Capital of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Rights of Cyclist and Obligations of Drivers- Law 22 of 2000

(Vehicle and Transit Law Chapter 11 ) - English Translation

Article 11.01. - Basic rule. (9 L.P.R.A. § 5321):

The provisions of this Law relating to the transit of motor vehicles and drivers of them will cover and be applicable to bicycles and their drivers, except those provisions that by their nature are not applicable to them. Bicycle drivers they will have the obligation to drive with due care and caution on public roads. Article 11.02. – Public politics. (9 L.P.R.A. § 5321a) It is declared as a public policy of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to provide the conditions that allow and promote the use and enjoyment of the bicycle as a means of transport or recreation. As part of the implementation of this public policy, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Puerto Rico will have the following responsibilities: (a) Educate drivers of vehicles or motor vehicles about the obligation to share the public road with cyclists. (b) Educate cyclists about the obligation to comply with the rules established for the use and Enjoy all public areas. (c) Enable public buildings with adequate locations located near entrances to park the bicycles. (d) Motivate people and all citizens in general, to use the bicycle as a means of transport. (e) Improve and increase the quality of data related to bicycle accidents. (f) Amend those laws that place cyclists in a disadvantageous position in comparison with drivers of vehicles or motor vehicles. (g) To guide law enforcement officials, judges and prosecutors on the content of this Chapter. (h) Identify and improve the streets, roads and roads in such a way that they can be used by the cyclists. (i) Plan and develop exclusive lanes of bicycles such as parallel roads or alternate routes to a controlled access road.

Article 11.03. - Use of bicycles on Puerto Rico Public Roads

[Note: Section 10 of Law 24-2017 repealed the previous Article 11.03 and replaced it with a new one] 

In relation to the use and handling of bicycles on public roads, the following will be illegal acts:

(a) Carrying a bicycle with more passengers than seats has the same.

(b) Carry packages or objects protruding from the ends of the handlebars or the ends front and rear of the same and that prevent the driver to keep at least one hand on the handlebar of the bicycle.

(c) Running away from the edge of the curb or right bank of the public road, being required to Any person who drives a bicycle through a taxi zone should stay as close to the right bank of the public road that is possible, and exercise due caution when passing a vehicle that is stopped or one that is traveling in the same direction, except on roads or sectors of the shooting area that would have been reserved for the exclusive use of bicycles.

(d) That a person traveling on a bicycle, similar vehicle or toy vehicle will hold onto or one said vehicle to another on a public road.

(e) To ride a bicycle on a public road without it being provided with a bell or other device capable of emitting an audible signal at a distance of one hundred (100) feet, except that no bicycle can be equipped with a siren, nor will any person use a bicycle that It would have been equipped with this class of devices.

(f) Use unnecessarily the timbre or other device that requires subsection (e) of this Article in the urban area.

(g) Running on sidewalks or elevated structures intended exclusively for the passage of pedestrians

(h) Do not carry, during night hours, a white light in the front part capable of emitting a white light visible from a distance of not less than five hundred (500) feet in front and one light or red reflector on the back, which should be visible from any point included in the a distance of one hundred (100) feet to six hundred (600) feet from the back of the bicycle when This is directly illuminated by the low headlamp lights of a vehicle of engine. A lantern can be used that emits a visible red light from a distance of five hundred (500) feet of the back of the bicycle in addition to the red reflector.

(i) Driving a bicycle with defective brakes unable to stop the braking wheels on the dry, flat and clean pavement.

(j) Driving a bicycle if you are not sitting in a permanent and regular seat that has been attached to it.

(k) Driving a bicycle on public roads or recreational centers without being provided with a helmet protector that meets the requirements established by regulation by the Secretary, in keeping with with the standards of the American Standards Association for helmets, published on 1 August 1966, according to whether they are updated, amended or replaced.

