Oregon, OH Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- § 301.09 (definition); § 373.07 (riding rule)
- General rule
- Ride as near right side as practicable
- Exception
- Unsafe conditions, narrow lanes
- Bicycle lane types covered
- Buffer-separated, counter-flow, physically separated
- First offense
- Minor misdemeanor
Summary
Section 373.07 of the Oregon, Ohio Codified Ordinances requires cyclists to ride as near the right side of the roadway as practicable, while Section 301.09 defines the bicycle lanes that qualify for that exclusive or preferential use. Riding away from the edge is allowed when conditions like a narrow lane make it unsafe.
“Bicycle lane” means a portion of a roadway that has been designated for preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists and is often delineated from the adjacent general purpose lanes by longitudinal pavement markings and either a bicycle lane symbol, words, or signs. ... (a) Every person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable obeying all traffic rules applicable to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. (b) This section does not require a person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle to ride at the edge of the roadway when it is unreasonable or unsafe to do so. Conditions that may require riding away from the edge of the roadway include when necessary to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, or if it otherwise is unsafe or impracticable to do so, including if the lane is too narrow for the bicycle or electric bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
Full Breakdown
09 defines a 'bicycle lane' in the City of Oregon, Ohio as a portion of a roadway designated for preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists, delineated from general-purpose lanes by pavement markings, symbols, words or signs, and the definition expressly covers buffer-separated lanes, counter-flow lanes, and physically separated lanes with a vertical barrier. 07 then sets the operating rule: every person riding a bicycle or electric bicycle on a roadway must ride as near the right side of the roadway as practicable, obeying all traffic rules that apply to vehicles and exercising due care when passing a standing or slower-moving vehicle.
Subsection (b) is the safety valve: a cyclist is not required to hug the edge when it is unreasonable or unsafe, and the ordinance lists specific conditions that justify moving out, including fixed or moving obstacles, parked or moving vehicles, surface hazards, and a lane too narrow for a bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to share safely side by side. 07.
Violations & Fines
Section 373.07(c) makes a first violation a minor misdemeanor. A second offense within one year of the first is a fourth-degree misdemeanor, and a third or later offense in that same year is a third-degree misdemeanor; a distracted rider whose distraction contributed to the violation also faces the added fine under Section 303.991.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cyclists have to ride in the bike lane in Oregon, Ohio?
What counts as a bicycle lane under Oregon, Ohio's code?
Can a cyclist leave the bike lane to avoid a hazard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oregon
Compare Oregon to another location·View the Ohio mobility & curb rules overview
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Bike Lane Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lucas County handle bike lane rules.