Bill Text: NH HB249 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Allowing bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and stop lights as stop signs.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-07 - Introduced 01/08/2025 and referred to Transportation House Journal 2 [HB249 Detail]
Download: New_Hampshire-2025-HB249-Introduced.html
HB 249 - AS INTRODUCED
2025 SESSION
25-0385
11/06
HOUSE BILL 249
AN ACT allowing bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and stop lights as stop signs.
SPONSORS: Rep. Miller, Straf. 21
COMMITTEE: Transportation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
This bill allows bicyclists to yield instead of stop at stop signs and stop and proceed at red lights as if the light was a yield sign.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
25-0385
11/06
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT allowing bicyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs and stop lights as stop signs.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Special Rules for Bicycles and Mopeds; Application of Motor Vehicle Laws to Bicycles. Amend RSA 265:143, I-II to read as follows:
265:143 Application of Motor Vehicle Laws to Bicycles.
I. Every person propelling a vehicle by human power or riding a bicycle shall have all of the rights and be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under the rules of the road, except as provided in [paragraph] paragraphs I-a and II and as to special regulations in this subdivision and except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application.
I-a.(a) A person operating a bicycle, human-powered vehicle, or an electric bicycle approaching a stop sign shall slow down and, if required for safety, stop before entering the intersection. After slowing to a reasonable speed or stopping, the person shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the person is moving across or within the intersection or junction of highways, except that a person, after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way, if required, may cautiously make a turn or proceed through the intersection without stopping.
(b) A person operating a bicycle, human-powered vehicle, or electric bicycle approaching a steady red traffic control light shall stop before entering the intersection and shall yield to all other traffic. Once the person has yielded, they may proceed through the steady red light with caution. Provided however, that a person, after slowing to a reasonable speed and yielding the right-of-way, if required, may cautiously make a right-hand turn. A left-hand turn onto a one-way highway may be made on a red light after stopping and yielding to other traffic.
(c) A signal of intention to turn right or left shall be given according to RSA 265:46.
II.(a) Any peace officer, wearing a distinctive uniform, operating a bicycle during the course of his or her duties is exempt from the provisions of this subdivision, except as those provisions relate to driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, if the bicycle is being operated under any of the following circumstances:
(1) In response to an emergency call.
(2) While engaged in a rescue operation.
(3) In the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law.
(b) This paragraph shall not relieve a peace officer from the duty to operate a bicycle with due regard for the safety of all persons using the public way.
2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.
