In Georgia, a bicycle is legally a "vehicle". A vehicle is defined by the code as a device "in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a highway, excepting devices used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks." Therefore, vehicular traffic laws apply to the operation of a bicycle. As with any law, there are exceptions. Wherever the code uses the phrase "motor vehicle," that part of the law does not apply to bicycles. Over the next few articles, I will explore different sections of the code as it relates to bicycles and their use on public highways.

Where and how on a highway can a bicyclist ride? Is a bicycle rider restricted to the side walk or the extreme right side of the road? Must bicyclist maintain a single file when they are riding in a group? The answer to both questions is "NO."