Bicycle Information

Bicycles

In the State of California, your child must wear an approved helmet every time they ride a bicycle, scooter, and or skateboard until they are 18 years of age. Your child’s helmet must fit snugly, sit low on the forehead, and buckle under the chin. 

A bicycle is considered a vehicle and the rider must obey the same rules of the road as a motor vehicle. As a result, a bicycle must be ridden on the right side of the roadway in the same direction as traffic. To ride at night, you must have lights on the front and back of your bicycle and reflectors on the wheels and pedals. In addition, riders should wear bright and reflective clothing for visibility.  

 Additional information regarding bicycle laws in the state of California can be found here. 

Pocket Bikes

A pocket bike is a two-wheeled motorized device designed in the make and style of a motorcycle. Because of its size and stature, these bikes are considered mini motorcycles. Operation of these bikes is only permitted on private property. It is illegal to use these bikes on highways, sidewalks, bikeways, and hiking or recreational trails. 

Motorized Scooters

A motorized scooter is any two-wheeled device that has handlebars, is designed to be stood or sat on upon by the operator, and is powered by either an electric motor or any other source which propels the device with or without human propulsion.

Motorized scooter operators must have a valid driver’s license or permit. The user must wear a helmet at all times, and no passengers are allowed. Motorized scooters follow the same rules of the road as vehicles. The motorized scooter may not be operated if the posted speed limit is over 25 MPH, unless in a Class II bike lane. It may not be operated on sidewalks and may not have passengers. All motorized scooters must have a braked wheel.

If ridden during darkness they must have a white light in the front and a red light towards the rear, as well as yellow reflectors on each side.