EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb0826*
SENATE BILL 826
R5 4lr3361
HB 1289/23 – ENT CF HB 511
By: Senator Smith
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Vehicle Laws – Bicycles – Operation at Intersections 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a person operating a bicycle that is approaching a stop sign 3
at an intersection on certain highways to cautiously make a turn or proceed through 4
the intersection without stopping if the person reduces the speed of the bicycle to a 5
reasonable rate and yields the right–of–way to certain vehicles under certain 6
circumstances; and generally relating to the operation of bicycles on highways. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Transportation 9
Section 21–707 and 21–1202 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2020 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Transportation 15
21–707. 16
(a) [Unless] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C–1) OF THIS SECTION, 17
AND UNLESS otherwise directed by a police officer or traffic control signal, the driver of a 18
vehicle approaching a stop sign at an intersection shall stop at the near side of the 19
intersection at a clearly marked stop line. 20
(b) [Unless] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C–1) OF THIS SECTION, 21
AND UNLESS otherwise directed by a police officer or traffic control signal, the driver of a 22
vehicle approaching a stop sign at an intersection shall stop at the near side of the 23
intersection and, if there is no clearly marked stop line, before entering any crosswalk. 24 2 SENATE BILL 826
(c) [Unless] EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBSECTION (C–1) OF THIS SECTION, 1
AND UNLESS otherwise directed by a police officer or traffic control signal, the driver of a 2
vehicle approaching a stop sign at an intersection shall stop at the near side of an 3
intersection and, if there is no crosswalk, at the nearest point before entering the 4
intersection that gives the driver a view of traffic approaching on the intersecting roadway. 5
(C–1) WHEN APPROACHING A ST OP SIGN AT AN INTERS ECTION WITH A 6
HIGHWAY WITH TWO OR FEWER LANES FOR MOVI NG TRAFFIC, A PERSON OPERATING 7
A BICYCLE MAY C AUTIOUSLY MAKE A TUR N OR PROCEED THROUGH THE 8
INTERSECTION WITHOUT STOPPING IF THE PERS ON OPERATING THE BIC YCLE: 9
(1) REDUCES THE SPEED OF THE BICYCLE TO A REA SONABLE RATE ; 10
AND 11
(2) YIELDS THE RIGHT –OF–WAY TO: 12
(I) ANY VEHICLE IN THE IN TERSECTION; AND 13
(II) ANY APPROACHING VEHIC LE ON ANOTHER HIGHWA Y THAT 14
IS NEAR ENOUGH TO TH E INTERSECTION THAT IT POSES AN IMMEDIAT E DANGER. 15
(d) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign at an intersection, if required 16
for safety to stop, shall stop at the near side of the intersection at a clearly marked stop 17
line. 18
(e) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign at an intersection, if required 19
for safety to stop, shall stop at the near side of the intersection and, if there is no clearly 20
marked stop line, before entering any crosswalk. 21
(f) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign at an intersection, if required 22
for safety to stop, shall stop at the near side of the intersection and, if there is no crosswalk, 23
at the nearest point before entering the intersection that gives the driver a view of traffic 24
approaching on the intersecting roadway. 25
21–1202. 26
(a) Every person operating a bicycle or a motor scooter in a public bicycle area 27
has all the rights granted to and is subject to all the duties required of the driver of a vehicle 28
by this title, including the duties set forth in § 21–504 of this title, except: 29
(1) As otherwise provided in this subtitle; and 30
(2) For those provisions of this title that by their very nature cannot apply. 31
(b) (1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, a person has the 32 SENATE BILL 826 3
rights and is subject to the restrictions applicable to pedestrians under this title while the 1
person is lawfully operating a bicycle, play vehicle, or unicycle: 2
(i) On a sidewalk or sidewalk area; or 3
(ii) In or through a crosswalk. 4
(2) At an intersection, a person operating a bicycle, play vehicle, or unicycle 5
is subject to all traffic control signals, as provided in §§ 21–202 and 21–203 of this title. 6
(3) Section 21–506 of this title does not apply to a person operating a 7
bicycle, play vehicle, or unicycle. 8
(C) NOTWITHSTANDING § 21–707(A) THROUGH (C) OF THIS TITLE, WHEN 9
APPROACHING A STOP S IGN AT AN INTERSECTI ON WITH A HIGHWAY WI TH TWO OR 10
FEWER LANES FOR MOVI NG TRAFFIC, A PERSON OPERATING A BICYCLE MAY 11
CAUTIOUSLY MAKE A TU RN OR PROCEED THROUG H THE INTERSECTION W ITHOUT 12
STOPPING IF THE PERS ON OPERATING THE BIC YCLE: 13
(1) REDUCES THE SPEED OF THE BICYCLE TO A REA SONABLE RATE ; 14
AND 15
(2) YIELDS THE RIGHT –OF–WAY TO: 16
(I) ANY VEHICLE IN THE IN TERSECTION; AND 17
(II) ANY APPROACHING VEHIC LE ON ANOTHER HIGHWA Y THAT 18
IS NEAR ENOUGH TO TH E INTERSECTION THAT IT POSES AN IMMEDIAT E DANGER. 19
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 20
October 1, 2024. 21