Riding your bicycle on the sidewalk in California will depend on what city you are in. Local, and city laws, not state laws, determine whether bicyclists can ride on the sidewalk.
However, if you were injured while riding your bike on the sidewalk in a city where it is NOT permitted to do so, you are still entitled to personal injury compensation. California Law provides injured riders with the opportunity to recover damages regardless of fault. At Maison Law, we fight for injured cyclists’ right to compensation and protect them from liability.
To see what legal options are available to you, contact Maison Law today for a free, no-risk consultation.
Can Bicyclists Ride on the Sidewalk in California?
The answer to this question is, maybe. Depending on what city you are in, riding your bicycle on the sidewalk could be permitted, or it could be a traffic violation. In the state of California, individual cities are allowed to regulate their own sidewalk restrictions. For example, bicycles are allowed on the sidewalk in Los Angeles, but they are not permitted in the city of Santa Monica.
So, before you take your bicycle on the sidewalk in California, it is important to review the city’s local ordinances. Here’s an example of Los Angeles’s sidewalk regulations. According to Section 56.15.1 of Article 6 of Chapter V of the Los Angeles Municipal Code, biking is allowed on sidewalks if done safely, but it is prohibited if, “done in a manner that is in a willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.”
Examples of unsafe bicycling on sidewalks include:
- Bombing: a practice where cyclists have been fatally injured and injured others traveling down sidewalks at excessive and unsafe speeds
- Obstructing sidewalk traffic: bicyclists cutting in front of people or failing to yield to pedestrians are not permitted and may result in a fine
- Ignoring traffic signals: bicyclists must follow “walk” and “do not walk” traffic signals and must yield to traffic when instructed to
- Motorized bikes: motorized bikes, or any motorized vehicle for that matter are not allowed on sidewalks
Where Bicyclists Can Ride in California
When riding your bicycle in California, it is important to know your legal rights and “duty of care” toward others on the road. Bicycles are not defined as vehicles in California Law, but they do have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle drivers on the road. So, when it comes to riding your bike in California, you are permitted to:
- Ride as far to the right of the road as you can safely do so when traveling at a speed less than traffic
- Use the full lane when traveling at the normal speed of traffic or if there is no traffic, or when preparing for a turn, overtaking and passing, avoiding hazards, or traveling in a lane too narrow to share
- Ride your bike on the left-hand-side when on a one-way road with two or more lanes
- Ride within the bicycle lane
- Ride on the sidewalk if the local city ordinances permit it, but cyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at all times
Right-of-Way Laws for Bicyclists in California
California Vehicle Code 21200 awards cyclists the same rights and responsibilities as drivers. This entitles bicyclists to the right-of-way just like all the other drivers on the road. However, it is important to remain aware of motorists as not all drivers recognize this law or respect the rights of bikers on the road. Other laws outlining the rights of bicyclists on the road include:
- California Vehicle Code 22517: this statute covers dooring. Dooring is when a driver opens their vehicle door into the path of an oncoming rider. Under this law, no driver shall open the door of their vehicle on the side that is available to moving traffic unless it can be done in a reasonably safe manner and without interfering with moving traffic.
- Bicyclists in traffic: cyclists are required to ride as close to the right side of the road as possible except when they’re trying to avoid a hazard, turn left, or when passing. They are also required to signal their movements when turning or preparing to change lanes.
- Riding on sidewalks and crosswalks: California allows cyclists to ride legally in crosswalks. Some cities permit cyclists to ride on sidewalks, but some cities have banned cyclists from using the sidewalks.
What Should I Do After a Bicycle Accident?
The steps you take after an accident will be important to ensuring your safety, as well as protecting your right to compensation if you decide to take legal action. You should consider the following steps after a bicycle accident:
- Ensure your safety: Get out of harm’s way by getting off the road if you can and check yourself for lacerations, or broken bones. Oftentimes, the adrenaline from an accident can mask the pain from major injuries.
- Call the Police: The police will file an accident report and take down the names of everyone involved, as well as assign fault based on the evidence in front of them. A police report will serve as evidence if you need to defend your claims later. Also, an ambulance can be called to make sure you get immediate medical treatment.
- Document the incident: Take photos or film the aftermath of the accident. Film yourself recounting the details of the incident and describe the pain you’re in. It is best to capture how the accident played out while the memory is still fresh in your mind.
- Gather witness statements and driver information: Film or record witnesses willing to give a statement about the accident. Take down their names and phone numbers. Photograph the license of the person who hit you and get their contact information. All of this information will help support your claim and assist your attorney in building your case.
- Do not admit fault: Don’t admit fault even if you feel you may have caused the accident. Allow the police to conduct their investigation and determine fault. Even if you are partially liable for the accident, you are still entitled to recover damages.
- Get Medical Attention: Even if you feel fine, it is important to get checked out by a doctor or go to a hospital. Certain injuries can lie dormant and manifest themselves hours or even days later.
Contact a Bicycle Accident Lawyer in California
If you or a loved one has been injured in a bicycle accident, the accident attorneys at Maison Law can get you the compensation you need to recover from your physical, mental, and financial damages, even if you were at fault. Our firm has years of experience in liability law and will aggressively pursue a successful outcome for your personal injury claim. Contact Maison Law today for a free consultation and case evaluation.
