Article Index
California Bicycle Laws
& SafetyARE YOU A SAFE BICYCLIST?
Safe Bicycling involves more than wearing the proper safety equipment and keeping your bike in good mechanical order- you must also learn the rules of the road.
The following are important excerpts from the California Vehicle Code (VC) relating to the operation and equipping of bicycles.
Bicycle Defined. VC 231
Defines bicycle as a device upon which any person may ride, propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears and having one or more wheels. Specifically provides that persons riding bicycles are subject to Vehicle Code provisions specified in Sections 21200 and 21200.5 (see below).
Bicycle Use. VC 21200
Every person riding a bicycle upon a street or highway has all the rights and is subject to all the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle, including the provisions of law dealing with driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, except those provisions which by their very nature can have no application.
Bicycling Under Influence of Alcohol or Drugs. VC 21200.5
Provides that it is unlawful to ride a bicycle upon a street or highway while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or drug or the combination of alcohol and a drug, punishable by a fine of up to $250. A person arrested may request a chemical test. If the person is under 21 but over 13 years of age, his or her driving privilege will be suspended for one year or delayed for one year once the person is eligible to drive.
Equipment Requirements. VC 21201
a) No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway unless it is equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
b) No person shall operate on the highway any bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate their hands above the level of their shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
c) No person shall operate upon any highway a bicycle which is of such a size as to prevent the operator from safely stopping the bicycle, supporting it in an upright position with at least one foot on the ground, and restarting it in a safe manner.
d) Every bicycle operated upon any highway during darkness shall be equipped with the following:
- A lamp emitting a white light which illuminates the highway and is visible from a distance of 300 feet to the front and the sides of the bicycle.
- A red reflector mounted on the rear of the bicycle and visible from 500 feet to the rear of the bicycle.
- A white or yellow reflector mounted on each pedal visible 200 feet to the front and rear of the bicycle and a white or red reflector on each side to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except bicycles which are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not be equipped with side reflectors. All reflectorized tires must meet DMV requirements.
e) A lamp or lamp combination, emitting a white light, attached to the operator and visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and from the sides of the bicycle, may be used in place of a lamp attached to the bike.
Duty of Bicycle Operator: Operation On Roadway. VC 21202
a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
- When overtaking and passing another bicycle or motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
- When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
- When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge. For purposes of this section, a "substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
b) Any person operating a bicycle on a one-way street or highway with two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of such roadway as practicable.
Hitching Rides. VC 21203
No person riding upon any motorcycle, motorized bicycle, bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach the same or themselves to any streetcar or vehicle on the roadway.
Riding On Bicycle. VC 21204
a) No person operating a bicycle on a highway shall ride other than on a permanent and regular attached seat.
b) No person operating a bicycle on a highway shall allow anyone to ride as a passenger other than on a separate attached seat. If the passenger is four years old or younger or weighs 40 pounds or less, the seat shall adequately retain the passenger in place and protect him/her from the bicycle's moving parts.
Carrying Articles. VC 21205
No person operating a bicycle shall carry any package, bundle, or article which prevents the operator from keeping at least one hand upon the handlebars.
Permitted Movements from Bicycle Lanes. VC 21208
a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction shall ride in the bicycle lane, except under the following situations.
- When overtaking or passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if such overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane.
- When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
- When necessary to leave the lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.
b) No operator of a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until it can be done safely and then only after giving an appropriate hand signal in the event that any vehicle might be affected by the movement.
Parking. VC 21210
No person shall leave a bicycle lying on its side on any sidewalk, or shall park a bicycle on a sidewalk in any other position, so that there is not an adequate path for pedestrian traffic. Local authorities may prohibit bicycle parking in designated areas of the public highway, provided appropriate signs are erected.
Obstruction of Bikeways. VC 21211
No person shall place or park a bicycle or vehicle so as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of any bicyclist on a bikeway or bicycle path or trail unless the placement or parking is necessary for safe operation or otherwise in compliance with the law.
Youth Helmets. VC 21212
Prohibits persons under 18 from riding or being a passenger on a bicycle without wearing helmets meeting specified standards (ANSI or SNELL). Violations are punishable by a fine of not more than $25.
Bicycles on Roadways VC 21650.1
A bicycle operated on a roadway or highway shoulder shall be operated in the same direction as vehicles are required to drive upon the roadway.
Bicycling on Freeways VC 21960
a) The Department of Transportation and local authorities may prohibit or restrict the use of freeways or any portion thereof by bicycles.
b) Such prohibitory regulations shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected upon the freeway and the approaches thereto.
Hand Signals. VC 22111
All required signals given by hand and arm shall be given in the following manner:
- Left turn-hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle.
- Right turn- left hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the bicycle or right hand and arm extended horizontally to the right side of the bicycle.
- Stop or sudden decrease of speed signal- left hand and arm extended downward beyond the side of the bicycle.
