West Haven, CT Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)

Chapter 80 of the West Haven Code, adopted by the City Council on 8-28-2017, sets bicycle rules in the City of West Haven, Connecticut. Under § 80-1, a person riding on a street has the rights and duties of a vehicle driver, and a person riding on a sidewalk has the rights and duties of a pedestrian. Traffic violations by a bicyclist are ticketed the same way as motor vehicle infractions, but they do not affect the violator's motor vehicle operator's license, and the citation must show that a bicycle was involved. A court can accept completion of a court-approved cycling knowledge course in lieu of or in addition to a fine.

On roadways, § 80-7A requires riders to keep as near to the right side as practicable, obey all traffic rules for vehicles and use due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. Section 80-7B says the rule does not require riding at the edge when unreasonable or unsafe, including to avoid fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles or surface hazards, or where the lane is too narrow for the bicycle and an overtaking vehicle to travel safely side by side. Section 80-7C requires hand signals before turning or changing lanes, made not less than one time but not continuously, and not required in a designated turn lane. Under § 80-4, riders stay no more than two abreast in a single lane, except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

On sidewalks, § 80-10 makes riding legal when sidewalks are available and not congested with pedestrian traffic. A rider must walk the bicycle on a congested sidewalk, cannot ride in a business district or where the Chief of Police has posted signs, must yield to pedestrians and give an audible signal before passing, and cannot exceed an ordinary walk approaching a crosswalk or driveway with a vehicle approaching.

Parking is covered in § 80-12: no bicycle parked so as to unduly interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic, and none blocking building entrances. On park land, § 170-29 bars motorized vehicles, roller skates and skateboards from bicycle paths under the Department of Parks and Recreation. The only provisions naming bicycle-only space are § 80-4 and § 170-29.