Being allowed to skateboard in the bike lane in California will depend on the specific city’s municipal code. The state of California does allow skateboarders to use the bike lane, however, they do allow individual cities to regulate their own bike lanes.
For instance, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento both do not allow skateboarders to use the bike lane. So, depending on the local laws, skateboarders may or may not be allowed to use the bike lane.
California Skateboard Law
in the state of California, all bicyclists, scooter riders, and skateboarders have the legal right to use the road, as well as the bike lane in California. But even with the general right to skateboard in the bike lane, there are provisions skateboarders must follow:
- Skateboarders under the age of 18 are required by law to wear helmets at all times
- Must stop at stop signs and red lights
- Must yield to all vehicles at yield signs
- Skateboarders are required to yield to both marked and unmarked crosswalks
- Must not impede traffic or interfere with the flow of traffic
- Cannot be towed by a motor vehicle or bicycle at an unsafe speed
- Skateboarders must yield to bicyclists in the bike lane
- Skateboarders cannot leave a curb or any roadside place of safety and travel in the path of a vehicle
It is important to know that motorized skateboards are permitted in bike lanes in California. Motorized skateboards were banned from the bike lane until 2016 when Governor Jerry Brown passed Assembly Bill 604.
Can Motorists Enter the Bike Lane in California?
Generally, no, motorists are not permitted to enter the bike lane as their presence would put cyclists and skateboarders in harm’s way. However, skateboarders should be aware that motorists are permitted to drive on the bike lane in the following scenarios:
- To enter or leave the road
- Preparing for a turn at an intersection
- To park
California Vehicle Code 21209 does not allow motorized bicycles in the bike lane, however, when they are in the bike lane, they’re required to drive at a safe speed. The statute goes on to say:“(a) No person shall drive a motor vehicle in a bicycle lane established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207 except as follows:
(1) To park where parking is permitted.
(2) To enter or leave the roadway.
(3) To prepare for a turn within a distance of 200 feet from the intersection.
(b) This section does not prohibit the use of a motorized bicycle in a bicycle lane, pursuant to Section 21207.5, at a speed no greater than is reasonable or prudent, having due regard for visibility, traffic conditions, and the condition of the roadway surface of the bicycle lane, and in a manner which does not endanger the safety of bicyclists.”
Bike Lanes and Dooring Accidents
Dooring accidents occur when a driver opens their vehicle door into the pathway of another. These accidents are common in bike lanes due to bike lanes and sidewalks being alongside the street where cars are parked. Dooring accident victims are covered by California Vehicle Law. According to California Vehicle Code 22517. This law states no one is permitted to open a car or truck door on the side of the road next to moving traffic, except when it is reasonably safe to open the door, and the person may do so without interfering with traffic.
Who is Liable for a Dooring Skateboarder Accident?
Liability for a dooring accident comes down to the driver or the person who opened the car door in the path of a skateboarder. Oftentimes, the driver is the party with the duty of care because their door will typically be the one opening up into the street where skateboarders could be riding in the bike lane.
Duty of care isn’t just a suggestion for drivers, it is a law they must follow. According to Civil Code 1714, people are responsible for their actions and preventing their property from harming others. This duty of care also includes not dooring skateboarders on the road.
Proving a driver caused a dooring accident requires clear evidence. An argument that a driver opened their door without exercising a duty of care may not be enough evidence. An experienced Skateboard Injury Lawyer can help you collect solid evidence for a dooring case. Evidence needed to build a strong case includes a police report, witness statements, photographs of the accident scene, and camera footage of the incident.
How Bicycle Dooring Accidents Cause Injuries
When a driver or passenger opens the door of a vehicle in the immediate path of an oncoming skateboarder, it provides the opportunity for significant injuries to occur in several ways:
- The skateboarder collides directly with the door without being able to stop or redirect
- The impact catapults the skateboarder off their skateboard, causing a horrific fall against the cement
- The skateboarder manages to swerve out of the way but rides out into open traffic, causing a horrific accident with multiple drivers
- The skateboarder loses control of their bike attempting to avoid the open door and skids across the pavement
Contact a California Skateboard Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to a skateboard accident in a bike lane, the Skateboard Accident Attorneys at Maison Law are here to help. Our firm specializes in protecting skateboarders from liability and pursuing compensation for their injuries, even if they’re partially at fault. To learn more about your right to compensation, contact Maison Law today for a free, no-obligation consultation. There are no upfront fees and you don’t pay a cent until we’ve won your case.
