Cycling safety in Wyoming

Crash data

1 cyclist fatalities in 2024 .

In 2024, 1 bicyclist was killed in a Wyoming motor-vehicle crash — about 1% of the state's roughly 107 traffic deaths that year (source: IIHS Fatality Facts, State-by-State, using NHTSA FARS data). Wyoming is the least-populous state, so cyclist deaths are tiny and extremely volatile year to year: WYDOT's Vulnerable Road Users Critical Crash Reports indicate bicyclist fatalities have ranged from roughly 0 to 5 per year over recent five-year windows, so any single year (a '0' or a '1') is technically correct but should not be read as a trend. For national context, NHTSA counted about 1,166 cyclist deaths in 2023 and roughly 1,103 in 2024. A clean statewide bicyclist-injury total for a single year was not confirmed here: WYDOT (which treats every motor-vehicle/bicyclist collision as an injury crash) reports statewide bicyclist injuries roughly in the high-60s to high-90s per year across recent five-year reports, but no single vetted annual figure was verifiable in this research, so the injury count is left null rather than estimated.

Official reports & data:

Cycling rules in Wyoming

Helmets: Wyoming has NO statewide bicycle-helmet law — no age group is required to wear a helmet on a regular bike or an e-bike. Any helmet rule would be a local municipal ordinance, so check the specific town. (source)
Passing distance: When overtaking a bicycle traveling the same direction, a driver must, when space allows, leave at least 3 feet of clearance between the vehicle (including mirrors and other projections) and the bike (W.S. 31-5-203(c)). (source)
Sidewalk riding: There is no statewide sidewalk-riding rule; Wyoming's bicycle statutes are silent, so whether you may ride on a sidewalk is set by local ordinance (for example, some towns restrict riding in their downtown/business core). Check the local code. (source)
E-bikes: Wyoming uses the standard 3-class e-bike system (Class 1 pedal-assist to 20 mph, Class 2 throttle to 20 mph, Class 3 pedal-assist to 28 mph), defined in W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xxxiv) and regulated by W.S. 31-5-707. E-bikes are treated like bicycles — no license, registration, or insurance — and there is no statewide minimum age or helmet requirement for any class. Local authorities may still restrict e-bikes on specific trails/paths under their jurisdiction, and manufacturers must affix a class/speed/wattage label. (source)
Lights & reflectors at night: A bicycle used at night must have a front lamp emitting a white light visible from at least 500 feet, plus a rear red reflector visible from 600 feet (a rear red lamp visible from 500 feet may be added but does not replace the reflector). Bikes must also have a brake capable of stopping within 25 feet from 10 mph (W.S. 31-5-706). (source)
Direction of travel / where to ride: Cyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers (W.S. 31-5-702) and must ride with traffic, keeping as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. Riding no more than two abreast is allowed, but pairs must not impede traffic and must stay within a single lane on a laned road (W.S. 31-5-704). (source)
Riding under the influence: Riding impaired is unsafe and strongly discouraged, but whether Wyoming's DWUI statute (W.S. 31-5-233) actually reaches an ordinary bicycle is unsettled: cyclists carry all the duties of a driver (W.S. 31-5-702), yet Wyoming's definition of 'vehicle' excludes devices moved solely by human power, and sources disagree on whether a DUI can be charged for a pedal bike. An impaired cyclist can still face other charges (e.g., reckless conduct or public intoxication). Treat this as a gray area and do not ride drunk. (source)
Stop-as-yield (Idaho stop): Wyoming does NOT have a stop-as-yield / 'Idaho stop' law. Cyclists must come to a full stop at stop signs and red lights just like any other road user. (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 Wyoming

Ride these with the rules above in mind:

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