Police in the District of Columbia, northern Virginia, and Maryland are cracking down on drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who violate the traffic safety laws that protect people walking and biking—fines range from $40 to $500.
Maryland law provides for the right-of-way of bicyclists, just as it does for the operators of motor vehicles. Bicyclists also have the duty to obey all traffic signals, signs and pavement markings, just as do drivers.
Where there are marked bicycle lanes paved to a smooth surface, a person operating a bicycle must use the bike lane and may not ride on the roadway, except in the following situations: