California Bicycle Laws

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21200. (a) Every person riding a bicycle upon a highway has all the

rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver

of a vehicle by this division, including, but not limited to,

provisions concerning driving under the influence of alcoholic

beverages or drugs, and by Division 10 (commencing with Section

20000), Section 27400, Division 16.7 (commencing with Section 39000),

Division 17 (commencing with Section 40000.1), and Division 18

(commencing with Section 42000), except those provisions which by

their very nature can have no application.

  (b) (1) Any peace officer, as defined in Chapter 4.5 (commencing

with Section 830) of Title 3 of Part 2 of the Penal Code, operating a

bicycle during the course of his or her duties is exempt from the

requirements of subdivision (a), except as those requirements relate

to driving under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, if

the bicycle is being operated under any of the following

circumstances:

  (A) In response to an emergency call.
  (B) While engaged in rescue operations.
  (C) In the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of

the law.

  (2) This subdivision does not relieve a peace officer from the

duty to operate a bicycle with due regard for the safety of all

persons using the highway.




21200.5. Notwithstanding Section 21200, it is unlawful for any

person to ride a bicycle upon a highway while under the influence of

an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or under the combined influence of

an alcoholic beverage and any drug. Any person arrested for a

violation of this section may request to have a chemical test made of

the person's blood, breath, or urine for the purpose of determining

the alcoholic or drug content of that person's blood pursuant to

Section 23612, and, if so requested, the arresting officer shall have

the test performed. A conviction of a violation of this section

shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty

dollars ($250). Violations of this section are subject to Section

13202.5.




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 his hands

above the level of his 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 (1) with a lamp emitting a white light which, while the

bicycle is in motion, illuminates the highway in front of the

bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and

from the sides of the bicycle; (2) with a red reflector on the rear

which 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) with a white or yellow reflector on each pedal visible

from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet;

and (4) with a white or yellow reflector on each side forward of the

center of the bicycle, and with a white or red reflector on each side

to the rear of the center of the bicycle, except that bicycles which

are equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need

not be equipped with these side reflectors. Such reflectors and

reflectorized tires shall be of a type meeting requirements

established by the department.

  (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 lieu of the lamp

required by clause (1) of subdivision (d).




21201.3. (a) A bicycle or motorized bicycle used by a peace

officer, as defined in Section 830.1 of, subdivision (a), (b), (c),

(d), (e), (f), (g), or (i) of Section 830.2 of, subdivision (b) or

(d) of Section 830.31 of, subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 830.32

of, Section 830.33 of, subdivision (a) of Section 830.36 of,

subdivision (a) of Section 830.4 of, or Section 830.6 of, the Penal

Code, in the performance of the peace officer's duties, may display a

steady or flashing blue warning light that is visible from the

front, sides, or rear of the bicycle or motorized bicycle.

  (b) No person shall display a steady or flashing blue warning

light on a bicycle or motorized bicycle except as authorized under

subdivision (a).




21201.5. (a) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, a reflex

reflector or reflectorized tire of a type required on a bicycle

unless it meets requirements established by the department. If there

exists a federal Consumer Product Safety Commission regulation

applicable to bicycle reflectors, the provisions of that regulation

shall prevail over provisions of this code or requirements

established by the department pursuant to this code relative to

bicycle reflectors.

  (b) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, a new bicycle that is

not equipped with a red reflector on the rear, a white or yellow

reflector on each pedal visible from the front and rear of the

bicycle, 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 which are

equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and rear need not be

equipped with these side reflectors.

  (c) Area reflectorizing material meeting the requirements of

Section 25500 may be used on a bicycle.




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 that time 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 (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,

subject to the provisions of Section 21656. 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.

  (4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
  (b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway,

which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or

more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or

edge of that roadway as practicable.




21203. No person riding upon any motorcycle, motorized bicycle,

bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled, or toy vehicle shall attach

the same or himself to any streetcar or vehicle on the roadway.




21204. (a) No person operating a bicycle upon a highway shall ride

other than upon or astride a permanent and regular seat attached

thereto.

  (b) No operator shall allow a person riding as a passenger, and no

person shall ride as a passenger, on a bicycle upon a highway other

than upon or astride a separate seat attached thereto. If the

passenger is four years of age or younger, or weighs 40 pounds or

less, the seat shall have adequate provision for retaining the

passenger in place and for protecting the passenger from the moving

parts of the bicycle.




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.




21206. This chapter does not prevent local authorities, by

ordinance, from regulating the registration of bicycles and the

parking and operation of bicycles on pedestrian or bicycle

facilities, provided such regulation is not in conflict with the

provisions of this code.




21207. (a) This chapter does not prohibit local authorities from

establishing, by ordinance or resolution, bicycle lanes separated

from any vehicular lanes upon highways, other than state highways as

defined in Section 24 of the Streets and Highways Code and county

highways established pursuant to Article 5 (commencing with Section

1720) of Chapter 9 of Division 2 of the Streets and Highways Code.

