BICYCLE LAWS EVERY CALIFORNIA CYCLIST SHOULD KNOW

Generally, bicycles are required to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles. Knowing the laws that apply to you as a bicyclist is an important part of riding safely. Knowing your rights and responsibilities under the law is also important if you are in a collision and want to determine who was at fault for causing it. Below are the top California laws related to riding a bicycle.

Operating a bicycle

  • A person operating a bicycle has the same rights and responsibilities as a driver of a vehicle, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application. VEH 21200.
  • Any person operating a bicycle must not be under the influence of any drug or alcohol. VEH 21200.5
  • A bicycle must be appropriately sized, with handlebars that are no higher than the operator’s shoulders, and be equipped with a bicycle seat. VEH 21201 and VEH 21204
  • Additionally, a bicycle must be equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.

If you are operating a bicycle at night, it must be equipped with:

(1)  A lamp emitting a white light that, while the bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway, sidewalk, or bikeway in front of the bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle.

(2) A red reflector or a solid or flashing red light with a built-in reflector on the rear that shall be visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlamps on a motor vehicle.

(3) A white or yellow reflector on each pedal, shoe, or ankle visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet.

(4) A white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the center of the bicycle, and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles that are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with these side reflectors. VEH 21201

  • Any person operating a bicycle must not carry anything that prevents them from having at least one hand on the handlebars. VEH 21205.
  • Anyone operating a bicycle under the age of 18 must wear a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet that meets the standards of either the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) or the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), or standards subsequently established by those entities. VEH 21212.

Where can a bicyclist ride their bike?

  • Individual cities and counties are responsible for regulating whether bicycles are allowed to be ridden on sidewalks. VEH 21206.
  • Use bicycle lanes when present. A person operating a bicycle at a speed slower than the rest of traffic should use a bicycle lane when one is present unless:

(1) They cannot safely pass another cyclist, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane

(2) If they are preparing to make a left turn

(3) To avoid hazards within the lane

(4) Or when approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

A bicyclist must only leave the bicycle lane if and when it is safe to do so.VEH 21208.

  • Ride as close to the right-hand curb as possible. A person operating a bicycle on a roadway at a speed slower than the rest of traffic moving in the same direction shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:

(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.

(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.

(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions. These include, but are not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes (a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.)

(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.

VEH 21202.

Parking a bike

  • Bicyclists may not park a bicycle on a sidewalk in a way that does not allow an adequate path for pedestrian traffic. VEH 21210.
  • No person may stop, stand, sit, or loiter upon any class I bikeway, or any other public or private bicycle path or trail, if the stopping, standing, sitting, or loitering impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist.

No person may place or park any bicycle, vehicle, or any other object upon any bikeway or bicycle path or trail, as specified in subdivision (a), which impedes or blocks the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist unless the placement or parking is necessary for safe operation or is otherwise in compliance with the law. VEH 21211.

E-bike specific rules

  • A motorized bicycle shall not be operated on a bicycle path or trail, bikeway, bicycle lane established pursuant to Section 21207, equestrian trail, or hiking or recreational trail, unless it is permitted by local authorities. Motorized bicycles can be operated in a bike lane that is within or adjacent to a roadway. VEH 21207.5.
  • A helmet is required for anyone riding an electric bicycle. Additionally, a person under 16 years of age shall not operate a class 3 electric bicycle.VEH 21213.