Washington County, MN Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)

Washington County regulates where and how people bike inside its own park and trail system through Chapter VI, Section 8 ('Bicycling') of Parks Ordinance No. 218. The section makes it unlawful to operate a bicycle 'except on trails designated for bicycling, and roadways,' so riding across mowed turf, through picnic areas, or on foot-only trails is a violation. Mountain bikes and similar off-road cycles are restricted further: they may only be ridden in areas and at times the Director designates, which in practice limits off-road riding to posted mountain-bike trail systems.

Subsection (c) folds in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 169, the state's Traffic Regulations, so a cyclist riding through a county park must also obey state road rules such as signaling and yielding. Subsection (d) sets a conduct standard rather than a numeric speed limit, barring riding except 'in a prudent and careful manner' or at 'a speed faster than is reasonable and safe' given other park users nearby. Electric bicycles fall under a separate clause, Chapter VI, Section 13 ('Electric Recreational Bicycles/Vehicles'), which caps motor output at 1,000 watts and applies the same trail and roadway restrictions.

This bicycling section governs only county-owned parks, trails and conservation areas; it does not set rules for bike lanes on county highways or inside incorporated cities like Woodbury or Stillwater, which regulate their own streets.