  (b) Bicycle lanes established pursuant to this section shall be

constructed in compliance with Section 891 of the Streets and

Highways Code.



21207.5. Notwithstanding Sections 21207 and 23127 of this code, or

any other provision of law, no motorized bicycle may 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 within or adjacent to a roadway or unless the local

authority or the governing body of a public agency having

jurisdiction over such path or trail permits, by ordinance, such

operation.



21208. (a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a

roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle

upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic

moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the

bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under

any of the following situations:

  (1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or

pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the

overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane.

  (2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a

private road or driveway.

  (3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid

debris or other hazardous conditions.

  (4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
  (b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until

the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after

giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in Chapter 6

(commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be

affected by the movement.



21209. (a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane

established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207 except as follows:


  (1) To park where parking is permitted.
  (2) To enter or leave the roadway.
  (3) To prepare for a turn within a distance of 200 feet from the

intersection.

  (b) This section does not prohibit the use of a motorized bicycle

in a bicycle lane, pursuant to Section 21207.5, at a speed no greater

than is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for visibility,

traffic conditions, and the condition of the roadway surface of the

bicycle lane, and in a manner which does not endanger the safety of

bicyclists.




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, by ordinance or resolution, prohibit

bicycle parking in designated areas of the public highway, provided

that appropriate signs are erected.




21211. (a) No person may stop, stand, sit, or loiter upon any class

I bikeway, as defined in subdivision (a) of Section 890.4 of the

Streets and Highways Code, 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.

  (b) 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.

  (c) This section does not apply to drivers or owners of utility or

public utility vehicles, as provided in Section 22512.

  (d) This section does not apply to owners or drivers of vehicles

who make brief stops while engaged in the delivery of newspapers to

customers along the person's route.

  (e) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a

rubbish or garbage truck while actually engaged in the collection of

rubbish or garbage within a business or residence district if the

front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed

simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the

vehicle are being flashed simultaneously.

  (f) This section does not apply to the driver or owner of a tow

vehicle while actually engaged in the towing of a vehicle if the

front turn signal lamps at each side of the vehicle are being flashed

simultaneously and the rear turn signal lamps at each side of the

vehicle are being flashed simultaneously.




21212. (a) A person under 18 years of age shall not operate a

bicycle, a nonmotorized scooter, or a skateboard, nor shall they wear

in-line or roller skates, nor ride upon a bicycle, a nonmotorized

scooter, or a skateboard as a passenger, upon a street, bikeway, as

defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways Code, or any

other public bicycle path or trail unless that person is wearing 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. This

requirement also applies to a person who rides upon a bicycle while

in a restraining seat that is attached to the bicycle or in a trailer

towed by the bicycle.

  (b) Any helmet sold or offered for sale for use by operators and

passengers of bicycles, nonmotorized scooters, skateboards, or

in-line or roller skates shall be conspicuously labeled in accordance

with the standard described in subdivision (a) which shall

constitute the manufacturer's certification that the helmet conforms

to the applicable safety standards.

  (c) No person shall sell, or offer for sale, for use by an

operator or passenger of a bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard,

or in-line or roller skates any safety helmet which is not of a type

meeting requirements established by this section.

  (d) Any charge under this subdivision shall be dismissed when the

person charged alleges in court, under oath, that the charge against

the person is the first charge against that person under this

subdivision, unless it is otherwise established in court that the

charge is not the first charge against the person.

  (e) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of this

section is an infraction punishable by a fine of not more than

twenty-five dollars ($25).

  The parent or legal guardian having control or custody of an

unemancipated minor whose conduct violates this section shall be

jointly and severally liable with the minor for the amount of the

fine imposed pursuant to this subdivision.

  (f) Notwithstanding Section 1463 of the Penal Code or any other

provision of law, the fines collected for a violation of this section

shall be allocated as follows:

  (1) Seventy-two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall

be deposited in a special account of the county health department,

to be used for bicycle, nonmotorized scooter, skateboard, and in-line

and roller skate safety education and for assisting low-income

families in obtaining approved bicycle helmets for children under the

age of 18 years, either on a loan or purchase basis. The county may

contract for the implementation of this program, which, to the

extent practicable, shall be operated in conjunction with the child

passenger restraint program pursuant to Section 27360.

  (2) Two and one-half percent of the amount collected shall be

deposited in the county treasury to be used by the county to

administer the program described in paragraph (1).

  (3) If the violation occurred within a city, 25 percent of the

amount collected shall be transferred to and deposited in the

treasury of that city. If the violation occurred in an

unincorporated area, this 25 percent shall be deposited and used

pursuant to paragraph (1).