§ 31-5-115 — Operation of motorcycles, autocycles and pedestrian vehicles

(a) A person operating a motorcycle shall ride only upon
or astride the seat designed to be used by the driver, including
a seat that incorporates a wheelchair or other assistive device,
and shall not carry any other person nor shall any other person
ride on a motorcycle unless the motorcycle is designed to carry
more than one (1) person, in which event a passenger may ride
upon or astride the regular seat if designed for two (2)
persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle
at the rear or side of the operator.
(b) A person shall ride a motorcycle only upon or astride
a seat designed to be used by the driver or, if the person is a
passenger, a seat designed to be used by a passenger. If the
seat is a saddle, a person shall only sit astride the saddle,
facing forward, with one (1) leg on each side of the motorcycle.
(c) No person shall operate a motorcycle while carrying
any package, bundle or other article which prevents him from
keeping both hands on the handlebars, or obstructs his vision,
or interferes with the operation of the motorcycle.
(d) No operator shall carry any person, nor shall any
person ride in a position that will interfere with the operation
or control of the motorcycle or the view of the operator.
(e) All motorcycles are entitled to full use of a lane and
no motor vehicle shall be driven in such a manner as to deprive
any motorcycle of the full use of a lane. Two (2) motorcycles
may be driven abreast in the same lane by consent of both
motorcycle drivers. One (1) autocycle may be driven per lane.
(f) The operator of a motorcycle shall not overtake and
pass any vehicle in the same lane occupied by the vehicle being
overtaken, except another motorcycle. The operator of a
motorcycle overtaking another motorcycle in the same lane shall
first match the speed of the motorcycle being overtaken.
(g) No person shall operate a motorcycle between lanes of
traffic or between adjacent lines or rows of vehicles.
(h) Subsections (f) and (g) of this section do not apply
to police officers in the performance of their official duties.
(j) Motorcycles shall not be operated three (3) or more
abreast in a single lane.
(k) No person riding upon a motorcycle shall attach
himself or the motorcycle to any other moving vehicle on a
roadway. This does not prohibit:
(i) Attaching a motorcycle trailer or motorcycle
semitrailer to a motorcycle if the trailer or semitrailer is
designed for the attachment;
(ii) Attaching a person, wheelchair or other
assistive device as defined in W.S. 31-1-101(a)(xxxiii) to a
motorcycle if the motorcycle is designed for the attachment.
(m) Any motorcycle carrying a passenger, other than in a
sidecar or enclosed cab, shall be equipped with footrests for
the passenger.
(n) Repealed by Laws 2022, ch. 44, § 2.
(o) No minor shall operate or ride nor shall the operator
permit a minor to ride upon a motorcycle unless he is wearing
protective headgear securely fastened on his head, and of a type
which complies with standards established by the superintendent.
This subsection does not apply to persons riding within an
enclosed cab nor to persons operating or riding a moped. This
subsection only applies to motorcycles used on public highways,
streets and thoroughfares.
(p) Any person operating a motorcycle or pedestrian
vehicle shall have the headlamps of the motorcycle or pedestrian
vehicle activated at all times, including daylight hours.
(q) Operators of motorcycles operating in an officially
authorized parade are exempt from subsections (e) through (o) of
this section.
(r) The superintendent is authorized to approve or
disapprove protective headgear required herein, and to issue and
enforce regulations establishing standards and specifications
for the approval thereof and to the sale and use of the
equipment as provided in W.S. 31-5-932 through 31-5-934 for
other vehicle safety equipment. The standard for protective
headgear shall meet or exceed the Z90.1-1971 standard of the
American National Standards Institute. However, all existing
equipment meeting the Z90.1-1966 standard of the American
National Standards Institute shall be accepted.
(s) This section applies to motor-driven cycles unless
otherwise provided.
(t) Subsections (b) through (d), (n), (o) and (r) of this
section shall not apply to autocycles.