Manchester provides bike lanes on selected streets and rail-trail connections including the Heritage Trail along the Merrimack River. Cyclists follow New Hampshire RSA 265 vehicle rules and may use streets where bike lanes are absent.
Manchester's on-street bike network includes painted lanes on portions of Elm Street, Maple Street, and Beech Street, plus shared-lane markings on lower-volume routes. The Heritage Trail follows the Merrimack River and connects to regional rail-trail networks. Cyclists are required by RSA 265:144 to ride with traffic, signal turns, and obey traffic signals. Helmets are required for riders under 16. Sidewalk cycling is generally discouraged in the CBD on Elm Street and prohibited where signed. Drivers must give cyclists at least three feet of passing clearance under RSA 265:143-a. Bike racks are common in the Mill Yard and downtown.
Cyclists ignoring signals or riding wrong-way can be cited under RSA 265 with fines typically $50-$100; motorists violating three-foot rule face higher penalties.
See how Manchester's bike lane rules rules stack up against other locations.
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