California Vehicle Code (CVC) 21202 explains that cyclists should use bike lanes when provided unless they can match the speed of vehicles in traffic lanes. If there is no bike lane, they should remain on the far right-hand side of the right lane when possible.
Do I Have to Use a Bike Lane on a California Street?
California Law expects cyclists to use bike lanes when they are present on all California streets and highways. When bike lanes aren’t available, riders do have full right to take a traffic lane just like any motorist.
These are the basic guidelines for riders, but there are a few other guidelines cyclists should know and observe:
- Riders should use bike lanes if they are provided, but they can still ride in traffic lanes if they can keep up with the speed of cars around them.
- Riders can use the roadway if a bike lane is blocked (perhaps by a parked van) or if there are no bike lanes.
- Riders using traffic lanes should ride along the right-hand side of the right lane when it’s safe to do so.
- Riders can take an entire lane of traffic if there isn’t room to share a lane with vehicles safely.
You can find more articles about California Bicycle Laws on our page about State Traffic and Safety Laws.
The California Vehicle Code Regarding When to Use Bike Lanes
The vehicle code that covers the laws for bicyclists traveling on roadways goes over the circumstances that a cyclist can command the entire lane:
“(a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge, subject to the provisions of Section 21656. For purposes of this section, a “substandard width lane” is a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle and a vehicle to travel safely side by side within the lane.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway of a highway, which highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near the left-hand curb or edge of that roadway as practicable.”
California statutes also go over the circumstances in which a rider may leave a bike lane:
“(a) Whenever a bicycle lane has been established on a roadway pursuant to Section 21207, any person operating a bicycle upon the roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at that time shall ride within the bicycle lane, except that the person may move out of the lane under any of the following situations:
(1) When overtaking and passing another bicycle, vehicle, or pedestrian within the lane or about to enter the lane if the overtaking and passing cannot be done safely within the lane.
(2) When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway.
(3) When reasonably necessary to leave the bicycle lane to avoid debris or other hazardous conditions.
(4) When approaching a place where a right turn is authorized.
(b) No person operating a bicycle shall leave a bicycle lane until the movement can be made with reasonable safety and then only after giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided in Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 22100) in the event that any vehicle may be affected by the movement.”
Contact a California Bicycle Accident Lawyer
California drivers can be ignorant of the law or just careless and put a cyclist in danger of a devastating collision.
After a bicycle accident involving a serious injury, you should talk over your case and your options with a California Bicycle Accident Lawyer at Maison Law. If your crash was caused by a reckless driver, you shouldn’t face your recovery costs alone.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our skilled attorneys. It’s a chance to determine how much an at-fault driver should provide for you. And if you need our help to earn more for your claim, you won’t need any upfront money to hire us. Maison Law doesn’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement a car insurance company must provide.
