February 5, 2025 – Merced Police Department officials report that one of their traffic officers recently investigated a hit-and-run incident involving a bicyclist and a motor vehicle. The bicyclist was riding recklessly before colliding with the vehicle and fleeing the scene.

We want to take this opportunity to remind all bicyclists that they must follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles.

Traffic laws exist to keep everyone safe—whether on two wheels or four.  

The following are a few laws we would like to highlight:

• 21200(a)(1) CVC: A person riding a bicycle or operating a pedicab upon a highway has all the rights and is subject to all the provisions applicable to the driver of a vehicle.
• 21651(b) CVC: It is unlawful to ride a bicycle the wrong way upon a highway or against traffic.
• 21450 CVC: Bicycles must stop at stop signs.
• 21453(A) CVC: Bicycles must stop at red lights.
• 21212(a) CVC: Persons under the age of 18 must wear a helmet while riding a bicycle.
• 23103 CVC: It is unlawful to drive recklessly upon any roadway.
• 10.44.040 MMC: The operator of any bicycle shall obey the instructions of any official traffic control device.
• 10.44.020 MMC: No person shall ride, operate or use a bicycle upon any public street or highway in the city without first registering the bicycle on a national bicycle registry.
• 10.44.030 MMC: When registered, bicycle registration shall entitle the owner to ride such bicycle for which the registration has been issued upon all the streets, public highways and designated bicycle trails of the city. 

Bicycles may also be ridden on all the sidewalks of the city except the following, when appropriate signs are displayed thereon: Main Street from G to V Street, 18th Street from Martin Luther King, Jr. Way to N Street, I Street from 16th to 18th Street, Martin Luther King, Jr. Way from 16th to 18th Street, K Street from 16th to 18th Street, Canal Street from 16th to 18th Street, M Street from 16th to 20th Street and N Street from 16th to 18th Street.

Source: Merced Police Department