:

(1) A lamp that, when in use, projects a white light that is visible from a distance of at least 500 feet in front of the operator;
(2) a lamp or lamps, or a reflector or reflectors on the front and rear, showing or reflecting red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front and 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of the lights or reflectors when in the path of a motor vehicle’s high beams; and
(3) a lamp or reflector on each side of the bicycle which is visible at a distance of 500 feet from the front and rear when in the path of the motor vehicle’s high beams.

Kansas Road Rules

According to the rules of the roadway in Kansas, cyclists on streets have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles. All regular rules of the road apply to bicyclists. The only difference is that bicyclists have exemptions to some rules such as the requirement to walk their bikes across crosswalks.
The law requires bicycles to use the full right side of the travel lane when traveling at the speed of traffic, but the cyclist must move right to allow a faster driver to pass when safe to do so. This rule may create a safety issue where widths of the roadway allow safe simultaneous travel of both a cyclist and a vehicle in the same lane, but the rule applies to Kansas bike paths that have minimal width compared to most roadways. Cyclists on roadways not designed for multi-modal use must share the roads with motor vehicles.
Climbing the hill with a car bearing down This law can create an unsafe situation for the cyclist when the cyclist is slow in comparison to other vehicles on a multi-lane roadway. A cyclist does not get the chance to pull over to the right to yield to a motor vehicle and allow it to pass. A motorist will have to wait behind the slower cyclist until it is safe to pass. That means the cyclist must stay on the roadway and allow the wait. Bike lanes provide more room for faster cars to pass as they drive around slower cyclists. A problem I see regularly is a faster driver speeding up behind a cyclist, passing it within inches when it is unsafe to do so, causing the slower cyclist to swerve left into the path of oncoming traffic from the opposite direction. Cyclists should be able to stop and move to the right side of the roadway to yield to faster vehicles without leaving the roadway. Most cyclists are aware of this danger and do their best to stay out of the way of cars and trucks passing on the left rear. Bicycles are much less visible in the periphery of the driver’s field of view than they are in the driver’s nearer view of oncoming headlights in the outside lane. Avoiding the danger of a rear-end collision Notice that while there is no prohibition to ride two abreast on a roadway, cyclists may not impede traffic. If a faster driver passes a slow cyclist, the slow cyclist may move to the right and give notice by holding an arm down parallel to the ground that he has yielded the lane to the faster driver.

When Bicycles Can Be on Sidewalks

Both state and Kansas city regulations have different rules and laws regarding riding a bicycle on sidewalks. In some cities, you don’t have the right to ride on the sidewalk at all, while others require you to ride at walking speed or dismount if approaching a pedestrian.
At the state level, the default law governing whether you can ride on the sidewalk is found in Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-1505. That section states that bicycles "have all the rights and are subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle," including sidewalks (but with some important exceptions).
However, there are exceptions to this default law where even state law will not allow you to ride a bicycle on a sidewalk. In Kansas City, for example, you may ride a bicycle on a sidewalk "unless prohibited or restricted by official signs or by ordinance." If riding is prohibited by sign or ordinance and you violate that prohibition, it is a Class B misdemeanor.
Municipalities can restrict riding bikes on sidewalks, and even when a city does not restrict riding, it can regulate other aspects of sidewalk riding, such as requiring cyclists to yield to pedestrians.
The following cities have provisions prohibiting cyclists from riding on sidewalks (anyone with a bike synonymously making driving a bike): Abilene, Arkansas City, Bonner Springs, Chanute, Dodge City, Fort Scott, Garden City, Great Bend, Hays, Kansas City, Lindsborg, Osawatomie, Russell, Sabetha, Salina, Shawnee, Topeka, and Wellington.
In the majority of the list above, the ban applies only to the central business district or downtown areas ("CBD"), which is defined differently by each city. Generally speaking, across the board, the CBD is land where the retail use is the most prevalent. As such, at the cusp of Central Business Districts in cities, you’ll find signs dictating whether you may ride on the sidewalks or not, so it is always prudent to check. However, just because there’s a sign that says you can ride on the sidewalk, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still slow your pace down and make sure the coast is clear.
In some cities, you are allowed to ride on the sidewalks unless the city has prohibited it by ordinance. In those cases, if the city hasn’t passed an ordinance prohibiting it, you’re free to ride on sidewalks without issue. The following cities prohibit riding bicycles on sidewalks unless the municipality has otherwise expressly permitted it: Derby, Douglas, El Dorado, Emporia, Fort Hays, Great Bend, Humboldt, Pittsburg, Prairie Village, Rossville, Shawnee, St. John, Tonganoxie, Wellington, and Wichita.
If riding on sidewalks is not prohibited elsewhere in a city, cyclists are generally required to "yield the right of way to any pedestrian on the sidewalk."

