Bill Text: CA AB2509 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Operation of bicycles: speed.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2016-11-30 - From Senate committee without further action. [AB2509 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB2509-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2509 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 6, 2016
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ting
FEBRUARY 19, 2016
An act to amend Section 21202 of the Vehicle Code, relating to
bicycles.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2509, as amended, Ting. Operation of bicycles: speed.
Existing law requires a person operating a bicycle upon a roadway
at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same
direction at that time to ride as close as practicable to the
right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except in specified
situations. A violation of this provision is an infraction. Existing
law further authorizes a person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of
a highway that carries traffic in one direction only and has two or
more marked traffic lanes to ride as close to the left-hand curb or
edge of that roadway as practicable.
This bill would require a person operating a bicycle, as
described above, to ride as close as is either safe or practicable
to the specified curb or roadway edge. The bill would
expand the exceptions to riding as close as safe or
practicable to the right-hand curb or roadway edge to
include, among others, when riding in class I, class II, or class IV
bikeways, as specified.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 21202 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
21202. (a) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed
less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction
at that time shall ride as close as is safe or
practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway.
(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply in any of the following
situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle
proceeding in the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a
private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions, including, but
not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles,
pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes,
that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge,
subject to Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a
"substandard width lane" is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle
and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(5) When riding within a class I, class II, or class IV bikeway.
(6) When riding within a class III bikeway within the path of a
shared lane marking.
(7) When riding beside another bicycle in any situation described
in paragraphs 1 to 6, inclusive, or whenever riding outside
the path of vehicular travel in a lane. inclusive.
(c) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway that
carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked
traffic lanes may ride as close to the left-hand curb or edge of that
roadway as is safe or practicable.
