With the ever increasing number of drivers and bicyclists plying the streets and roads in and around Hood River, safety complaints regarding motorist and bicyclist interactions are on the rise. Bicyclists are considered a vehicle in Oregon. Bicyclists have the same rights, duties and responsibilities as vehicle drivers.

Although there are some exceptions to this rule, generally, bicyclists have the same responsibilities as motorists while operating on roadways. These include stopping for traffic control devices, i.e. stop signs, stop lights, pedestrians. Other responsibilities include bicyclists must ride in the direction of traffic and at or as near to the right side of the road as practical, keep at least one hand on the handlebars, have adequate brakes and signal before turning. Bicyclists may ride side-by-side on the road, but only if it does not impede traffic. On a one-way street in a city, a bicyclist may ride as near as practical to either the right or left side of the street or roadway.