A roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest:
PEDAL ON: The Iowa Department of Transportation’s 2021-22 Iowa Bicycle Map is now available in both paper and digital formats.
The DOT is distributing the free paper version of the map at Iowa DOT driver’s license centers, county treasurer’s offices, the six Iowa DOT district offices, Iowa DOT rest areas and state welcome centers.
There also are static and interactive online versions at iowadot.gov/iowabikes/transportation-map-for-bicyclists.
This publication has been updated to show new 4-foot paved shoulders and recreational trails completed since the 2019-20 version was published.
As in past versions, the map highlights bike-friendly routes when traveling on two wheels through Iowa by identifying bike trails and traffic levels on all paved roads. The map also includes insets of Iowa’s 16 largest cities.
A person riding on a public road has all the rights and is required to know and obey all traffic laws and rules of the road, applicable to the driver of a motor vehicle. To assist bicyclists in understanding their rights and responsibilities, a section of the map is dedicated to highlighting rules of the road.
Also, bicyclists are urged to always wear helmets, use lights at night and watch out for road hazards, including parallel-slat stormwater grates, gravel, sand and debris.
