Nevada Bicycle Laws – 15 Rules Every Rider Needs to Know

When riding a bike in Nevada, you must follow the same traffic rules as drivers. More specifically, you must

1. ride with the traffic flow,
2. keep to the right unless you are about to turn left,
3. keep one hand on the handlebar at all times, and
   
4. use hand signals before turning:

Bicycle action in Nevada	Required hand signal
Left turn	Hand and arm extended horizontally
Right turn	Hand and arm extended upward
Stop or decrease speed	Hand and arm extended downward
Reentering a traffic lane from a parked position	Hand and arm extended horizontally.

In this article, our Las Vegas personal injury attorneys provide a guide to Nevada bike laws:

• 1. Are I required to follow Nevada traffic laws?
• 2. Does Nevada law require bike helmets?
• 3. Is there a “hand on the handlebar” rule?
• 4. Must I ride on the far right side of the road?
• 5. Am I allowed to bike on the sidewalk?
• 6. Must I ride in designated bike lanes?
• 7. Must I ride in the same direction as vehicles?
• 8. What about shared lanes?
• 9. Are there special rules for cycling at night?
• 10. When must I allow vehicles to pass?
• 11. Are hand signals required?
• 12. Are there special rules for highways and restricted areas?
• 13. How common are biking accidents?
• 14. Are there special rules for mopeds in Nevada?
• 15. Is cycling under the influence a crime in Nevada?
• What if I was in a bike accident?
• Additional resources

Injured in a bicycling accident in Las Vegas? See our article on how to file a bike accident lawsuit in Nevada.

1. Am I required to follow Nevada traffic laws?

Although bicycles are not “vehicles” under Nevada law because they are propelled by human power,¹ you as a cyclist are required to follow most of the same traffic rules of the road as automobile drivers to maximize bicycle safety.

Just like automobile drivers, you can be cited with a ticket for traffic violations such as failing to stop at a red light or stop sign.

Note that if you are at a red light – and the traffic light goes for two cycles without detecting your presence – then you can go through the intersection when it is safe.²

2. Does Nevada law require bike helmets?

Nevada state law does not require that you wear bicycle helmets, although helmets are required for motorcyclists. That said, the Nevada Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) both strongly encourage you to wear helmets. The recent Assembly Bill 187 that would have required helmets for children on bikes has stalled in the legislature.

See our related article, Do you have to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle in Nevada? Also learn more about Nevada motorcycle helmet laws (NRS 486.231).

3. Is there a “hand on the handlebar” rule?

Yes. You must keep one hand on your bicycle handlebar at all times. You are advised to wear backpacks or fanny packs to carry your belongings so both your hands remain free.³

4. Must I ride on the far right side of the road?

Yes. You should bike as far right on the road as possible unless:

• it would not be safe;
• you are turning left; or
• you are traveling at a legal speed limit that is also equal to the speed of nearby traffic

When you are on a single-lane road, automobile drivers may pass on the left as long as they keep at least three feet of space between you.

When you are on a multi-lane road, automobile drivers should travel on one of the left lanes so that you can have the right lane to yourself.

Note that no more than two cyclists may ride next to each other at a time in a travel lane.⁴

The safest bet is to ride on a designated bike lane (if there is one) rather than a travel lane. Though biking on the shoulder is discouraged since shoulders are usually rougher and are littered.

5. Am I allowed to bike on the sidewalk?

Although Nevada state law does not prohibit biking on sidewalks, many local ordinances do:

For instance, biking on sidewalks is illegal in Las Vegas on Fremont Street between Main Street and Seventh Street.⁵ Las Vegas police may cite people for sidewalk-riding on the Strip (though there seems to be no Clark County ordinance prohibiting it).

Always check local laws before taking your bike on the sidewalk. Plus you should dismount before going over a pedestrian crosswalk.

6. Must I ride in designated bike lanes?

As a cyclist, you must use designated bike lanes if there is one. Designated bike lanes are about five feet and are stenciled with a stick image of a rider on two wheels.⁶

7. Must I ride in the same direction as vehicles?

Yes. As a cyclist, you are prohibited from riding against traffic flow in Nevada. It is far safer to ride with traffic than against the flow.⁷

8. What about shared lanes?

Both bikes and vehicles in Nevada are allowed to ride on a shared lane, often called a “sharrow.” Sharrows are indicated by a bicycle symbol beneath two chevron markings.

9. Are there special rules for cycling at night?

Yes. If you bike at night in Nevada, you must have your bike equipped with all of the following:

• a lamp on the front which emits a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front; and
• a red reflector on the rear which must be visible from 50 feet to 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of a vehicle’s lower beams; and
• reflective material visible from both sides of the bicycle for 600 feet when directly in front of a vehicle’s lower beams OR a lighted lamp visible from both sides from a distance of at least 500 feet

Note that a red rear reflector is mandatory even if your bike also has a taillight. Also, note that the above requirements apply to biking in daylight with poor visibility.⁸

You are encouraged to wear bright-colored clothing to improve your visibility to other people.

10. When must I allow vehicles to pass?

You are required to move your bike off the roadway (if safe to do so) when there are at least five (5) vehicles behind you.⁹

11. Are hand signals required?

Yes.¹⁰ You are required to use hand signals before turning on a bike unless either:

• your bike is in a designated turn lane; or
• it would be unsafe to take your hand off the handlebar.¹¹

12. Are there special rules for highways and restricted areas?

Some Nevada highways are open to you biking, and others are not. Highways that are off-limit will have signs warning bikers to exit.

In rural Nevada, biking is typically allowed on highways since there are no other available roadways.

