California Laws Every Cyclist Should Know

Cycling is a great way to do your part to limit your carbon footprint and save the environment. Unfortunately, in California alone, over 100 cyclists are killed and thousands more are injured every single year. If you’re a cyclist in the California area, here are some guidelines by the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Signs and Signals

When on a bike, you must still adhere to many of the rules of the road that typical motor vehicles follow. You must stop at all stop signs and red lights. You must also manually signal that you are changing lanes before merging.

To turn left, a cyclists must first look behind them to make sure they are clear, and then reach their left arm out straight to signal that they are turning. To show that they are turning right, they must bend their left elbow while holding their arm up. Finally, to signal their intention to stop, they should reach their left arm straight down.

Bike and Road Lanes

Bikers must use bike lanes when they are available, however, they must also be aware that motorists turning right on roads with bike lanes will need to merge into the lane. Cyclists need to keep a close eye out for these vehicles.

When riding in a traffic lane, cyclists are required to ride with the direction of traffic and as far to the right as is practical. Cars that pass you, must do so with three feet of space. If they are unable to pass you with three feet, they must slow their speed until it is feasible to do so.

You have the right to ride side-by-side with other cyclists if you are keeping up with the pace of traffic.

There is no state law banning bicycles on sidewalks, that is up to local regulations. In areas where cycling on sidewalks is allowed, you are responsible for yielding to pedestrians.

Turning Left

Bikers are able to use regular road lanes to turn left, but they must be cautious. First, they must merge into the left most lane and look out for cars behind. With their left arm, they should signal their intent to turn left. Just like a car, they will yield to any cars coming from the opposite direction.

Nighttime Reflectors

When biking at night, cyclists must use both lights and reflectors. According to the law, a cyclist needs: a front lamp that extends 300 feet, a rear reflector that can be seen from 500 feet, a reflector on each pedal that can be seen from 200 feet, and reflectors on both the front and back wheels.

Operating Your Bike

According to California laws, all cyclists under the age of 18 must wear a helmet, however, it is recommended that all cyclists wear helmets whenever they are riding their bikes. With over 10,000 biking accidents happening in California every year, wearing a helmet has and will continue to save countless lives.

It is illegal to ride while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. It is also illegal to wear ear plugs or headphones in both ears while riding.

Keep Your Bike Up to Speed

Per the law, your bike must be in good working condition. It is a direct violation of this law, for example, to ride a bike with broken breaks. The better working condition your bike is in, and the better fitted it is to you and your body, the easier it will be to control on the road.

With the number of people regularly cycling on the rise, it is important that people know about these laws so that they can safely share the road.