Des Moines operates striped bike lanes, protected lanes downtown, and connections to the Greater Des Moines Trails network of roughly 800 paved miles; cyclists must follow Iowa rules of the road and DSM trail-specific speed and yielding rules.
DSM Bike Master Plan guides on-street bike infrastructure, including buffered lanes on streets such as Ingersoll and downtown protected bike lanes. The Greater DSM Trails network spans Polk County and beyond, including the High Trestle, Neal Smith, and Bill Riley trails. Iowa Code 321.234 grants cyclists rights and duties of vehicles. DSM ordinances require yielding to pedestrians on shared-use trails and prohibit motorized vehicles except e-bikes Class 1 and 2. Sidewalk riding is restricted in the downtown business district under Ch. 102.
Bike traffic violations carry $25-$250 fines; downtown sidewalk riding is a $50 civil penalty; reckless cycling can be charged as a misdemeanor.
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines encourages higher-density transit-oriented development along DART bus corridors and at proposed bus rapid transit stations, with PlanDSM 2040 prio...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines operates Automated Traffic Enforcement cameras at select intersections and along Interstate 235, generating civil citations; Iowa courts and legis...
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines allows Level 1, 2, and 3 electric vehicle charging stations as a permitted use in every zoning district. No local ordinance mandates EV-ready or E...
See how Des Moines's bike lane rules rules stack up against other locations.
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