California Vehicle Code 21201 details the equipment required for bicyclists to legally ride in California. This statute is designed to keep riders safe while riding, as well as prevent harm being done to others due to safety precautions not being followed.
Required Bicycle Equipment for California Bicyclists
California Law enforcement makes a point to ensure bike riders have the proper equipment while riding, especially bicyclists riding at night. Cyclists are required to have white or yellow reflectors on their pedals, or riders must be wearing reflectors on their shoes or ankles if they do not have pedal reflectors. California Vehicle Code 21201 details all required equipment for California bike riders:
“(a) No person shall operate a bicycle on a roadway unless it is equipped with a brake that will enable the operator to make one braked wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement.
(b) No person shall operate on the highway a bicycle equipped with handlebars so raised that the operator must elevate his or her hands above the level of his or her shoulders in order to grasp the normal steering grip area.
(c) No person shall operate upon a highway a bicycle that is of a size that prevents 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.
(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 or a solid or flashing red light with a built-in 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).”
California Law for Riding Your Bike at Night
California Vehicle Law 21201 (d) requires all bicycles to have a light when riding on a highway when it is dark. In California, any publicly maintained road that is open for use can be considered a highway. This rule can expand to private roads as well under CVC 360.
Under CVC 280, darkness is considered as any time a half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise, or any other time when visibility is not discernable at a distance of 1,000 feet. So, if you were riding within an hour of darkness without the required lighting and got into an accident, you could be held partially responsible for your damages. However, you can still collect damages under California Comparative Negligence Law, which states:
“Under the pure comparative negligence rule, the state allows the plaintiff to claim damages for the 1% they are not at fault even when they are 99% at fault.”
So, even if you were partially at fault for your injuries in a bicycle accident, you would still reserve the right to compensation.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in California
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, the accident attorneys at Maison Law can get you the compensation you need to recover from your physical, mental, and financial damages, even if you were at fault. Our firm has years of experience in liability law and will aggressively pursue a successful outcome for your personal injury claim. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
