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North Dakota driving lesson · Pedestrians & Recreational Vehicles

Bicycles & motorized bicycles

A 3-minute lesson from the North Dakota course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Pedestrians & Recreational Vehicles
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
42

Whether you drive a car, truck or motorcycle or ride a bicycle or motorized bicycle, the same basic rules of the road apply. Motorized bicycles also have their own limits on size, engine and who may ride them.

Motorized bicycle

A 2- or 3-wheeled vehicle up to 32 inches wide with foot pedals or footrests, an engine of at most 49.98 cc (3.05 cu in) for no more than 30 mph on level ground, and automatic drive.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
14

Minimum age to operate a motorized bicycle

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Know the rule

To ride a motorized bicycle, you must have one of these with you: a valid operator's license, motorized bicycle permit, operator permit, temporary permit, instruction permit, or motorcycle permit.

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Rules for bicycles and motorized bicycles:

  • Obey all traffic laws
  • Ride no more than two abreast (single file is safest)
  • Keep to the right side of the roadway
  • Give pedestrians the right of way
  • Use hand signals before turning and stopping
  • Don't carry more people than the bicycle was designed to carry
  • Carry a package only if you can keep at least one hand on the handlebar
  • Don't hold on to other moving vehicles to be towed
Handbook p. 42 ↗

Know the rule

All bicycles and motorized bicycles must be equipped with a brake.

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Know the rule

Riders under 18 must wear an approved safety helmet on a motorized bicycle. Wearing a helmet on any bicycle is a good practice at any age, and brightly colored clothing helps you be seen.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
500 feet

At night, a bicycle headlight must be visible this far (and a taillight, if equipped, to the rear)

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Know the rule

At night, a bicycle must also have a red reflector on the rear.

Handbook p. 42 ↗

Put it into practice

Your 16-year-old sister wants to ride a motorized bicycle to school. She must carry her license or a permit, and because she's under 18 she must wear an approved safety helmet.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the maximum width allowed for a motorized bicycle?
  1. 48 inches
  2. 32 inches
  3. 24 inches
  4. 40 inches

Answer: 32 inches

A motorized bicycle is a two- or three-wheeled vehicle no more than 32 inches wide.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
What is the maximum speed a motorized bicycle's engine may enable on a level surface?
  1. 30 miles per hour
  2. 40 miles per hour
  3. 50 miles per hour
  4. 20 miles per hour

Answer: 30 miles per hour

A motorized bicycle's engine must not enable a speed exceeding 30 miles per hour on a level surface.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
What is the minimum age to operate a motorized bicycle?
  1. 13 years old
  2. 16 years old
  3. 14 years old
  4. 12 years old

Answer: 14 years old

To operate a motorized bicycle, you must be at least 14 years of age and possess a valid permit or license.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
How many bicycles may ride abreast on the roadway at most?
  1. Four abreast on rural roads
  2. Three abreast is always allowed
  3. Bicycles must always ride single file
  4. Two, though single file is safest

Answer: Two, though single file is safest

Bicyclists should ride not more than two abreast, though single file is safest.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
At night, how far must a bicycle's headlight be visible?
  1. 1,000 feet
  2. 500 feet
  3. 200 feet
  4. 100 feet

Answer: 500 feet

At night, all bicycles must be equipped with a headlight visible from a distance of 500 feet.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
Who must wear a safety helmet while operating a motorized bicycle in North Dakota?
  1. Only children under 12
  2. Anyone under 18 years of age
  3. Anyone under 16 years of age
  4. No one is required to wear a helmet

Answer: Anyone under 18 years of age

If under 18, an approved safety helmet is required to operate a motorized bicycle.

Handbook p. 42 ↗
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