Located on the southern shore of Lake Erie, the city of Sandusky, Ohio, is best known as the home of Cedar Point Amusement Park. However, visitors may also be drawn to Sandusky thanks to its impressive bike trails, including the Ohio to Erie Trail, which runs more than 320 miles between Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Sandusky may market itself as an appealing destination for bicyclists and similarly adventurous spirits, but if you choose to ride your bike there, you should be aware of the risks. Failing to do so could mean sustaining a serious injury in a bicycle wreck, which itself can lead to medical bills, time missed from work, and other significant losses.

Bicycle Safety Statistics In Sandusky

On average, the City of Sandusky experiences between five and six bicycle accidents per year. In 2022, for instance, five bicycle accidents in Sandusky resulted in clear injuries, and a sixth was suspected of causing an injury of an unknown severity. More recently, in 2024, three crashes caused minor injuries, and two additional wrecks left at least one individual with some injuries.

Outside city limits, Sandusky Township experienced one fatal bicycle accident in 2023, and Upper Sandusky saw one bicycle injury collision in both 2023 and 2024. Although the majority of these accidents result in minor injuries, at least one recent crash in the area around Sandusky was fatal.

Sandusky Infrastructure For Bicyclists

Infrastructure refers to the construction projects and facilities cities undertake and create, respectively, in order to make things like bicycling safer and more accessible for their residents. Some existing and proposed projects within Sandusky include the following:

Bike Lanes

East Water Street has two dedicated bicycle lanes, allowing bicyclists to use the street without sharing a lane with motor vehicle traffic. These lanes create additional space between cars, trucks, and bicycles, reducing the risk of a collision. Additional bicycle lanes are planned, including the North Coast Inland Trail, which is scheduled to run alongside U.S. Route 20.

Similarly, bright green and blue lines can (and will) be found on other streets that comprise the Sandusky Bay Pathway. They are meant to delineate lanes that are open only to bicyclists.

Trails And Paths

Unlike bike lanes, trails and paths consist mainly of paved areas open only to foot and bicycle traffic. Sandusky has several of these paths already, and more are planned, including an expansion of the sidewalk along Meigs Street.

The only downside to these pathways is that even though they reduce the risk of a motor vehicle collision, there is still a chance for bicyclists and pedestrians to crash into one another.

Bicycle Shops, Programs, And Associations

Groups like Sandusky Bay Cycles provide education and support to bicyclists in the area. The city also has a “bike share” program that aims to increase ridership and make it easier for individuals to access bicycles.

Furthermore, local organizations, such as the Erie Regional Planning Commission, are actively planning further improvements to Sandusky’s bike lanes, paths, and trails.

Important Ohio Bicycle Laws

Bicycles are considered vehicles and must, therefore, follow the same traffic laws that car and truck drivers do. In addition to these, there are also laws specific to bicycling in Ohio that bicyclists and motorists must obey. These are as follows:

Ride On The Right With Traffic

Though they are specifically meant for them, bicyclists are not required to use bike lanes. As such, if a street does not have a bike lane (or if you do not want to use one), you should ride as far to the right side of the road as you safely can.

You should not move to the left unless you are turning, avoiding a hazard, or passing another vehicle. You should also ride your bike with traffic, not against it.

Yield To Pedestrians On Sidewalks

You may ride your bike on the sidewalk so long as there is no specific prohibition for a particular area. However, you must always yield the right of way to pedestrians who are also using the sidewalk. Give them space as you maneuver around them and announce your presence if you are overtaking them from behind.

Safe Passing Law

Like many other states, Ohio has a “safe passing law” designed to reduce the chance of an unintentional crash between motor vehicles and bicyclists. Motor vehicle operators must give at least three feet of clearance when overtaking a bicyclist on the road. Not only is it illegal to give less space, but it also increases the risk of a collision.

Other Things To Keep In Mind Regarding Bicycling In Sandusky

Apart from the specific state laws listed above, two more factors to be aware of when riding your bike in Sandusky (or in Ohio, in general) include the following:

Dooring Is Prohibited

Vehicle drivers must pay attention and look for bicyclists when they are parked on the street and trying to open their doors. Otherwise, they might accidentally “door” a bicyclist, opening their door directly in the path of an oncoming cyclist, causing them to strike the door and crash. Whether done accidentally or intentionally, dooring is illegal.

There Is No Helmet Law

Ohio does not require bicyclists of any age to wear helmets while riding. However, young and old bicyclists alike can benefit from wearing one whenever they ride. Even if bicyclists consider themselves strong and sensible riders, they cannot always predict what others on the road will do. If they are tossed from their bikes, a helmet can reduce the risk of severe or fatal injuries.

Bicycling In Sandusky Is Fun But Not Risk-Free

Undoubtedly, Sandusky has invested in bicycling infrastructure to make the activity more accessible to others. However, despite its trails, bike lanes, and community groups, bicycle-related injury wrecks can still happen. Bicyclists can reduce their risk of injury or death by following Ohio law and remaining observant when biking around others.