--- title: HB 393. Safer Cycling in Georgia Act; enact collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb393 cite_as: HB 393, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb393 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb393.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb393/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70194 date: 2025-04-04 status: introduced corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb392.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb394.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 249 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb393.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 393 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-02-11 last_action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted sponsors: - Sharon Cooper - Steven Sainz - Omari Crawford - Mark Newton - Carmen Rice text_version: Comm Sub has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB393/2025 upstream_id: 1965828 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - bicycle safety - traffic laws - stop sign rules - road rules for cyclists --- # HB 393. Safer Cycling in Georgia Act; enact ## Text 25 LC 57 0240S The House Committee on Motor Vehicles offers the following substitute to HB 393: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Code Section 40-6-291 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to1 traffic laws applicable to bicycles, operation upon paved shoul der, and signaling of right2 hand turns, so as to require bicyclists to provide a signal of intention to turn absent certain3 circumstances; to provide for standards of operation for bicycl ists approaching certain4 intersections with stop signs; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to5 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Safer Cycling in Georgia Act."9 SECTION 2.10 Code Section 40-6-291 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated , relating to traffic laws11 applicable to bicycles, operation upon paved shoulder, and signaling of right hand turns, is12 amended by revising subsection (c) and by adding a new subsection to read as follows:13 "(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any Any person operating a bicycle may14 shall signal a right turn with his or her right arm and hand extende d horizontally or with15 H. B. 393 (SUB) - 1 - 25 LC 57 0240S his or her left hand and arm extended upward and shall signal a left turn with his or her left16 hand and arm extended horizontally not less than 50 feet prior to such person completing17 the turn; provided, however, that no arm and hand signals shall be required when doing so18 would create an unsafe condition as to endanger any person.19 (d) Any person operating a bicycle while approaching a stop si gn at an intersection or20 junction with a highway with two or fewer lanes shall slow down to a speed reasonable for21 the existing conditions and, if required for safety, shall stop at the point nearest the22 roadway of such intersection or junction where the operator of the bicycle has a view of23 approaching traffic before entering such intersection or juncti o n . A f t e r s l o w i n g t o a24 reasonable speed or stopping, the operator of the bicycle shall yield the right of way to any25 pedestrian or vehicle in the intersection or junction or approaching on another highway so26 closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the operator of the bicycle is27 moving across or within the intersection or junction; provided, however, that, after slowing28 to a reasonable speed, the operator of the bicycle may make a turn or proceed through an29 intersection or junction without stopping when no other pedestr ian or vehicle is30 approaching the intersection or junction so closely as to constitute a hazard for the operator31 of the bicycle to turn or proceed."32 SECTION 3.33 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.34 H. B. 393 (SUB) - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. A House substitute would require Georgia bicyclists to signal turns except when unsafe, and would let cyclists treat stop signs like yield points if the way is clear, similar to an 'Idaho stop' rule. ### Plain-language summary Current Georgia law lets bicyclists signal turns but does not require it. This bill, called the Safer Cycling in Georgia Act, changes that by making hand signals mandatory when a cyclist turns right or left, unless signaling would be unsafe. The bill also adds a new rule for bicyclists approaching a stop sign at an intersection with a road that has two or fewer lanes. Instead of always coming to a full stop, the cyclist must slow to a reasonable speed and yield to any pedestrian or vehicle that is an immediate hazard. If no one else is approaching closely enough to be a hazard, the cyclist may turn or continue through the intersection without stopping completely. The bill repeals any conflicting laws and does not list a separate effective date beyond the standard process for new Georgia laws. ### What it does - Requires bicyclists to signal right or left turns with their arm and hand at least 50 feet before turning, removing the old optional language. - Creates an exception so no hand signal is required when giving one would create an unsafe condition. - Adds a new rule letting bicyclists slow down (instead of fully stopping) at stop signs on two-lane or smaller roads if no one else is an immediate hazard. - Requires bicyclists at those intersections to yield to any pedestrian or vehicle that is an immediate hazard while crossing. - Names the bill the 'Safer Cycling in Georgia Act' as its official short title. - Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with these new bicycle rules. ### Who it affects The bill directly affects bicyclists riding on Georgia roads, since it changes what they must do when turning and when approaching stop signs. It also affects drivers and pedestrians who share intersections with cyclists, and law enforcement officers who enforce traffic laws. ### Why it matters Cyclists would face a clearer legal duty to signal turns, with a built-in safety exception, and would get more flexibility at certain stop signs, similar to rules some other states use. Drivers and pedestrians would need to expect cyclists to slow rather than fully stop at some intersections. ### Key provisions - Section 1 names the bill the 'Safer Cycling in Georgia Act.' - Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. ยง 40-6-291(c) to make arm and hand turn signals mandatory rather than optional, except when unsafe. - Section 2 adds a new subsection (d) allowing bicyclists at stop signs on two-lane-or-smaller roads to slow down instead of stopping if no hazard is present, but requiring a stop when needed for safety. - Section 2 requires cyclists to yield to any pedestrian or vehicle that constitutes an immediate hazard while crossing such an intersection. - Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws. ## Status - Status: Introduced (2025-02-11) - Last action: House Withdrawn, Recommitted (2025-04-04) - Sponsors: Sharon Cooper, Steven Sainz, Omari Crawford, Mark Newton, Carmen Rice - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70194 > The history, votes, and amendments (249 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb393.md?full=1