On June 17, 2006 then-Governor Bob Taft signed HB 389, known as the Better Bicycling in Ohio bill, which offers cyclists much more lattitude when riding on the road and avoiding hazards.

The biggest change is in the "slow-moving vehicle" section of the Ohio Revised Code, which instructed cyclists to ride "as close as practicable to the right-hand curb," Crankmail reports. That was seen by many cycling advocates as placing the burden on cyclists to hug the curb even when potholes, broken glass and other obstacles blocked their path.

The new section of the code now reads "...far enough to the right to allow passing by faster vehicles." The idea is to share the responsibility (and the road) with cars, but allow cyclists reasonable room to manuever.

Ohio Bicycle Federation worked on the bill, which was modeled on a set of national roadway guidelines known as the Uniform Vehicle Code. The UVC emphasizes that cyclists should also have exceptions to "far enough to the right" when passing other cyclists, when preparing to turn left at intersections, and when avoiding fixed or moving hazards.

Other provisions in the Better Bicycling bill include:

• Local authorities may not prohibit the use of bicycles on any public street or highway
• Allows cars to cross a double yellow line to pass a cyclist
• No longer requires front and rear wheel reflectors if a red light is used in the rear
• No longer requires a bell or horn

The Better Bicycling bill effectively invalidates the "bad laws" aimed at stopping or slowing cyclists from riding in many municipalities around Northeast Ohio, writes cycling advocate Fred Oswald, who analyzed the local laws here. Ohio's bicycling laws rated a grade of D before the bill; the rating will rise to A- after the bill.

Resources
Fred Oswald's Guidelines for a Cyclist Friendly Community
Complete Better Bicycling in Ohio bill 
FAQs and analysis of the bill by Crankmail