(l) It is further provided that:

(1) Any cyclist carrying a child under the age of four (4) or less than a passenger of forty (40) pounds must be loaded into a specially designed seat that protect from the moving parts of the bicycle;

(2) No child shall remain in the special seat of the bicycle, unless the cyclist is in immediate control of it;

(3) The owner of a bicycle sales business may not sell any bicycle that does not have a permanent identification number attached or engraved in its structure, nor may rent a bicycle to a child under the age of sixteen (16) if he or she does not have a protective helmet or provide one at the time of renting the bicycle. In addition, it will provide written information in Regarding the rules on bicycle use established in this Act, and maintain a record where the receipt of said information is recorded. Any person who violates the provisions of this Article, will commit an administrative fault and will be punished with a fine of one hundred (100) Dollars. Any person who violates the provisions of this Article, will commit an administrative fault and will be sanctioned with a fine of one hundred (100) dollars. In the event that as a result of the violation of any of the provisions herein established, causing a vehicular accident or any accident where a pedestrian is involved, the administrative fine will be five hundred (500 dollars).

Article 11.04. - Letter of Rights of the Cyclist and Obligations of the Driver.

[Note: The Section 11 of Law 24-2017 repealed the previous Article 11.04 and replaced it with a new one] The people who practice the sport of cycling have the following rights and obligations. Drivers, on the other hand, have to comply with the obligations that detailed in this section. This part will be known as the Bill of Rights of the Cyclist and Obligations of the Driver.

(A) Bicycles Rights of the Cyclist in Puerto Rico:

(1) Every cyclist has the right to ride a bicycle on any public road, be it a street, a road or a state or municipal road, except that you will not ride a bicycle on a road with controlled access, highway or where prohibited by the Secretary of Transportation and Works Public for reasons of security. to. Public knowledge of said permitted and prohibited areas will be given. (2) The cyclist has the right to use the right bank of the taxiway of the public road and it will be the obligation of every driver of a vehicle or motor vehicle to exercise due Caution when passing him. However, every cyclist will have the option of using the right ride in those public roads where the same is in transitable conditions. (3) Every cyclist has the right to use the lane width, as long as the lane is traveling on a public road through the urban area at the same speed as a motor vehicle. (4) Every cyclist has the right to make any type of turn or change of direction in a public road, as long as you carry out the necessary hand signals. (5) Any group of two (2) or more cyclists has the right to use the designated lane for slow vehicles matching two (2) in two (2). However, this group of cyclists has to drive at least the minimum speed allowed to the motor vehicles that transit on that public road, so that it does not obstruct the free flow of traffic. Will be obligation of every driver of a motor vehicle to exercise due caution when passing. (6) Every cyclist has the right to drive the bicycle on the right sidewalk or the portion of the public road destined to pedestrians in any of the following circumstances: (a) To stop, stop or park. (b) To accelerate before entering a public thoroughfare. (c) To evade a motor vehicle stopped on the right side or to make a turn to the right. (d) To allow another vehicle that passes faster to pass. (e) When allowed by a public order official. (f) To avoid an accident. (7) Every cyclist has the right to drive the bicycle on the left sidewalk or the portion of the public road destined to pedestrians in any of the following circumstances: (a) To decelerate or stop if vehicles and traffic or other traffic have been stopped circumstance prohibits or does not allow safe transit on the right side of the taxiway. (b) When authorized by a public order official. (c) To avoid an accident.

