This page outlines trends, policies, and sample laws and legislation for walking and biking.
Contents:
- Laws and Legistation - General
- Legislative Agenda
- State Governance and DOTs
- Bicycle Registration and Licensing
- Ordinances - Misc.
Laws and Legislation - General
For information about state bike laws, model legislation, and bike law university, visit the League of American Bicyclist's legal resources page: http://bikeleague.org/bikelaws
Alliance members have access to on-call assistance from national experts, including pro-bono legal services offered by BikeLaw.com. Click here for more information.
Legislative Agendas
Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation: This 2012 Legislative Platform from the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation outlines five proposals 
for legislation to improve bike-ped safety and access in Missouri. The Platform was created through a collaborative process of the Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Federation committee and board, feedback from bicyclists and pedestrians across Missouri and discussions with partner organizations in Missouri. The authors are asking for endorsements by December 6, 2011, and a sample endorsement letter is included.
Missouri Bicycle & Pedestrian Legislative Platform 2012 (PDF)
PA Walks and Bikes: May 3, 2011. As part of the 2011 Annual PA Walks and Bikes Summit, the advocacy group released a series of policy positions, 
representing their positions for the summit.
Safe Bicycle Passing (URL)
Comprehensive Transportation Funding (URL)
Safe Routes to School (URL)
Bicycle Law Brochure (Bicycle Coalition of Maine)
This 2007 bi-fold brochure from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine gives an overview of Maine's new Bike Law which includes provisions for three-foot safe passing distance, a liability waiver to allow bicyclists at drive-up windows, and more.
Bicycle Law Brochure (PDF) (363KB)
State Governance and DOTs
Transportation Governance & Finance: 50-State Review (NCSL, AASHTO)
This dense but deeply informative report, published by the National Council of State Legislatures and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials in May 2011, provides an overview of state transportation governance and finance as well as detailed profiles and other information for each state. According to the authors, this "groundbreaking report is intended to benefit DOTs and legislatures by offering a rich diversity of approaches to consider as they seek to address their states' transportation challenges and effectively serve the public good within what often are complex intergovernmental arrangements."
50 State Review: State Legislatures & Departments of Transportation (PDF)
Encouraging Bicycling and Walking (National Conference of State Legislatures)
This 2008 report from National Conference of State Legislatures provides information about and examples of how state legislatures can and have proactively supported bicycling and walking, especially as transportation choices.
Encouraging Bicycling and Walking Report (PDF)
Bicycle Registration and Licensing
Mandatory Bicycle Registration & Licensing Overview (Alliance)
This document contains a summary of the issues around mandatory bicycle registration and licensing. This includes a summary of the pro and con arguments, cities and states which have had or proposed this type of legislation, and a sample campaign to fight this type of legislation.
Mandatory Bicycle Registration & Licensing Overview (DOC)
Licensing of Bicycles and Cyclists in San Francisco
This 2009 memorandum from the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency outlines state and city vehicle code regarding bicycle licensing programs and opportunities and challenges around this issue.
Licensing of Bicycles and Cyclists in San Francisco (PDF)
Ordinances - Misc.
Chicago Bicycle Safety Ordinance (Active Transportation Alliance)
This 2008 ordinance, a major goal of the Chicago Bike 2015 Plan, prohibits opening a door into moving traffic; sets a three-foot minimum passing distance; increases fines for parking in a bike lane or marked shared lane; and prohibits motorists from turning right in front of a bicyclist.
Chicago Bicycle Safety Ordinance (PDF)
