AB 265

Under current law, a "vehicle" is defined, with certain exceptions, to mean every

device in, upon, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn

upon a highway. Certain legal consequences relating to a vehicle and its operation

might follow from the classification of the vehicle, including equipment standards,

traffic regulations, and registration requirements. Under current law, "bicycle" is

defined as every vehicle propelled by the feet acting upon pedals and having wheels

any two of which are not less than 14 inches in diameter.

This bill modifies the definition of "bicycle" to include vehicles propelled by

hand.

Under current law, persons operating vehicles on highways in this state are

required to use stop and turn signals that can be either by a signal lamp or by hand

and arm signals. If the operator of a vehicle uses hand and arm signals, the signals

must be given on the left side of the vehicle.

This bill allows bicyclists to use hand and arm signals for turns and stops with

either hand and arm.

Under current law, vehicle equipment requirements are generally inapplicable

to bicycles, motor bicycles, and electric personal assistive mobility devices (EPAMDs)

except as otherwise expressly provided. Current law expressly prohibits a person

from operating a bicycle, motor bicycle, or EPAMD, which is commonly known by its

trade name "Segway," on a highway, sidewalk, bicycle lane, or bicycle way during

hours of darkness unless the bicycle, motor bicycle, or EPAMD is equipped with or,

with respect to a bicycle or motor bicycle, the operator is wearing, a lamp emitting

a white light visible to the front. The bicycle, motor bicycle, or EPAMD must also be

equipped with a red reflector or, with respect to an EPAMD, reflective tape, on the

rear. A lamp emitting a red or flashing amber light to the rear may be used in

addition to the reflector, but the lamp may not substitute for the reflector.

This bill allows a lamp emitting a red light to the rear to be used as a substitute

for the red reflector on a bicycle, motor bicycle, or EPAMD.

Under current law, a vehicle operator may not drive on the left side of the center

of a roadway designated, by signs or by a solid double yellow line, as a no-passing

zone.

This bill allows a vehicle operator to cross the center line in such a no-passing

zone to overtake and pass, with care, any vehicle, including a bicycle, traveling at a

speed significantly less than the normal speed of traffic at the place of passing.

Current law generally prohibits automobiles and other motor vehicles from

being operated on a highway with tires that have metal in contact with the roadway,

except for tire chains and certain wire-embedded tires. Current law also generally

prohibits other vehicles, including nonmotorized vehicles, from being operated on a

highway if the vehicle has on the periphery of its tires any stud, flange, cleat, or other

protuberance of any material other than rubber which projects beyond the tire tread.