Warmer weather is here, and that means more bicyclists on the road, including Arizona’s rural and scenic highways. A livable community is one that provides safe and convenient transportation choices to all citizens, whether it’s by walking, bicycling, or driving. Unfortunately, since 2015, Arizona has averaged almost 1,500 bicycle-related car crashes each year and a vast majority occur on clear days during daylight hours.
During the summer of 2024, Pinal County completed the SaddleBrooke Blvd. improvement project with one of the enhancements being new bike lanes to protect cyclists. The new bike lanes, which run parallel alongside SaddleBrooke Blvd. between Eagle Crest and Mountainview, was built to provide convenient, safe opportunities for recreation and exercise, and enhance cyclist safety near the existing roadway by providing a designated space for cyclists to ride safely.
In addition to the creation of the bike-only lanes, on both the eastbound and westbound sides of the road, the county installed three “Bike Lane” signs on the uphill sections in each direction, as well as a large cyclist graphic painted on the roadway at the beginning of each bike lane on each side of the road.
But too many cars ignore these markings and drive on the bike lane. Driving on the bike lane in Arizona puts cyclist’s lives in danger and is illegal!
Bike lanes are not for cars! Stay in your lane!
Not only is it illegal in Arizona to drive on bike lanes, but bike lanes are what help bicyclists feel a little bit safer traveling with traffic and it’s important for drivers to follow the law and let bike lanes serve their purpose.
Responsibly sharing the road is more than a courtesy, it’s the law in Arizona.
Most of Arizona’s laws on bicycles appear in Title 28 of the Arizona Revised Code. Specifically, Section 28-815 of the Arizona Revised Statutes provides:
“A path or lane that is designated as a bicycle path or lane by state or local authorities is for the exclusive use of bicycles; A person shall not operate, stop, park, or leave standing a vehicle, including a neighborhood occupantless electric vehicle, in a path or lane designated as a bicycle path or lane by a state or local authority except in the case of emergency or for crossing the path or lane to gain access to a public or private road or driveway.”
Please respect cyclists and respect the law—do not drive on bike lanes!
Be sure to check out “Share the Road,” Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) pocket guide explaining how bicyclists and motorists can coexist legally and safely in Arizona.