Carrying People and Articles

State laws commonly have restrictions on carrying people and articles while riding a bicycle, such as the following examples from the Uniform Vehicle Code.  Enforcing these laws may help prevent the most frequent type of crash - falls.

• § 11-1203 No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time than the number for which it is designed or equipped, except that an adult rider may carry a child securely attached to adult rider in a back pack or sling.

This rule does not prohibit two riders on a tandem bicycle, nor does it prohibit carrying a child in a trailer attached to the bicycle.

This is a typical version of the rule on carrying things:

• § 11-1207 Carrying articles. No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents the use of both hands in the control and operation of the bicycle. A person operating a bicycle shall keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times.

This rule does not require any particular type of carrying device.