Hiking / Biking

Biking: dirt & road.

Biking in Texas splits into two worlds with different rules: dirt (trails) and pavement (roads and paths).

Mountain biking (trails)

Off-road riding is mostly about courtesy and keeping trails open - few hard laws, but real consequences for the trails themselves.

• -Ride open trails only. Respect closures, get permission on private land, and remember that federal Wilderness areas are closed to bicycles. The trail manager's posted use controls.
• -Control your bike and yield - bikes yield to hikers and horses, and downhill yields to uphill.
• -Don't ride muddy trails - it tears them up.
• -Wear a properly fitted helmet and carry water, a map, and basic repair gear.
• -Check the trail's official page on the day you ride; rain closures and allowed bike types can change quickly.

E-bikes

Texas sorts e-bikes into three classes. Under state law, an electric bicycle has working pedals, a motor under 750 watts, and a top assisted speed of 28 mph or less. New e-bikes must carry the manufacturer's class label.

Road & path cycling

On the road, a bicycle is a vehicle with the same rights and duties as a car (Transportation Code Ch. 551).

• -Ride with traffic, never against it, and obey all signs and signals (yes, stop at stop signs and red lights).
• -When moving slower than traffic, ride as near the right edge as practicable. Texas law lists exceptions for passing, a left turn, unsafe conditions, and a lane too narrow to share safely. TxDOT notes that a bike lane may satisfy the keep-right rule, but those safety exceptions still apply.
• -Use hand signals, and at night carry a white front light plus a red rear reflector or light.
• -Limited- and controlled-access roads may be closed to bicycles by posted traffic-control devices. Do not assume a freeway shoulder is a usable bike route; check the signs and choose a lower-stress route whenever possible.