Bicycle Helmets – Required for All?

In Kansas, the law currently does not require individuals of any age to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. Even so, it is considered a best practice for all cyclists – both children and adults – to wear brain buckets. A 2010 study published in the Institute for Transportation Engineers Journal of Transportation, Safety & Security found that helmet use reduces your chances of sustaining a traumatic brain injury by 51 percent, while another study, published in the American Journal of Surgery, found that wearing a helmet can reduce the chances of facial injury by 23 percent. In short , you should always wear a helmet when riding a bike, no matter your age or skill level. The following tips will help you choose the right helmet: The most common types of bicycle helmets are multi-sport helmets, which are designed to fit snugly on the head without excessive movement if you fall or crash. To ensure a proper fit, the helmet should be level from front to back and sit low on the forehead. The straps should adjust around each ear and across the chin to keep the helmet secure, and the buckle should be snug and comfortable.

Rights & Duties of the Kansas Cyclist

Kansas, like most states, adopts the Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) in part. The UVC is a model set of laws published by the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances as recommended regulations for operation of motor vehicles in the United States.
Article II, Section 11 of the UVC addresses "bicycles and other human-powered vehicles." Article II, Section 11 of the UVC states that "a person propelling a human-powered vehicle may not ride other than astride a permanent and regular seat attached thereto." The Kansas Uniform Traffic Manual features a sign using black-and-white text that reads "CAUTION: Bikes on roadway" with a bicycle symbol. The manual also recommends that a sign be posted that reads "Bicycles Yield to other Traffic." The Kansas Uniform Traffic Manual does not recommend use of a sign that states "Bicycles Have Full Use of Lane." In Kansas, because a bicycle is a vehicle, bicycles legally have all the rights and responsibilities of vehicles under the law.

Kansas Driving Violations and Fines

The penalties and fines for violating Kansas bicycle safety laws may include both criminal misdemeanor charges and civil traffic infractions. A first-time offense is usually subject to civil traffic court penalties as a "minor traffic violation" with fines typically in the range of $30-$100. A second offense (within 5 years) is usually charged as a Class B misdemeanor a maximum fine of $500 or 6 months in jail. Larger fines are allowed by the Kansas legislature for actual traffic accidents involving personal injury or property damage. Like all traffic laws in Kansas, the penalties are more severe when recklessness causes a traffic accident. Reckless or inattentive driving is a class B misdemeanor usually resulting in fines of $250-$500 and/or 60 days in jail. A 2nd offense is a class A misdemeanor that a fine up to $2,500 and/or one year in jail. A third offense is a felony (class D) likely resulting in a $500 fine plus 2-12 months jail time (up to 7 years if it results in grievous bodily harm). A 4th or subsequent offense is a class C felony likely resulting in a $5,000 fine and 3-20 years in prison (up to life in prison if it results in grievous bodily harm).

Updates to Kansas Bicycle Laws

Over the past few years, Kansas has passed several amendments aimed at improving safety for cyclists. Most notably, in 2011 the Kansas State Legislature adopted the new law, K.S.A. 8-1597, which encourages cyclists to use hand signals and left turns and empowers law enforcement to flag down cyclists who refuse to do so. It also gives cyclists and motorists the right of way in the event of a traffic signal malfunction. The law does not allow cyclists to ride on sidewalks in downtown or business districts , nor does it give cyclists the right of way over bus drivers. Additionally, in 2013, the Legislature passed amendments to the law again allowing cyclists to disregard a traffic control device when making a sharp left-hand turn. However, cyclists are required to slow down and look for pedestrians and other vehicles in their way before proceeding. With these added laws and amendments, the state has made a concerted effort to improve cycling safety and encourage more people to cycle as a form of transportation.