• The state of Ohio does not require helmet use, but several Ohio cities do.man adjusting gear image by Xavier MARCHANT from Fotolia.com
  
  The bicycle-use laws in Ohio are relatively simple laws easily separated into three main categories: bicycle roadway use, bicycle helmet laws and bicycle lighting laws. The Ohio Department of Transportation regulates the majority of Ohio bicycle laws, but many cities enact additional laws that apply only within city limits. Bicycle use laws are primarily state laws all bicyclists should follow, but an individual rider should also learn and follow the laws of any town she rides through.
  
  

Ohio Bicycle Roadway Use Laws

• Ohio bicyclists must follow the same traffic rules as other vehicles: Travel on the right side of the road, use appropriate turn signals and obey all traffic signs and lights, according to the Ohio Bicycle Federation (OBF). Ohio cyclists are expected to ride near the edge of the road and come to a complete stop at a stop sign. It is a good idea to place one foot on the ground to ensure that you achieve a complete stop.
  
  

Ohio Bicycle Helmet Laws

• According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Ohio does not have a helmet law; however, several cities in Ohio do require helmets. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI) reports Akron, Columbus, Dayton and 20 other Ohio cities have instituted a helmet law. Typically, these laws only involve child helmet use, but Shaker Heights, Ohio, requires adults to wear helmets within the city. Bicycle helmets lower the percentage of accidental deaths, according to BHSI.
  
  

Ohio Bicycle Lighting Laws

• Ohio law requires several nighttime lighting conditions for evening cyclists, states the OBF. Front white lights must emit a light visible from a distance of at least 500 feet. Bicycles must have a rear red reflector visible from 100 to 600 feet when lawful vehicle low beams strike it. In addition to a rear reflector, cyclists must use a rear red flashing or steady light visible from a distance of 500 feet. Additional lighting devices are permitted.