you can help reduce motorcyclist injuries and fatalities. For more information regarding motorcycle safety, contact the California Motorcyclist
Safety Program at 1-877-RIDE-411 or www.californiamotorcyclist.com.

Bicycles
Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle and motorcycle drivers, including:
• Obeying all traffic signs and signal lights.
• Riding in the same direction as traffic.
• Signaling when changing lanes or turning.
• Yielding to pedestrians.
• Wearing a helmet (if under 18 years old).
• Allowing faster traffic to pass when safe.
• Staying visible (e.g., never weave between parked vehicles).
• Riding as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway as practicable.
• Not riding on the sidewalk, unless allowed by the city where you’re
riding.
• Making left and right turns in the same way drivers do, using the same
turn lanes. If the bicyclist is traveling straight ahead, they should use a
through traffic lane rather than ride next to the curb and block traffic
making right turns.
Bicyclists shall not operate a bicycle on a roadway unless the bicycle is
equipped with a brake which will enable the operator to make a one-wheel
skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
During darkness, bicyclists should avoid wearing dark clothing and must
have the following equipment:
Turns for bicyclists:
• A front lamp emitting a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet.
• A rear red reflector or a solid or flashing
red light with a built in reflector that is
visible from a distance of 500 feet.
• A white or yellow reflector on each pedal
or on the bicyclist’s shoes or ankles vis- Intersections with special lanes:
ible from a distance of 200 feet.
• A white or yellow reflector on the front
wheel, a white or red reflector on the rear
wheel, or reflectorized tires.
Bicyclists have the right to operate on the
road and may:

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 • Lawfully be permitted to ride on certain sections of freeways where
there is no alternate route and bicycling is not forbidden by a sign.
• Move left to avoid hazards such as parked or moving vehicles, bicycles,
animals, or debris.
• Choose to ride near the left curb or edge of a one-way street.
Bicycles in Travel Lanes
Bicyclists traveling slower than the flow of traffic must ride as close as
practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway except in the following situations:
• Passing a vehicle or another bicycle in the same direction.
• Preparing to make a left turn at an intersection, into a private road, or
at a driveway.
Right
Wrong
• When necessary to avoid a hazard or
road condition (i.e., pedestrians, animals, surface hazards).
• When a lane is too narrow for a bicycle
and a vehicle to travel safely side-byside within the lane.
• When approaching a right turn.
• If the roadway is a one-way road with
two or more lanes. In this case, a bicyclist may ride near the left curb or
edge of roadway as practicable.
With any slow-moving vehicle or bicycle, drivers should follow at a safe
distance and, when it is safe, the bicyclist should move to a position that
allows vehicles to pass.
Passing a bicyclist that is in the travel lane at a safe distance may require
changing into another lane, passing safely and quickly, and returning to
your original lane leaving room between your vehicle and the bicyclist.
When you cannot change lanes to pass a bicyclist, allow at least 3 feet
between your vehicle and the bicyclist. If you are unable to pass within 3
feet of space, pass at a safe speed to not endanger the bicyclist.
Bicycles may be traveling faster than you think. Do not turn in front of a
bicyclist unless there is enough time to safely make the turn.
Here are some critical points for drivers and bicyclists to remember. Motor vehicle drivers must:
• Always look carefully for bicyclists before opening doors
next to moving traffic or before turning.

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 • Pass bicyclists allowing enough room to avoid forcing them into parked
vehicles or doors that are open into traffic.
• Merge toward the curb or into the bike lane only when it is safe.
• Merge safely behind a bicyclist when preparing to make a turn.
• Only enter a bike lane no more than 200 feet before starting a turn.
• Make a visual check for bicyclists when changing lanes or entering
traffic. Bicycles are small and may be hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot.
• Be careful when approaching or passing a bicyclist on a two-lane
roadway.

Pedestrians Who Are Blind
Pedestrians using guide dogs or white canes with or without a red tip must
be given the right-of-way at all times. These pedestrians are partially or
totally blind.
When these pedestrians are in your vicinity, be especially careful when turning corners or backing up, particularly if you are driving a quiet hybrid vehicle.
Here are some suggestions for helping pedestrians who are blind:
• At a stop light or sign, do not stop your vehicle more than 5 feet from
the crosswalk, unless there is an advance stop bar (line). Blind pedestrians rely on the sound of your vehicle to become aware of your vehicle’s
presence; so, it is important that you stop your vehicle within 5 feet of the
crosswalk. Drivers of hybrid or electric vehicles must remain especially
aware that the lack of engine noise may cause a blind pedestrian to assume there is not a vehicle nearby. Follow this cue: When a blind person
pulls in their cane and steps away from the intersection, this gesture usually means they are not ready to cross the street and for you to go.
• Stop at all crosswalks where pedestrians are waiting. Wait for the
pedestrian to cross the street.
• Do not stop in the middle of a crosswalk. This forces the blind pedestrian to go around your vehicle and into traffic outside of the crosswalk.
• Do not give the blind pedestrian verbal directions. A blind pedestrian
listens to all traffic sounds before deciding to cross the street.
• Do not turn right without looking first. Look for any pedestrians,
especially blind pedestrians or traffic, before starting your turn. Blind
pedestrians who have a green light are not expecting a driver to make
a right turn in front of them. Turning may result in the blind pedestrian
becoming disoriented and vulnerable to being hit by another right turning vehicle when attempting to cross the street.

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