font> Yahoo! is not affiliated with the authors of this page or responsible for its content.
Bicycle Provisions of the California Vehicle Code (1/2005)* SUMMARY OF BICYCLE RELATED SECTIONS

FROM:


CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE**
CALIFORNIA STREETS & HIGHWAY CODE**
CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE**
CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS (CCR)**
PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE**
CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE**
(November 05, 2007)

** Please see disclaimer at back of document **

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

California Vehicle Code

Bicycle Defined (Also See Section 39000 Below & the Streets & Highway Code that follows)
231 A bicycle is 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. Persons riding bicycles are subject to the provisions of
this code specified in Sections 21200 and 21200.5.

Bicycle Defined (Also See Section 231 Above)
39000 (The full Section 39000 repeats on Pg. 13) "Bicycle", for the purposes of this division, means any
device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains, or
gears having either two or three wheels (one of which is at least 20 inches in diameter) or having a frame size
of at least 14 inches, or having four or more wheels.

Is A Bicycle A Vehicle???? (Compare CVC 231 & 39000 Above With CVC 670 & 21200 Below)

670 A "vehicle" is a device by which any person or property may be propelled, moved, or drawn upon
a highway, excepting a device moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon
stationary rails or tracks.

Driver Defined (See Also Section 21200 Below)
305 A "driver" is a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. The term "driver" does not
include the tillerman or other person who, in an auxiliary capacity, assists the driver in the steering or
operation of any articulated firefighting apparatus.

California Drivers Handbook
1656.3. (a) The department shall include within the California Driver's Handbook, as specified in subdivision
(b) of Section 1656, language regarding each of the following:
(3) The importance of respecting the right-of-way of others, particularly pedestrians, bicycle riders, and
motorcycle riders.

DMV - Keeping of Violation Records (See Also Section 40303.5 Below)
1803 (b) [Note: Sub-sections (a) through (b)(5) omitted for brevity]
The following violations are not required to be reported under subdivision (a):
(6) Violations for which a person was cited as a pedestrian or while operating a bicycle or a motorized
scooter.


bikelaws.doc Page 1 of 24 Local Regulations of Bicycles On Sidewalks & Public Property, (See also Section 21206 Below)
21100. Local authorities may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution regarding the following
matters: [Note: Sub-sections (a) through (i) omitted for brevity]
(h) Operation of bicycles ......... on the public sidewalks.

Public Agencies and California State University System May Adopt Rules/Regulations for Bicycles
21113 [Note: Sub-sections (a) through (e) omitted for brevity]
(f) A public agency, including, but not limited to, the Regents of the University of California and the Trustees
of the California State University, may adopt rules or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions for, the
use of bicycles, motorized bicycles, skateboards, and roller skates on public property under the jurisdiction of
that agency.

Bikeways on Canal Banks
21116. (c) Nothing in this section prohibits the establishment of bicycle paths or routes (as prescribed by
Article 6.5 (commencing with Section 5078) of Chapter 1 of Division 5 of the Public Resources Code) on
levees, canal banks, natural watercourse banks, or pipeline rights-of-way.

Operation of Bicycles on California Roadways (Collectively Sections 21200 - 21212)
Bicyclists Rights & Peace Officers Use of Bicycles
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.

Alcohol Use by Bicyclist
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.

Bike Equipment - Brakes, Handlebars, Lights and Reflectors
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.
bikelaws.doc Page 2 of 24 (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).

Blue Warning Lights On Bicycles - Peace Officers Only
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).

Reflectors (Sale of Approved Type)
21201.5. (