Cycling safety in Texas

Crash data

79 cyclist fatalities in 2024 .

In 2024, 79 bicyclists were killed in Texas motor-vehicle crashes (source: IIHS Fatality Facts state-by-state table, which is based on NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System; the U.S. total that year was 1,075). For the prior year, NHTSA's 'Bicyclists and Other Cyclists: 2023 Data' report (Table 6) recorded 106 pedalcyclist fatalities in Texas in 2023 — third-highest in the nation behind Florida (234) and California (145), with those three states together accounting for about 42% of all U.S. bicyclist deaths. No clean single-year statewide bicyclist-injury total was confirmed here: TxDOT's Vulnerable Road User assessment reports pedalcyclist fatal-and-serious-injury CRASH trends (2017-2021, up ~60%) rather than a headline injury count, so the injury figure is left null rather than estimated.

Official reports & data:

Cycling rules in Texas

Helmets: Texas has NO statewide bicycle-helmet law — no age group is required to wear one under state law, and this includes e-bikes (neither Transportation Code Ch. 551 nor Ch. 664 mandates a helmet). Several cities, however, require helmets for younger riders (for example Austin, Houston and Dallas cover minors), so check the local ordinance. (source)
Passing distance: Texas has NO statewide 3-foot safe-passing law. A statewide safe-passing (3 ft for cars / 6 ft for trucks) bill passed the Legislature in 2009 but was vetoed by Gov. Rick Perry, so no minimum clearance applies statewide. Many cities — including Austin, San Antonio, El Paso and Fort Worth — have adopted their own local safe-passing / vulnerable-road-user ordinances, so the required distance depends on where you ride. (source)
Sidewalk riding: There is no statewide statute governing riding on sidewalks; it is left to individual cities, so rules vary by municipality (some ban it in business districts, others allow it). Check the local ordinance before riding on a sidewalk. (source)
E-bikes: Texas uses the 3-class system (Transportation Code Ch. 664): Class 1 (pedal-assist to 20 mph) and Class 2 (throttle to 20 mph), and Class 3 (pedal-assist to 28 mph); the motor may not exceed 750 watts. A person must be at least 15 years old to OPERATE a Class 3 e-bike, though younger riders may ride as passengers (Sec. 551.107). E-bikes are generally allowed wherever regular bicycles are, and no state helmet requirement applies. (source)
Lights & reflectors at night: When riding at night a bike must have a front lamp emitting a white light visible from at least 500 feet ahead, and on the rear either a red reflector visible from 50 to 300 feet or a red lamp visible from 500 feet behind. A bike must also have a brake capable of skidding a wheel on dry, level pavement (Transportation Code Sec. 551.104). (source)
Direction of travel / where to ride: Ride on the right, in the same direction as traffic. A cyclist moving slower than other traffic must ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge, except when passing, preparing to turn left, avoiding hazards, or when the lane is too narrow (under 14 feet without a bike lane) to share safely — then the rider may take the lane. Riding two abreast is allowed if it does not impede traffic (Transportation Code Sec. 551.103). (source)
Same rights & duties / no stop-as-yield: A cyclist has the same rights and duties as the driver of a vehicle (Transportation Code Sec. 551.101), so cyclists must obey all traffic signals and stop signs. Texas does NOT have a stop-as-yield / 'Idaho stop' law — a cyclist must come to a full stop at stop signs and red lights. (source)
Riding under the influence: Texas's DWI offense (Penal Code Ch. 49) is written around operating a 'motor vehicle,' and Texas courts have generally treated a standard pedal bicycle as outside that definition — so a drunk cyclist is more often charged with public intoxication (Sec. 49.02) than DWI, and the picture is murkier for motorized e-bikes. Either way, riding impaired is unsafe and can bring charges, so ride sober. (source)
Phone use / texting: Texas's statewide texting-while-driving ban (Transportation Code Sec. 545.4251) is written for operators of motor vehicles and does not clearly extend to bicycles, but some cities (such as Austin and San Antonio) have hands-free ordinances that can apply to cyclists. Distracted riding is a hazard regardless — keep your eyes up and hands ready to brake. (source)

Cities and counties often add their own rules (for example, where you can ride on sidewalks or boardwalks). Check the local ordinance for the specific town you're visiting.

Resources

Bike-friendly destinations in Texas

Ride these with the rules above in mind:

In an emergency in the U.S., call 911. Read our general bike safety guide →