Nevada highway	Restricted areas where cycling is prohibited
Interstate 580/US 395 – Reno/Carson City Area	Between Exit 78 (Red Rock Rd) and Exit 44 (Eastlake Blvd).
Interstate 80	In Reno/Sparks Area between Exit 2 (West Verdi) and Exit 21 (Vista Blvd) Between Exit 43 (North Carson St) and Exit 38 (Fairview Dr)
Interstate 15 – Las Vegas Area	Between Exit 12 (Jean) and Exit 50 (Lamb Blvd). In Wadsworth/Fernley Area between Exit 43 (Wadsworth/Pyramid Lake) and Exit 48 (US ALT 95) At Carlin Tunnels between Exit 282 (East Carlin) and East Tunnel Portals
Interstate 95 – Las Vegas Area	Between Exit 56A (Wagonwheel Dr & Nevada St Dr) and Exit 95 (Kyle Canyon Rd)
Interstate 215/515 – Las Vegas Areas	Entire route is prohibited12

13. How common are biking accidents?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 49,000 cyclists in the United States were injured in collisions with motor vehicles in 2019. Tragically, 846 cyclists were killed in accidents involving motor vehicles during the same period. In Nevada alone, there were 304 traffic fatalities in 2019. Of those 304 deaths, eight were cyclists.

Cars are required to share the road with bicycles. Though the reality is that many drivers are either unaware of — or hostile to — the presence of bicycles.¹³

14. Are there special rules for mopeds in Nevada?

Yes. There are four special regulations for mopeds in Nevada:

1. You must register your moped with the Nevada DMV as you would a car (though you do not need liability insurance);
2. You must have a driver’s license before taking the moped on the road. It can be a regular class C license, not a special motorcycle license;
3. You must wear a helmet; and
4. You can be arrested for DUI (see the next section for more information).¹⁴

Otherwise, you must operate mopeds as you would bikes (such as driving on the extreme right). Learn more at the Nevada DMV Moped information page. Also see our article on Nevada motorized bicycle laws.

NEVADA	Bicycles	E-bikes	Mopeds
Maximum speed	n/a	20 mph	30 mph
Watts final output	n/a	750	1,500
Brake horsepower	n/a	1	2
Helmet	Not required	Not required	Required
Driver’s license	Not required	Not required	Required
Registration	Not required	Not required	Required
Insurance	Not required	Not required	Not required

15. Is cycling under the influence a crime in Nevada?

Technically, biking drunk or high is not a DUI offense in Nevada. Driving an automobile, a motorcycle, or even a moped while impaired violates Nevada DUI laws, but biking while impaired is an entirely separate crime.

If you bike while intoxicated on alcohol or drugs, you face charges for reckless endangerment (NRS 202.595). This is typically prosecuted as a gross misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of:

• up to $2,000 in fines, and/or
• up to 364 days in jail

Though if the CUI results in a victim sustaining substantial bodily harm (NRS 0.060), reckless endangerment becomes a category C felony. The sentence is:

• one to five (1 – 5) years in Nevada State Prison, and
• possibly a fine of up to $10,000 (at the judge’s discretion)

Because CUI is not treated as a DUI, if you are convicted of cycling while impaired, you will not have your driver’s license suspended. Learn more about Nevada cycling under the influence laws.¹⁵

What if I was in a bike accident?

If you were in a bike accident in Nevada, do not admit fault or say you are uninjured. You could be wrong, and you do not want the other parties’ insurance companies using your words against you to deny your claim.

After an accident, get off the road if possible, and contact 911 if someone is hurt. Also try to take photographs of your injuries and of the accident scene, and get the contact information of any eyewitnesses.

If police do not show up to the scene – and if there are injuries or at least $750 worth of property damage – then any motorists involved in the crash have to file an accident report with the DMV within 10 days. Failure to do so can result in criminal charges and a license suspension. (Cyclists do not have this duty to report.)

Statute of limitation and damages

In most cases, you have only a two-year statute of limitations after the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit, so contact an attorney as soon as possible to discuss your case. You may be eligible for extensive damages for:

• medical bills,
• lost wages,
• lost earning capacity,
• pain and suffering, and
• loss of consortium (for your spouse)

If the driver who hit you flees and cannot be found, you may be able to file a claim with your own uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) policy (which everyone is advised to carry).

If you were partly to blame

Even if you were partly to blame for the collision, Nevada’s modified comparative negligence laws allow you to recover damages as long as you were no more than 50% at fault. Your final payout would just be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault.

So if you were half to blame for a crash that resulted in $10,000 worth of damages, you could recover $5,000.

Reasons bikers might be found partly to blame after a crash include:

• not wearing a helmet
• not using proper hand signals
• riding against traffic
• riding on bike-free zones
• riding with no hands on the handlebars
• having no or inadequate lights/reflectors
• being intoxicated
• obstructing traffic

Bike accident injuries

In a crash between a car and a bicycle, the cyclist usually ends up far more injured than the driver.

Common injuries bikers sustain include fractures and lacerations. Though you may also develop other problems over time such as migraines and memory loss.

Therefore, get checked out as soon as you notice something unusual. These medical records will be vital evidence in your personal injury case.

Additional resources

• Bike Clubs and Support Organizations – Resource provided by the City of Reno, Nevada that lists local cycling clubs and organizations to support and promote bicycling in the Reno area.
• Las Vegas Valley Bicycle Club – Cycling organization based in Las Vegas, Nevada that organizes group rides and promotes cycling in the area.
• Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition – Non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and advocating for bicycling as a safe and viable mode of transportation and recreation in Southern Nevada.
• Bicycles – General information by the Nevada DMV.
• BicycleNevada.com – General information by the Nevada Department of Transportation (DOT)

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