Toll Crossing. VC 23330
Except where a special permit has been obtained from the Department of Transportation, bicycles shall not be permitted on any vehicular crossing, unless the Department by signs indicates that bicycles are permitted upon all or any portion of the vehicular crossing.
Headsets and Earplugs. VC 27400
No person operating any vehicle, including a bicycle shall wear any headset covering, or any earplugs in, both ears. There are exceptions for persons operating authorized emergency vehicles, special construction or maintenance equipment and refuse collection equipment, and for any person wearing personal hearing protectors designed to attenuate injurious noise levels and which do not inhibit the wearers' ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or horn form another motor vehicle, and for any person using a prosthetic device which aids the hard of hearing.
License Requirement. VC 39002
a) A city or county may adopt a bicycle licensing ordinance or resolution providing that no resident shall operate any bicycle on any street, road, highway, or other public property within the city of county, unless such bicycle is licensed in accordance with this division.
b) Any bicycle not licensed under this division may be additionally regulated or licensed pursuant to local ordinance or may be licensed upon request of the owner.
c) It is illegal for any person to to tamper with, destroy, mutilate or alter any license indicia (marking) or registration form or to remove, alter, or mutilate the serial number, or the identifying marks of a licensing agency's identifying symbol on any bicycle frame licensed under the provision of this division.
Throwing Substances On Highways Or Adjoining Areas. VC 23111 7 23112
No person in any vehicle shall throw or discharge from or upon any road, highway or adjoining area, pubic or private, any lighted or non-lighted cigarette, cigar, match or any flaming or glowing substance.
No person shall throw or deposit upon a highway any bottle, can garbage, glass, wire, nails, paper or any substance likely to injure or cause damage to traffic using the highway.
Note: Some of the sections of the laws listed above have been reworded slightly and/or abbreviated. For exact language, refer to the referenced sections in the California Vehicle Code.
In addition to these state laws, many communities have local ordinances. Check with your local police department regarding bicycle registration, licensing, and regulations (sidewalk riding, etc.) in your area.
Final Thoughts
Each year in California, over one hundred people are killed and thousands more are injured in bicycle collisions. We can make bicycling safer for all by observing the following safety tips:
- Always wear a helmet.
- Obey all traffic controls.
- Ride your bicycle near the right-hand edge of the road.
- Never carry another person on your bicycle.
- Always use hand signals when turning or stopping.
- Look out for cars at cross street, driveways, and parking places.
- Be careful when checking traffic and don't swerve when looking over your shoulder.
- Give pedestrians the right-of-way.
- Keep your bicycle in good condition.
- Always ride carefully.
Remember a bicycle is a vehicle. Bicyclists share a complex traffic environment with other larger forms of transportation. Youngsters under age nine lack the physical and mental development to interact safely in that environment.
By Nonni Makk
Hey everyone,
Thought I'd share this with the wives and or husbands of member's of Delta Ped's. The last time Ish said he was going for a "short ride".................,being gone only a few minuets or so, I never thought twice about it. Except for when he returned the bugs in his hair could only come the state of Kansas, I never would have suspected............ Sigh. Being married to one of these (see below) I attend meeting regularly, called Bike-Enders. I no longer have the need to sweep the driveway of rocks or stickers. I no longer have to duck 5 times to get out of the garage cause there are about 10 bikes hanging off the rafters, I haven't washed 1/2 of a banana in the washing machine lately. When I fill up the tires in my car at the gas station, I don't panic with the thought of "what this isn't Prista compatible"! I think we even own one T-shirt that doesn't say I climbed to hell and back.
Anyone interested in these meeting can meet me Pruitt water park at 7:30 on Monday nights. A family that rides together, stays together :-)
The 34 Early Warning Signs of Bikeaholism:
If you experience any of these early warning signs, contact your local Bikeaholics chapter IMMEDIATELY!
- Your training log book contains nothing but daily century rides.
- Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor hail shall stop you from your appointed training ride.
- You plan rides that start from Gunn and always seem to include a lunch stop at the Saturn Cafe in Santa Cruz.
- You begin to get jittery after one full day of not riding.
- You look at a century route and immediately start plotting out extra hilly loops.
- You have to force yourself to take a break from your lunchtime ride and go back to work.
- You spend New Year's day blocking out rides for the upcoming year, and discover that your Dayminder Calendar leaves you with less than 2 hours per week "quality time" for your non-cycling family and friends.
- You frequently "take the long way home" after work and get home after 10:00 PM and 4000 ft of climbing.
- You wear bike clothes and a Camelback to work even when you're not planning to ride that day.
- You spend Sunday evenings replenishing the stash of batteries you have placed along Skyline so you can go for longer night-time rides during the week.
- Any one of your bikes is worth more than your car.
- You choose an apartment solely on the basis of whether or not it is flat enough to ride into and how close good roads/trails are.
- Your bike rack is worth more than your car.