(B) Bicycle & Obligations of the Cyclist in Puerto Rico

(1) Every cyclist shall comply with all applicable provisions of this Act. Special emphasis on: i: do not pass red lights ii: not driving low effects of alcohol, drugs and / or controlled substances (2) Every cyclist will use the bike lane, as long as one is available and the same one is in transitable conditions. (3) Every cyclist will drive the bicycle in favor of traffic in the right lane of the public road. (4) Every cyclist shall make the hand signals, as defined in Article 6.17 of this Law, when it is going to stop or when it intends to make any type of change or change of address. (5) Every cyclist will ensure that his bicycle is in optimum condition to travel in a public road. (6) Any cyclist or driver who so wishes may voluntarily contribute an amount of money to the special fund created in Article 23.02-g for the benefit of the trauma rooms authorized by the Secretary of Health. This amount is in addition to the mandatory charges of this law. (C) Obligations of the Driver Every person who drives a vehicle or motor vehicle on the public highway has to fulfill the following obligations in relation to cyclists: (1) Every driver of a vehicle has the obligation to yield the right of way, reducing speed or stopping if necessary, to any cyclist who is crossing the taxi zone at a point where there are no traffic lights installed or they are not working. (2) Every driver of a vehicle must leave a space of three (3) feet between the right side of his vehicle and the cyclist when he has to pass. It will not happen to a cyclist when vehicles approach in the left lane in the opposite direction. (3) Every driver of a vehicle that will pass to a cyclist on his or her right has to verify that he has given at least ten (10) feet between the back of his vehicle and the cyclist before returning to the lane. . It will not happen to a cyclist if he is going to do a dubbing right immediately after passing him. You must always assume that the cyclist will continue to travel in a straight line, unless he shows signs of the opposite. When making a turn to the left, every vehicle driver has to give way to a cyclist who is in transit, just as he would with other vehicles. (4) Every driver of a vehicle or motor vehicle shall take all precautions to avoid rolling over or causing accidents to cyclists, and special precautions must be taken when the weather conditions are not favorable. In addition, you should be patient with the cyclists and allow them the necessary space to transit, just as you would with other slow vehicles. (5) Every vehicle driver will avoid blowing his horn when approaching a cyclist. On narrow roads and in cases of emergency and at a safe distance, you should alert your proximity with a brief touch of your horn. (6) Every vehicle driver will take all necessary precautions before opening the doors of your vehicle so as not to cause accidents to cyclists. Any person who violates any of the provisions of subsection (B) of this Article shall incur in administrative fault and will be sanctioned with a fine of one hundred (100) dollars. Any person who violates subsection (C) of this Article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and convicted, he will be punished with imprisonment for a term not greater than six (6) months, penalty of a fine of not less than five hundred (500) dollars nor more than five thousand (5,000) dollars, or both penalties at the discretion of the court. The violation of this Article that results in serious bodily injury or death to the cyclist, will be considered a felony with a term of imprisonment of eight (8) years and five thousand (5,000) dollars fine without prejudice to the fact that the person may also be accused under the provisions of Chapter VII, if applicable, or under the applicable provisions of the Penal Code. The Commission for Traffic Safety, the Department of Transportation and Works Public, the Police and the Authority will carry out an educational campaign through the media of information to guide the public on the provisions of this Chapter. This educational campaign must include, among others, the creation of a particular link in the cyber pages of the Department and the Commission for Traffic Safety on the Letter of Rights of the Cyclist and Obligations of the Driver so that the citizenship is informed and unfortunate accidents can be prevented. This link will be an interactive one through which Citizenship can visually and aurally learn how to act correctly when driving a motor vehicle through the filming area while sharing the same with a cyclist. So too should include tips for cyclists and drivers on how to share our public roads in a safe way. In addition, the Department will offer a workshop to applicants to obtain driver’s licenses, as well as to all persons or organizations that so request, in which they are offered details and statistics related to the Bill of Rights of Cyclists and Obligations of the Driver. Likewise, it will publish electronically and in brochures copies of said letter of rights and obligations.

Bicycle Bill of Rights of the Cyclist in Puerto Rico Article 11.06. - Puerto Rico Bicycle Educational Campaign. (9 L.P.R.A. § 5324)

The Commission for Traffic Safety, the Department of Transportation and Works Public, the Puerto Rico Police and the Highway and Transportation Authority will carry out an educational campaign through the media to guide the public about the provisions of this Chapter.

This educational campaign should include, among others, the creation of a particular link in the cybernetics web page of the Traffic Safety Commission on the Bill of Rights of the Cyclist and Driver Obligations so that citizens are informed and can be prevented lamentable accidents.

This link will be an interactive one through which the citizenship of visual and auditory can learn how to act correctly when driving a motor vehicle through the shooting area while sharing the same with a cyclist.

So you should also include tips for cyclists and drivers how to share our public roads safely.

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