Montgomery, AL Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Minimum passing distance
- 3 feet, maintained until safely past
- Covered vehicles
- Any human-powered vehicle allowed on the roadway
- Sidewalk riding
- Must yield to pedestrians, signal audibly
- Required equipment
- Bell audible for 100+ feet; no siren/whistle
- Bicycle parking
- Curb, rack, or building, least obstruction
- Penalty
- Sec. 1-6: $1-$500 fine or up to 6 months
Summary
Montgomery, Alabama requires drivers to give any bicycle a three-foot passing buffer under City Code Sec. 27-16, and requires cyclists riding on a sidewalk to yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing under Sec. 27-305.
Sec. 27-16. Passing bicyclists: The operator of a motor vehicle when overtaking and passing a bicycle (shall be understood to include any human powered vehicle allowable to be operated on the roadways under state law) proceeding in the same direction on the roadway, shall leave a safe distance between the motor vehicle and the bicycle of not less than three feet and shall maintain such clearance until safely past the overtaken bicycle... Sec. 27-305. Riding on sidewalks: Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 27).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 27's bicycle rules split responsibility between drivers and riders. Sec. 27-16 requires the operator of a motor vehicle overtaking and passing a bicycle, defined to include any human-powered vehicle allowed on the roadway under state law, to leave a safe distance of not less than three feet, and to maintain that clearance until the vehicle has safely cleared the bicycle. A driver who crowds a cyclist, whether in a marked bike lane or an ordinary travel lane, is exposed to prosecution under this section.
Where cyclists choose to ride on a sidewalk instead of the roadway, Sec. 27-305 requires them to yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and to give an audible signal, such as a bell, before overtaking and passing that pedestrian; Sec. 27-307 separately requires every bicycle operated in the city to carry a bell or similar device audible from at least 100 feet, though it bars a siren or whistle. Sec. 27-306 also restricts where a bicycle can be parked on a street: only on the roadway against the curb, on the sidewalk in a rack, or against a building or curb, always positioned to leave the least possible obstruction to pedestrian traffic.
Together these sections, all rooted in the city's 1972 traffic code as amended in 2012, form Montgomery's core on-street bicycle safety scheme for anyone riding in or near a designated bike lane, shoulder or shared roadway.
Violations & Fines
A driver who fails to leave the required three-foot buffer, or a cyclist who fails to yield to pedestrians or signal on a sidewalk, is guilty of an offense against the city. Sec. 27-16 expressly ties its penalty to Sec. 1-6, Montgomery's general penalty: a fine of $1.00 to $500.00, up to six months in the city jail or at hard labor, or both, at the municipal judge's discretion.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much room must drivers give cyclists when passing in Montgomery, Alabama?
Can I ride my bike on the sidewalk in Montgomery?
Where can I legally park a bicycle on a Montgomery street?
What is the penalty for violating the three-foot passing law?
Sources & Official References
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