06/06/2026
As summer is upon us, there are some issues we would like to bring to everyone’s attention regarding summer-time activities and traffic.
Bicycles
Parents, please make sure and teach young bicycle riders the rules of the road. It is important to understand the responsibilities with riding, even though no license is required. The most applicable statute to bicycles is 60-6,317 (the following is the link: https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=60-6,317) There are some other common sense rules in the statutes preceding this. The biggest points include: ride to the far-right side of the roadway (in most cases), signal your turns or lane movements, stop for stop signs, etc.
A presentation was given at Calvert prior to the end of the school year and another round-table at the Wellness Center to try and increase awareness to traffic safety and discuss other issues related to young riders.
Scooters
As technology has advanced, manufacturers have outpaced the speed of government. The Legislature has not yet defined, let alone regulated scooters and similar newer vehicles to any degree. This creates a bit of a Catch-22 as there is no legislation making these legal; however, there is no specific legislation making them illegal. Nebraska is a grant of authority state meaning political sub-divisions can only pass ordinances allowed by the Legislature and so navigating these ordinances on these types of conveyances is a bit tougher than vehicles such as UTV’s that the Legislature has said what can and cannot be done locally.
The best advice we can offer is to make sure that everyone, and especially young people, are riding in an area that is safe. This advice is not to be a “fun hater” but because the laws of physics pre-date the manufacturers or the government and we do not want to see anyone, especially a child, injured because they are riding in traffic when they shouldn’t be or are riding in traffic when they should be but are not aware of or following he rules of the road.
ATVs and UTVs
ATVs and UTVs can be driven on roadways when allowed by municipalities, but still have to have a class O license, can only ride between sunrise and sunset and cannot be on state or federal highways except to cross at a right angle. The City of Auburn’s ordinance states that you must be 19 years of age or older with a class O license.
An issue that has become more prevalent recently is the fact that ATVs and UTVs are still prohibited outside of those municipalities that allow them (on county roads and state highways) unless they are being operated for agricultural purposes.
There are other requirements regarding flagging, insurance, etc.
Again, we are not putting this information out to ruin fun for anyone but to encourage everyone to take time and understand the responsibilities that come with these different “vehicles” and more importantly to minimize the opportunity for someone to be injured or killed.
