Sharing the road
You ride a bicycle after dark. From how far away must your rear red reflector or red light be visible?
- 500 feet. Correct answer
- 300 feet.
- 200 feet.
Why
Riding at night comes with a short equipment list, and each item carries its own distance. The rear signal, which can be a built-in red reflector, a steady red light or a flashing one, must be visible from 500 feet. Three hundred feet belongs to the front lamp and its white light. Two hundred feet is for the white or yellow reflectors on each pedal, or on the rider's shoes or ankles. The wheels need reflectors as well, or reflectorized tires, and dark clothing is a poor choice after sunset. To keep the numbers in order, go back to front and largest to smallest: rear 500, front 300, feet 200.
Where this comes from
California Driver's Handbook, June 2025 edition. The correct answer is 500 feet.
The rule behind this one
Sharing the road in California goes through the whole topic, with the page of the California Driver's Handbook behind every rule.
More on sharing the road
- Ahead of you, a rider on horseback is moving cattle along a rural road. What does the handbook tell you to do?
- On a one-way street, a bicyclist is riding near the left curb. Is that allowed?
- When does the handbook allow a bicyclist to ride on the sidewalk?
- A bicyclist is riding in your travel lane and you cannot move into another lane to pass. How much space must you leave between your vehicle and the bicyclist?