Guides & Safety Information

Click an item below to jump to information on:

LACBC Bike Smart Guide
Bike Basics
Biking in the Rain
When to Move Left
Bikes & Pedestrians
When Things Go Wrong
Protecting Your Bike
Required Equipment
Biking with Children
Links to Other Bike Safety Resources

Bike Smart Guide

Download a printable version of LACBC’s Bike Smart Pocket Guide

Bike Basics

Ride on the Street – You have a right to ride on the street. You are NOT required to ride on the sidewalk. For the most part, bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as vehicle drivers. CVC 21200
- Exception: Freeways and some bridges may have signs posted forbidding bicyclists.
Take the Lane – If a travel lane is too narrow to safely share side by side with a motor vehicle, you can prevent unsafe passing by riding near the center of the lane. The law says that people who ride bikes must ride as close to the right side of the road as practicable except under the following conditions: when passing, preparing for a left turn, avoiding hazards, if the lane is too narrow to share, or if approaching a place where a right turn is authorized. On two-lane roads where it’s illegal or unsafe to pass, you must turn off the roadway at a designated or safe location to allow a line of 5 or more vehicles behind you to pass. CVC 21202 (a)(3), CVC 21656
Obey All Signs, Street Markings, and Signals – Bicycle riders must obey the same rules as vehicle drivers. This includes stopping at red lights and stop signs. CVC 21200
Look and Yield Before You Go – You must yield to traffic before entering the roadway. CVC 21804
Ride With Traffic, Not Against It – You must ride on the right half of the roadway, with the flow of traffic. CVC 21650
- Exception: you can ride on either the left or right side of one-way streets.
Ride Outside the Door Zone – It’s the responsibility of motor vehicle drivers to make sure it’s clear before opening a door. Despite this, a practical guide is to ride at least 3 feet from parked cars. CVC 22517
Ride to the Right, But Within Limits – When riding slower than the normal speed of traffic, you are required to ride as far right as “practicable” (meaning safe). You are not required to ride as far right as possible, which may not be safe. You are allowed, but not required, to ride on the shoulder. CVC 21202, CVC 21650, CVC 21650.1
Signal and Yield When Moving Left or Right – Use hand signals to indicate when you are turning, changing lanes, or stopping. Move left or right only when it’s clear to do so. CVC 22107, CVC 22111
Use the Bike Lane, But Leave It When Needed – When riding slower than the normal speed of traffic, you must ride in the bike lane in the same direction as adjacent traffic. You can leave the bike lane to pass another bicyclist or a vehicle blocking the lane, to make a left turn, to avoid debris or hazards, or where a right-turning vehicle might cut you off. You must check before leaving the bike lane to make sure it can be done with “reasonable safety.” CVC 21208
- If you’re blocked in the bike lane, you can call LADOT at (213) 485-4184or (818)374-4823 to report what is blocking you. Once you’re off your bike, you can fill out LACBC’s form at la-bike.org/blocked in as much detail as possible to help us gather data on what’s blocking Angelenos while riding in the bike lane.
Biking on Sidewalks – Each city in California has its own rules about riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. Some cities allow sidewalk riding, some don’t. Check your city’s municipal code here. CVC 21206
Click here for a round-up of all California Bicycle Laws from CalBike

Biking in the Rain

Here are some tips for riding in the rain.

When to Move Left

Pass Motor Vehicles and Other Bicycles on the Left – You can move left when passing a vehicle or another bicycle traveling in the same direction. CVC 21202 (a)(1)
You Can Turn Left Like a Car – You can turn left from the left turn lane. You cannot turn left from the right side of the roadway. CVC 21202 (a)(2), CVC 22100, CVC 22107
Move Left to Avoid Hazards – You can move left to avoid hazards like fixed or moving objects, bad surface conditions, animals, glass, etc. CVC 21202 (a)(3)
Move Left to Avoid Intersection Conflicts – You can move left wherever a right or left turning vehicle might cross your path. CVC 21202 (a)(4)

Bikes & Pedestrians

Avoid Riding on Sidewalks – Each city in California has its own rules about riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. Some cities allow sidewalk riding, some don’t. Check your city’s municipal code here. CVC 21206
Yield to Pedestrians – Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks (marked or unmarked) and on sidewalks. Bicyclists are also required to “exercise due care” for the safety of pedestrians in the roadway who are not in a crosswalk. CVC 21950, CVC 21952, CVC 21954

When Things Go Wrong

If You Get a Ticket – Click here for tips of what to do if you get a ticket while riding your bike.
If You Get in a Crash – Click here for tips of what to do in case of a crash on your bike.
If Your Loved One is Killed in a Crash – Click here for resources to help if your loved one is killed while biking.

Protecting Your Bike

Locking Your Bike: Click here to read about how to properly lock your bike.
Stolen Bikes: Click here to read some tips about what to do if your bike is stolen.

Required Equipment

Brakes: Bicycles must be equipped with a brake that allows an operator to execute a one-braked-wheel skid on dry, level, clean pavement. CVC 21201(a)
Handlebars: Handlebars must not be higher than the rider’s shoulders. CVC 21201(b)
Bicycle size: Bicycles must be small enough for the rider to stop, support it with one foot on the ground, and start safely. CVC 21201(c)
Lights at Night: At night a white headlight visible from the front must be attached to the bicycle or the bicyclist if riding when it’s dark. CVC 21201(d) and CVC 21201(e)
Reflectors: At night bicycles must have the following reflectors:
- Visible from the back: red reflector. You may attach a solid or flashing red rear light in addition to the reflector.
- Visible from the front & back: white or yellow reflector on each pedal or on the bicyclist’s shoes or ankles
- Visible from the side: 1) white or yellow reflector on the front half of the bicycle and 2) a red or white reflector on each side of the back half of the bike. These reflectors are not required if the bike has reflectorized front and back tires. CVC 21201(d)
Seats: All riders must have a permanent, regular seat, unless the bicycle is designed by the manufacturer to be ridden without a seat. Bicycle passengers weighing less than 40 lbs. must have a seat which retains them in place and protects them from moving parts. CVC 21204

Biking with Children

If you’re just starting out riding as a family, here is a list of our articles highlighting how to get started and many stories about riding for all ages:

LACBC has a guide about buying the proper bike for your family.
Walk Bike Glendale’s Steven Nancarrow talks about their annual Holiday Bike Ride.
Joe Linton of Streetsblog LA tells us what it’s like to bike down the Pacific Coast Highway with his family.
LA Bike Dad Terence Houston speaks about his evolution into becoming a cycling parent.
Twelve-year-old cycling advocate Matlock Grossman tells us what it’s like to bike in Los Angeles as a kid.
Nathan Lucero of On My Bike in LA is a well-known family cycling advocate and has led many Kidical Mass rides, on top of planning the route for the ride.

Bike Safety Links

Tweets