In New Jersey, anyone under 17 years of age that rides a bicycle or is a passenger on a bicycle, or is towed as a passenger by a bicycle must wear a safety helmet. This includes roller and inline skates and skateboards. Roller skates means a pair of devices worn on the feet with a set of wheels attached, regardless of the number or placement of those wheels and used to glide or propel the user over the ground.
All helmets must be properly fastened and fitted. Bicycle helmets must meet the federal standards developed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) effective March 10, 1999 that ensure the best head protection and strong chin straps to keep the helmet in place during a fall or collision. Also acceptable are helmets meeting the Snell Memorial Foundation’s 1990 Standard for Protection Headgear.
Initial violators of the helmet law will receive warnings. For minors, the parent or legal guardian may be fined a maximum of $25 for the 1st offense and a maximum of $100 for subsequent offense(s), if lack of parental supervision contributed to the offense. If you rent bicycles, the person who owns the shop needs to provide helmets for you, and post signs stating the law.
Lights on Bicycles: If you ride at night or at dusk, you need 1. a front headlamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front; 2. A rear lamp emitting a red light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the rear; 3. In addition to the red lamp , a red reflector may be mounted on the rear.
Audible Devices: A bicycle must be equipped with a bell or other audible device that can be heard at least 100 feet away, but not a siren or whistle.
Brakes: A bicycle must be equipped with a brake that can make wheels skid while stopping on dry, level, clean pavement. Feet and Hands on Pedals and Handlebars; Carrying Another Person.
Bicyclists should not drive the bicycle with feet removed from the pedals, or with both hands removed from the handlebars, nor practice any trick or fancy driving in a street. Limit passengers to only the number the bicycle is designed and equipped to carry (the number of seats it has), and no hitching rides by attaching yourself to a bus or other vehicle.
Every person riding a bicycle on a roadway shall ride as near to the right roadside as practicable, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction. You can make left turns from a left turn lane or pocket; 2) To avoid debris, drains, or other hazardous conditions on the right; 3) To pass a slower moving vehicle; 4) To occupy any available lane when traveling at the same speed as other traffic; 5) To travel no more than two abreast when traffic is not impeded, but otherwise ride in single file. Every person riding a bicycle shall ride in the same direction as vehicular traffic.
In New Jersey, the law states a bicyclist must obey all state and local automobile driving laws. A parent may be held responsible for the child’s violation of any traffic law.
