Calif. driver handbook 2024: bikes must ride as close to the right "as possible"

[Scott Mace]

I just saw this post on the SVBC Slack:

"Did someone notice that the current DMV California Driver’s Handbook
(2024) is misstating the law? They say that as a bicyclist, you must
ride as near to the right curb or edge of the roadway “as possible”
(page 47 both under Bicyclist Responsibilities and Bicycling in Travel
Lanes). Last time I checked, CVC 21202 said “as practicable”.
Am I missing something? How could this happen?"

Scott Mace

[John Eldon]

WHY do we have to keep fighting the same battle for our rights over and over again? Highly objectional and misleading misreading of the law, of course. All of us know that the word is "practicable." If that is beyond the reading comprehension of John Q. Public, then "practical" would have been far better than the unacceptable "possible." 

THANK YOU for bringing this forward!

John A. Eldon, D.Env.

http://www.LinkedIn.com/in/JohnEldon
Digital Design Engineering Consultant
Environmental Engineering Consultant

Instructor, UCSD & UCSD Extension

Life Senior Member, IEEE

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[clint.sandusky]

Scott & all,

Just CRAZY!

Whether this incorrect and possibly dangerous use of "possible" vs. "practicable" was an honest mistake or not, it is not good!

Per Merriam-Webster,

Couple that with the last Assembly Bill Analysis of AB-2259: Bicycle Safety Handbook (which they dont really want to create), which states: 

"The DMV Handbook already provides useful information for cyclists. The DMV Handbook in

its most recent iteration contains a page on the specific rights and responsibilities of bicyclists
and includes much of the information this bill wants to include in a separate handbook, including
tips for cyclists on how to ride at night."

Bottomline, some to (many) up in Sacramento -- including agencies -- don't really care about bicyclists' safety or rights!  And if they do, the vast majority think infrastructure will solve the problem!

Respectfully,

Clint Sandusky

Retired Police Cyclist

CA POST-certified Bike Patrol Instructor

CABO, District 8 Rep.

Sent from my Galaxy

[William Sellin]

I have tried to talk to DMV about their ‘errors’ on their web site - they pass it off to next year and DOT…

Good luck getting them to use much less reference the actual laws as codified, or to correct their mistakes.

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” – John Muir

On Aug 25, 2024, at 8:45 AM, clint.sandusky <clint.s...@gmail.com> wrote:

Scott & all,

Just CRAZY!

Whether this incorrect and possibly dangerous use of "possible" vs. "practicable" was an honest mistake or not, it is not good!

Per Merriam-Webster,

<Screenshot_20240825_085159_Google.jpg>

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[Serge Issakov]

Never mind the possible/practicable conflation. 

How about ignoring the fact that regardless of how you interpret the  as close as practicable to the right requirement, it applies almost nowhere due to the substandard width lane exception?

Serge

[Stephen Bingham]

CABO could work w/ CalBike to include language in a road safety bill next session to require DMV to issue revised bike handbook by 1/1/26.

 

Stephen Bingham

Co-Director

Sylvia Bingham Fund

www.sylviabinghamfund.org

Coordinator, California Ride of Silence Organizers

Board of Directors, Ride of Silence

Member, Families for Safe Streets/San Francisco

Truck Underride Advocacy TEAM

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[Lucas Kurlan]

If the agency is not being responsive to feedback / issues, then you can contact your assembly and senate reps. They can do some constituent service and put some pressure on the DMV / executive branch.

FWIW, I was also disappointed that they did not have anything about daylighting. Though you can't get cited until 2025 (with some exceptions), as I understand it the law went into force this year (people could get warnings), so I feel like it really should have been included in this year's handbook.

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[John Cinatl]

Hi Gang

And does the Code ever mention the bikes "May Use Full Lane" sign as additional exception to the 4 exceptions that are currently printed???

John

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[Jim Baross]

Changing cultural morays is akin to the difficulty required to turn a huge aircraft carrier. It takes a lot of time, distance and resources. Our CABO efforts are like one tugboat turning a ship against the tide.

We are making progress!

People practicing Bicycle Driving Behaviors further our efforts. Keep it up!

People contributing dollars to CABO fuel our tugboat! Keep it up or start now!

Roads are for people, not only for people in cars.

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[Serge Issakov]

The BMUFL sign is not an additional exception. It’s simply a mechanism engineers can use to identify a road with substandard width lanes. But the substandard width lane exception applies the same legally whether the BMUFL sign (or sharrow) happens to be there or not. It’s the substandard width that makes the exception apply, not the sign. 

Serge

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