BICYCLES
What are the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists on roadways?
- Under Maryland law, bicycles are considered vehicles and have all the rights and responsibilities that apply to drivers of motorized vehicles. Specific information about bicycle rules and use can be found here .
Are bicyclists allowed to ride on sidewalks?
- Yes, in Montgomery County bicyclists are allowed to bike on sidewalks. However, bicyclists are required to yield to pedestrians and use a bicycle lane when one is available to them.
How do I register my bicycle?
- Click here to register your bicycle. It is also recommended that you read the informational flyer about theft prevention by clicking on the image below.
LANES, PATHS AND TRAILS
How many miles of bike paths is MCDOT responsible for?
- The County offers 90.1 miles of bike lanes, bike-friendly shoulders, and separated bike lanes countywide (including municipalities) which breaks down as:
- 46.1 miles of properly marked bike lanes
- 44.0 miles of bike-friendly shoulders
- 0.3 miles of separated bike lanes
- The County also offers 50.0 miles of signed shared roadway and 18.8 miles of sharrows for on-road cycling, as well as more than 250 miles of paved paths. MCDOT will be releasing a new online interactive map showing all of the bikeways this Fall.
Where can I find bicycle trails to where I want to go?
- You can find the closest bicycle trails and paths near you through our interactive map. Click on the image below to access the map.
If I have a bicycle improvement request, what do I do?
- Click here to access bicycle improvement request form.
BICYCLE RACKS
What should I do if I would like a rack installed?
- Please read the Bicycle Rack Installation form and the general facts about Bicycle Racks form by clicking on the images below. Once you have read those and believe that the area you would like a rack in is qualified, fill out the Bicycle Request Form.
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GENERAL QUESTIONS
What should I do in the case of a pothole or if a path needs to be fixed?
- Contact 311 in the case that there is a path that needs to be fixed or refurbished.
What is our relationship to park trails?
- Bike trails within Montgomery County Parks are the responsibility of the Maryland National Capital Park And Planning Commisssion . Their Department of Parks maintains about 45 miles of paths and trails. The M-NCPPC is also responsible for Master Plan recommendations as well as the Countywide Bikeways Functional Master Plan. The MCDOT Bikeway Program provides the linkage between Parks, Parks Trails and major State road trails and for the implementation of bicycle facilities (paths, bike lanes and shared lanes on roads).
Rails-To-Trails Conversions
- We have two shared use paths within the category of a former railroad converted into a trail corridor: the (North) Bethesda Trolley Trail (from Bethesda to Rockville) and the Georgetown Branch Interim Trail (future Capital Crescent Trail) from Bethesda to Silver Spring. The Georgetown Branch Interim Trail is a crushed stone trail in the corridor under study by the MTA for the Purple Line Transitway. The permanent trail is planned to be constructed alongside the transitway once design and construction are funded.
What about Citizen Involvement?
- The Bikeway Program also sponsors the Montgomery County Bicycle Action Group (MCBAG) , which is a citizen’s bicycle advisory group sponsored by the MCDOT comprised of representatives of the cycling community and citizens who meet monthly to discuss issues of interest pertaining to cycling in Montgomery County. Anyone can join.
What other initiatives does Bikeways Program offer?
- In addition, the program develops innovative bicycle-friendly features for the County including bike racks on County buses, bike lockers/rack programs, borrow a bike programs, and alternative mode endorsement. In an effort to address global warming, the bike program endorses the provision of transportation choices to reduce air pollution caused by automobile trips. We encourage your ideas and your participation towards this goal.
When dialing outside of the county, call 240-777-0311 or submit via their website.
For website comments or to report website problems or broken links, please email us. This email address does not handle service requests or complaints.
Transportation Engineering · Montgomery County Department of Transportation
100 Edison Park Drive · Gaithersburg, MD 20878 · [email protected]
· telephone: 240-777-7220· fax: 240-777-7277 ·
