CVC Cycling-Related Sections

The table below contains an index of links to various sections to the California Vehicle Code (CVC) that are relevant to cycling and included in this document. Visiting these links will result in the text being displayed in the window below if frames are used or in another window otherwise.

The sections included are those that are specific to cycling. Cyclists are required to obey the same traffic laws that apply to drivers (please see Section 21200), but there are a few additional rules that are specific to cyclists. Unfortunately, as of 1999, many adults in the U.S. find it difficult to accept that cyclists have the same rights to use public roads as drivers have, and some will become quite irate when cyclists use public roads fully in accordance with state laws. Consequently, we have provided a list of the cycling-specific sections in the CVC, together with a summary explaining these laws:

• Section 21 states that local authorities can regulate areas covered by the CVC only as allowed by the CVC. This section, combined with some other sections (21100 and 21960) prevent local authorities from restricting cyclists from using any roads except freeways and toll bridges.
• Section 213 defines a bicycle. The definition includes some unicycles and tricycles, but excludes others. Curiously, the highwheelers popular in the last century are not bicycles under this definition.
• Section 530 defines the roadway in such a way that it excludes shoulders, sidewalks, and areas used for parking. Some sections of the CVC, particularly Section 21202 (the "keep to the right" law) actually refer to the edge of the roadway, not the edge of the street. This distinction is sometimes misunderstood.
• Section 21100 specifies areas subject to local regulation. This section allows local authorities to regulate bicycle usage of sidewalks. There is also a general provision effecting both drivers and cyclists allowing officers to direct traffic.
• Section 21200 and 21200.5 state that cyclists have all the rights and responsibilities as drivers. Section 21200.5 emphasizes that the laws applicable to drunk drivers also apply to cyclists. Since the penalties appear to be the same, there is no incentive for bar hoppers to use a bicycle instead of a motor vehicle thereby posing less of a risk to the general public, a point the California Legislature seems not to have considered.
• Section 21201 covers equipment requirements, including the requirement to use lights at night.
• Section 21202 states that a cyclist riding at less than the normal speed of traffic must stay as far to the right on the roadway as practicable. There are numerous exceptions, including preparing for left turns, passing slower vehicles and bicycles, avoiding debris and hazards (including lanes that are too narrow to share with a vehicle side by side), and approaching a place where a right turn is permitted. On multilane one-way roads, you can ride on either edge. Cyclists using a full traffic lane are subject to Section 21656, the section that requires slow-moving vehicles to use turnouts when 5 or more vehicles are queued up behind and passing is not otherwise possible.
• Section 21203 bans hitching a ride by grabbing onto a vehicle or street car.
• Section 21204 requires that you ride astride a seat and provides some requirements for child seats for young children.
• Section 21205 forbids carrying packages or bundles that prevent you from keeping at least one hand on the handlebars.
• Section 21206 emphasizes that Section 21 in fact covers bicycles, including cycling on off-road facilities.
• Section 21207 allows the establishment of bicycle lanes that meet state design standards.
• Section 21207.5 forbids the use of motorized bicycles on bike lanes or bike paths.
• Section 21208 requires that cyclists riding at less than the normal speed of traffic use a bicycle lane, with exceptions similar to those in Section 21202. These exceptions include preparing for left turns, passing slower vehicles and bicycles, avoiding debris and hazards (including lanes that are too narrow to share with a vehicle side by side), and approaching a place where a right turn is permitted. This rule applies only to bicycle lanes established in accordance to Section 21207. In other words, they cannot lawfully cite a cyclist for failure to use a bicycle lane that itself does not comply with the vehicle code.
• Section 21209 forbids driving a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane except to park, enter or leave the roadway, or to prepare for a turn no more than 200 feet ahead.
• Section 21210 forbids parking a bicycle in such a way that pedestrians cannot get by.
• Section 21211 forbids pedestrians or parked/stopped bicycles from obstructing a bicycle path.
• Section 21212 requires the use of bicycle helmets for cyclists under 18 years of age.
• Section 21650 mostly covers the operation of vehicles, but allows bicycles to use highway shoulders (unless expressly prohibited).
• Section 21650.1 requires bicycles using a shoulder to go in the same direction as vehicular traffic).
• Section 21717 requires drivers who cross a bicycle lane to merge into it first. Merging is, of course, subject to all the normal rules about lane changes and is allowed by Section 21209 only within 200 feet of a turn.
• Section 21750 requires passing drivers to leave safe clearance when passing a bicycle.
• Section 21960 allows bicycles to be restricted from using freeways, but requires that any such restriction be posted with traffic signs.
• Section 22111 describes legal hand signals, and allows cyclists to signal right turns by pointing right with the right hand.
• Section 23254 defines a vehicular crossing to mean a toll bridge.
• Section 23330 forbids bicycles from using vehicular crossings unless signs indicate that using the vehicular crossing is permissible.
• Section 27400 forbids wearing a headset that covers both ears unless necessary to avoid injuries due to excessive noise.

Note: The explanation above is meant for general edification, not as legal advice. We can only hope that this warning will keep the lawyers off our case.