Follow the rules and keep safe while riding your bicycle in Lemoore

In 2010 I attended and graduated from the 122nd Fresno City College Police Academy. Presently, I am working on my Master's Degree at Brandman University. As a police officer for the City of Lemoore, I work as a patrol officer and hold the positions of Field Training Officer, Arrest and Control Instructor, Impact Weapons Instructor, and am part of the Kings County Regional Honor Guard.

The summer months are upon us and that means more and more people are out and about riding their bicycles. Whether you use a bicycle as your regular means of transportation, for exercise, or leisurely rides, it is a great time of the year to do so. In this article I want to address some laws pertaining to bicycles that will hopefully help keep our bicyclists safe.

A recent addition to the California Vehicle Code in 2014 is section 21760. This section has been added to require that motor vehicles pass bicyclists at a safe distance of at least three feet or, if impossible, to slow to a reasonable and prudent speed. This law is important for everyone driving a vehicle to remember. Make sure you move over for bicyclists, but if you can't, SLOW DOWN. We all have to share the road so please give our bicyclists as much room as possible.

In recent conversations, I have heard confusion as to what side of the road a bicyclist must ride on. Do bicyclists ride on the right hand side of the road with traffic, or on the left hand side of the road against traffic? The answer can be found in section 21202(a) of the California Vehicle Code. It states that a bicyclist must travel as close as practicable to the right hand edge of the roadway.  This means to always ride on the right side of the road with the flow of traffic.

Many people come to me with questions regarding what type of equipment they need to legally ride their bicycle at night. For this we will look to section 21201(c) of the California Vehicle Code. This section states the following equipment must be used when riding a bicycle at night:

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.

These lighting and reflector requirements are incredibly valuable in making you visible to motor vehicles at night. If they are not there, it will be difficult to see you on your bike. The more visible you are to drivers, the easier it is for them to avoid you.

For all the parents out there, please make sure your children are always wearing their helmet when they are riding their bicycle. Not only is it the safe and smart thing to do, it is also required by law. Section 21212(a) of the California Vehicle Code states that a person under 18 years of age shall not operate a bicycle, unless they are wearing a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. Do your part to ensure your kids are safe out there.

Finally, I want to address the issue of riding a bicycle while intoxicated. You may not be aware, but it is against the law to ride a bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. California Vehicle Code section 21200.5 states that it unlawful for any person to ride a bicycle upon a highway while under the influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug, or under the combined influence of an alcoholic beverage or any drug. This law is in place for your safety.  A violation of this law is a misdemeanor, similar to that of a DUI. If you are intoxicated please do not ride your bicycle. If you need to get somewhere, call a sober friend or taxi.

My hope is that after reading this article, you will have a bit more knowledge to help ensure your bicycle adventures are safe. Get out and enjoy this wonderful time of year on your bicycle! Again, my name is Officer Jonathan Moritz and I can be reached by telephone at the Lemoore Police Department non-emergency daytime phone number (559) 924-9574 (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM) or by utilizing our after hours non-emergency phone number (559) 924-5333. You may also feel free to call my voicemail (559) 925-6783 and leave a message with any questions or concerns.