- Your legs are tan only to mid-thigh.
- The first thing you ask when you regain consciousness is "How's my bike???"
- You actually move farther from work so the bike commute will be more heavy duty.
- You mentally log every meal as "good fuel" or "bad fuel".
- Your learn you have X money left over after paying bills and the first thing you do is reach for the nearest bicycling catalog.
- 75% of the tools you own are from Park or Campagnolo.
- You dream of winning the lottery, and the first thing you think of is "how many/which bikes can that money buy?"
- You can tell your significant other with a straight face that its too hot to mow the lawn then take off and ride a century.
- Someone in a car asks for directions and you accidentally give them a route that includes motor vehicle barriers, or a route that bypasses all freeways/busy roads, or is very scenic.
- You're in your car & lost, but instead of consulting a AAA map you lean out the window and look for colored arrows on the pavement at each intersection.
- You buy a car based on whether or not a bike will fit in the trunk/back.
- You pull up hard on the steering wheel trying to bunny hop your car over a pot-hole.
- You know the distance of every point of interest within 20 miles of your house as well as the location of every pot hole along the way.
- You refuse to buy a couch because that patch of wall space is taken up by the bike.
- You pull your car into the driveway and subconsciously twist your heel to clip out of the accelerator.
- You see glass on the road and point it out for the car behind you.
- You can't find the brake levers on the steering wheel.
- You try to stand up to go over speed bumps/railroad tracks...
- You signal a turn and hit your passenger.
- You try to shift gears by twisting the gearstick.
- You read this expecting it to be funny then realize that it all applies to you.
The Annual Spicer Trip By Jay Kleinwaks
The Delta Pedalers Cycling Club annual camping trip to Spicer was packed to the gills, during the traditional Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The four adventure packed days flashing by quicker than cycling down Highway 4. Then most of us packed up and returned to civilization, while a few rugged souls stayed over for a few more days, and Jan had to face the bear alone. More on this later.
I don't know what we had more in abundance at Spicer, bicycles or dogs. Among the pine trees, 6200 feet up and 10 miles from Highway 4, the most abundant animal were ones that answered to the name of April, Yoda or one pug that looked so much like a British leader that I renamed him Winston (sorry Kevin.) There is no truth to the rumor that Mary sought out the ranger for "wild animal" protection.
Thursday's activities were organized around speculating about the whereabouts of Dick, who once again took the rails and rode to Spicer. After each arriving camper was shoehorned into a space, they were asked if there had been a Dick sighting. The first days campfire stories focused on speculation as to where Dick had pulled over and camped out. We imagined him using a windbreaker as a shield and living on his homemade pumpkin energy bars. Later we found out that Dick had defied conventional wisdom and, with twilight arriving and being 20 miles away, had stayed over at a (four star?) hotel in Arnold.
Thursday (as well as all of the other afternoons) also seemed to be centered around the beautiful lake, where Admirals Neil and Terri (and Ensign Yoda) launched their pedal kayak. Neil claims it is not Campy equipt.
Friday and Saturday's morning activities were organized around rides. For a road ride we traveling the 10 undulating miles (downhill, then tough rollers) out to Highway 4, then rode the 6 miles UP Highway 4 past the giant wooden bears at Bear Valley, past the point where Highway 4 just becomes a driveway that is closed during the winter, to Lake Alpine at 7200 feet where we dined on yellow watermelon and good draft beer. Coming back was unbelievable-almost all downhill until a few miles from the campsite. When "the Cliffs" started Dave and Bruce pretended that they were Lance and Mario.
The mountain bikers were also in full force, organizing into a few groups to do different rides depending on skill level-though the rides seemingly all had dangerous names like Slip Rock, Slippery Rock, and Super Slippery Rock. When we came back to the campsite all of the mountain biker had big grins on their faces, recounting all of the new hazards they had flown over. Heck, Mike and Jerry looked like kids in a candy store while they compared their new abrasions and bruises.
Saturday was the traditional potluck. Yes, Bonnie had finished the SPAM at breakfast and didn't have any more for dinner. Thanks to Frank and Verena for feeding my kids, and Deanna for the pork roast that I bulked up on. Thanks to Rynie for remembering that desert is the most important part of the meal. Later, Dave told his traditional scary story, changing the location from Indiana to Spicer Lake, and actually scared some of the young kids.
On Sunday, on that dreaded getaway day, there were hikes along the lake, though the need to return to base and pack up countered our desire to circle the whole lake. Or maybe it was the amount of time we spent climbing when lost-though the view down to the reservoir was fantastic.
Which left Jan as camper of the year. After starting the camping trip earlier than all of us, then bending her rim on one of the rides, she was one of the few people to stay a few extra days. One night a bear visited Jan and rummaged through her campsite. Luckily she came out unscathed-I think the bear left when she attempted to recruit it as a casual ride leader.
And yes, what you really wanted to know--the legendary vaulted toilets didn't stink this year.