State has a Far Right as Practicable Requirement

A cyclist moving slower than normal traffic must ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge, except when passing, preparing for a left turn, or avoiding hazards — including a "substandard width lane" too narrow to share safely with another vehicle.

Allows Two Abreast Riding

Cyclists may ride no more than two abreast, except on paths or roadway sections set aside exclusively for bicycles.

Single File is Required

Two abreast is allowed, but riders going two abreast must not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic and must stay within a single lane on a laned roadway — meaning a group may need to fall into single file if riding abreast would impede traffic.

Has a Safe Passing Law

A motorist overtaking a bicycle must leave at least three feet of clearance and maintain it until safely past.

Helmets are required on the road

A rider or passenger under 16 must wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet, secured with its straps, on any bicycle operated on a highway, street, or sidewalk. A parent or guardian may not knowingly permit a child under 12 to violate this or the related child-restraint-seat requirement.

If Bike Lanes are present, they are required ( except when unsafe )

No Tennessee statute requires a cyclist to use a bicycle lane when one is provided.

Riders may use the sidewalks

Tennessee has no statewide statute that directly grants or forbids bicycle riding on sidewalks. Two other statutes mention bicycles on sidewalks only in passing (the youth helmet law, and a general due-care duty for drivers), and local governments may impose their own restrictions, such as banning sidewalk riding in a business district.

Does the Impeding Statute Apply to Bikes

Cyclists riding two abreast must not impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic.

Whether cyclists may treat stop signs as yield signs (the "Idaho stop").

Tennessee has not adopted a stop-as-yield ("Idaho Stop") law. Cyclists must comply with standard stop-sign and signal rules like other vehicle operators.

Restrictions exist on e-bikes and usage

Tennessee defines three classes of electric bicycles by motor behavior and top assisted speed (20 mph for Class 1/2, 28 mph for Class 3). A Class 3 electric bicycle may not be operated by anyone under 14, and any operator under 18 — or any passenger, regardless of age — must wear a helmet.

Allows the concept of Contributory Negligence that allows any contributory fault resuls in 'no fault'

Tennessee follows modified comparative fault, adopted by the Tennessee Supreme Court in McIntyre v. Balentine (1992), which abolished the common-law contributory-negligence bar. A plaintiff may recover only if their own fault does not exceed the defendant's (a 50% bar); above that, recovery is barred entirely. This is case law, not a statute.