[SDCBC] New Law on Bicycle Lights

[Jim Baross]

The present, soon to be old, law required, "Every bicycle operated 
upon any highway during darkness ..." to be properly equipped, per 
CVC 21201(d), . A "highway" for CVC purposes does however include the 
whole right of way including Bike Lanes and sidewalks, but strictly 
speaking does not include Bike Paths separate from the 
roadway/highway; another indication that Bike Paths are not 
considered regular transportation facilities as they should be, IMHO. :-(

Though we, CBC and CABO (and others?), worked to bring along 
additional changes to the original idea brought forward by Sac 
Sheriffs - to include Bike Paths and sidewalks in the law - the pedal 
reflector change will help more people to meet minimum legal 
requirements w/less effort.

There certainly are other CVC changes that would benefit us, but 
working through the legislature is very tricky. More resources - your 
participation, donations and memberships - help us protect and 
promote improvements for bicycling. [Also, your continued efforts to 
be legal and courteous though assertive bicyclists certainly help!]

Congrats that we got something improved.

Bike Equipment - Lights, Reflectors, Brakes, Handlebars & Frame Size 
(Modified 01/01/2008)  21201.
-- snip --
    (d) A bicycle operated during darkness upon a highway, a sidewalk 
where bicycle operation is not prohibited by the local jurisdiction, 
or a bikeway, as defined in Section 890.4 of the Streets and Highways 
Code, shall be equipped with all of the following:
    (1) A lamp emitting a white light that, while the bicycle is in 
motion, illuminates the highway, sidewalk, or bikeway in front of the 
bicyclist and is visible from a distance of 300 feet in front and 
from the sides of the bicycle.
    (2) A red reflector on the rear that 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) A white or yellow reflector on each pedal, shoe, or ankle 
visible from the front and rear of the bicycle from a distance of 200 feet.
    (4) 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 that are 
equipped with reflectorized tires on the front and the rear need not 
be equipped with these side reflectors.
    The 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 paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).

Happy New Year!
Jim B

At 12:03 AM 12/30/2007, Stephan Vance wrote:
>Beginning with the new year, California law will require bicyclists 
>to use proper lights when riding on bike paths at night. Here's a 
>story from Sacramento Bee.
>
>Stephan Vance
>
>
>
>It's the Law: Bike mantra: If it's night, use a light
>
>
>
>
>Law clarifies standards so police can issue citations.
>
>
>
>
>By Kevin Yamamura - <mailto:kyamamura at sacbee.com>kyamamura at sacbee.com
>
>
>
>Published 12:00 am PST Friday, December 28, 2007
>Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3
>
>One in a series of reports on new laws that take effect Jan. 1.
>
>Lea Brooks routinely passes cyclists riding without lights when she 
>bike-commutes along the American River Parkway from downtown to her 
>Gold River home after work.
>
>"It's very dangerous," she said. "Imagine if you were driving your 
>car and you saw a vehicle with its lights off. It's very dark out 
>there, and if cyclists have dark clothing on, you really cannot see 
>them. They blend into the shadows."
>
>If a new state law proves effective, that could change.
>
>Starting Tuesday, cyclists riding on bikeways and sidewalks at night 
>will be required to use a headlight, as well as rear and side 
>reflectors, under a law passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. 
>Arnold Schwarzenegger this year.
>
>Before Assembly Bill 478 was signed, state law was ambiguous as to 
>whether cyclists riding on off-road paths such as the American River 
>Parkway or greenbelts in Davis were required to use lights at night.
>
>The measure allows law enforcement to ticket cyclists riding without 
>lights on such bikeways or on sidewalks in cities that allow 
>cyclists to ride on sidewalks.

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.bikesandiego.org/pipermail/sdcbc/attachments/20071230/a0d9fabe/attachment.html