The Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC) is used by all 50 states to varying extents as a model in drafting their vehicle codes.

Chairman Chuck Smith represented the Ohio Bicycle Federation (OBF) once again during the January 11, 2000 meeting of the National Committee for Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO).  Riley Geary represented the League of American Bicyclists.  Smith and Geary proposed four changes in the Uniform Vehicle Code.  Here are the results:

OBF PROPOSALS

UVC 11-1205-  Position on Roadway

The National Committee (NCUTLO) voted to add fourth exception to requirement that bicyclists "ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb," exactly as approved during the November 7 OBF meeting:  

"4.  When riding in the right turn only lane."

Since the January 11 NCUTLO meeting, Geary developed a new UVC 11-1205 proposal, including a rewrite of (a) and a new fourth exception. Here it is, with additional words in [].

UVC 11-1205-  Position on Roadway
Any person operating a bicycle or a moped upon a roadway at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions then existing shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand [edge of the right travel lane
available for through traffic, or to the right-hand] curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
1.  When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
2.  When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
3.  When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.  For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
4.  [When at an intersection, where one may assume a position on the left side of the right travel lane to permit other vehicles to use the right portion of the lane to turn right.]

UVC 11-1209- Turn and Stop Signals

NCUTLO Deleted "(a)  Except as provided in this section, a  person riding a bicycle shall comply with section 11-604."
NCUTLO decided not to delete the entire section 11-1209 as requested by the OBF.  Instead, it was decided that Smith and Geary would draft a replacement section for action by the Committee at its next meeting.  Here is this new version of 11-1209, as agreed upon by Smith and Geary, and approved during the January 30 OBF meeting:

UVC 11-1209- Turn and Stop Signals
A signal of intention to turn right or left when required shall be given at some point during the last 100 feet traveled by the person riding a  bicycle before turning, and as needed to alert other traffic while the bicycle is waiting to turn." (Section renumbered, 1986)

UVC 11-1212- Bicycle Racing

NCUTLO deleted "(a)  Bicycle racing on the highways is prohibited by section 11-809 except as authorized in this section."
NCUTLO decided not to delete the entire section 11-1212 as requested by the OBF.  Here is the replacement 11-1212, as agreed upon by Smith and Geary, and approved during the January 30 OBF meeting with [] indicating the added words: 

UVC 11-1212- Bicycle Racing
(a) Bicycle racing on a highway [that may interfere with normal traffic flow] shall not be unlawful when a racing event has been approved by state or local authorities on any highway under their respective jurisdictions. Approval of [such] bicycle racing events shall be granted only under conditions which assure reasonable safety for all race participants, spectators and other highway users, and which prevent unreasonable interference with traffic flow which would seriously inconvenience other highway users."

(b) By agreement with the approving authority, participants in an approved bicycle highway racing event may be exempted from compliance with any traffic laws otherwise applicable thereto, provided that traffic control is adequate to assure the safety of all highway users.  (NEW SECTION, 1975;  RENUMBERED, 1986)

RILEY GEARY/LAB PROPOSAL

(approved as proposed)

12-702-  Head lamp [and tail lamp] required at night.
Added words "and a lamp on the rear emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 1000 feet to the rear" to this section which requires bicyclists to use head lamps during darkness.

LAB representative Riley Geary proposed this change after his study which showed a high percentage of fatalities involving bicyclists hit from behind by motor vehicles in the darkness.

MILLENNIUM DUI PREVENTION ACT

This model law, proposed by an NCUTLO committee, was approved for inclusion in the UVC.  

Following a unanimous vote of the Board during its January 30 meeting, the OBF will partner with Mothers Against Drunk Driving in seeking to make Ohio law conform to the tougher Millennium DUI Prevention Act. 

By special permission of NCUTLO, here is the Millennium DUI Prevention Act as approved and added to the UVC.

THE UNIFORM VEHICLE CODE

The OBF has been able to bring about 10 changes in the UVC to benefit bicyclists during the last three years. These changes are shown in bold italics in the hyperlinked documents.

Click here to view UVC Chapter 11, "Rules of the Road":

Sections 11-101 through 11-513, including Article:
1:  Obedience to, and effect of traffic laws
2:  Traffic control devices
3:  Driving on right side of roadway - overtaking and passing - use of roadway
4:  Right of way
5:  Pedestrians' rights and duties

Sections 11-601 through 11-1005, including Article:
6:  Turning and starting, and signals on turning and stopping
7:  Special stops required
8:  Speed restrictions
9:  Serious traffic offenses
10: Stopping, standing, and parking

Sections 11-1101 through 11-1506, including Article:
11: Miscellaneous rules
12: Operation of BICYCLES, other human-powered vehicles, and mopeds
13: Special rules for motorcycles
14: Traffic laws apply to operators of streetcars
15: Victims of traffic-related offense

Click here to view UVC Chapter 12, Article VII, which covers bicycle equipment, including lights and brakes.

The copyrighted UVC appears here with the special permission of the National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO).  Duplication for sale is prohibited.

OBF IN 4th YEAR ON NCUTLO NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Your OBF has held membership in the National Committee for Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances (NCUTLO) since 1997. NCUTLO is responsible for the Uniform Vehicle Code (UVC). The UVC is used by state legislatures across the U.S. in developing their own traffic codes. Many states have adopted the UVC "Rules of the Road" chapter in its entirety as their traffic law.

	Leila Osina, National Committee on Uniform Traffic Laws and Ordinances Executive VP, tries on a new OBF T-shirt.

Copyright, 2000, The Ohio Bicycle Federation. All rights reserved.