St. Louis County, MO Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Bike lane use
- Protected, § 1210.055(1)(c)(iv)
- Passing clearance
- 3 feet minimum, § 1212.175
- Cyclist fine
- Up to $10, § 1210.110
- Driver penalty
- Up to $1,000 / 1 yr jail, § 1215.010
- Two abreast
- Allowed on bike-exclusive lanes
Summary
St. Louis County lets cyclists leave the right-most travel lane and ride in a dedicated bike lane, cycle track or contra-flow lane whenever one exists: Section 1210.055 lists exclusive-use bicycle facilities as a lawful reason to leave the right-hand lane, and a driver who crowds a cyclist outside one owes the three-foot passing clearance in Section 1212.175.
Every person riding a bicycle or operating a motorized bicycle upon a highway, roadway, or alleyway at a speed that is both (1) less than the posted speed limit and (2) slower than the flow of traffic upon the highway, road, or alleyway, shall ride in the right-most through lane of traffic, in the same direction as the flow of traffic, subject to the following conditions and exceptions: ... (c)The person riding a bicycle or operating a motorized bicycle may use a lane other than the right-hand lane when: ... (iv)Riding on parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, including, but not limited to, contra-flow bicycle lanes, left-handed cycle tracks or bicycle lanes on one-way streets, and two-way cycle tracks or bicycle lanes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 85 | Traffic: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
' Wherever St. Louis County has striped a bike lane or cycle track, a cyclist is entitled to use it and is not confined to the right edge of a general travel lane. The same section also protects a cyclist who leaves a lane to avoid a hazard, states a compliant cyclist 'is not impeding traffic' under subsection 3, and allows riding two abreast on paths, shoulders, or roadway sections set aside exclusively for bicycles under subsection 4(b). 010: up to a $1,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both. 110, capped at $10.
Violations & Fines
A cyclist who disregards Section 1210.055's lane rules faces the Chapter 1210 penalty, a fine of no more than $10 under Section 1210.110. A driver who fails to give the required three feet of clearance under Section 1212.175 is charged as a Traffic Code misdemeanor under Section 1215.010, exposing them to up to a $1,000 fine, up to a year in the County Jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride outside the bike lane in St. Louis County?
How much space must a car give a cyclist when passing?
What's the penalty for blocking a St. Louis County bike lane?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Louis County
Compare St. Louis County to another location·View the Missouri mobility & curb rules overview
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