California is a popular location for cyclists year-round, and many people ride bikes in Orange County both for fun and for commuting purposes. Orange County’s bike lanes are designed to keep bicyclists safe, but they only work if motor vehicle drivers and bicyclists alike respect the laws pertaining to their use. Discover the California bike lane laws OC drivers should know in 2026, so you can do your part to keep cyclists safe and avoid legal trouble.
Avoid Civil Claims by Following Pedestrian Accident Laws in the OC
If you ignore bike lane laws or any other regulations governing the use of motor vehicles in California, you could be held liable for any damages that occur should you hit a cyclist. Violating state or local laws and ordinances can be a potential basis for negligence per se, meaning that drivers who don’t follow the laws of the road can be presumed negligent when their violations cause injuries.
When Can Motor Vehicles Be in the Bike Lane?
Cars can only enter the bike lane for a few purposes. According to California Vehicle Code 21209, motor vehicles are prohibited in bike lanes unless they are parking, making a turn within 200 feet, or entering or exiting the roadway.
If you enter the bike lane under other circumstances in a motor vehicle and hit a cyclist, you can be found negligent and thus liable for that cyclist’s injuries. Keep in mind that the same laws apply to all motor vehicles, including delivery vans and rideshare drivers. Using bike lanes as staging zones or passing lanes is never permitted.
California’s Dooring Law
California Vehicle Code 22517 prohibits people in motor vehicles from opening their doors onto the side available to bike lanes unless it is safe to do so and does not interfere with bicyclists’ or other drivers’ movement. Dooring accidents can be serious, and they’re common in the OC.
Orange County is home to over 1,000 miles of bike lanes. Irvine, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach are home to many miles of master-planned inland trail networks for cyclist use. Many Class II bike lanes run alongside parallel parking, which puts riders at risk.
Cyclists struck by doors can be severely injured, and they have strong negligence per se claims. Drivers who door bicyclists are clearly violating their statutory duties, and those violations obviously lead to harm. Dooring accidents are common near colleges. Look out for bicyclists when opening your doors on major roads like Jamboree Road, Alton Parkway, and Culver Drive in Irvine.
Bicyclists Are Required to Use Bike Lanes When Available
According to California Vehicle Code 21208, bicyclists traveling slower than traffic are required to ride within bike lanes when they are available. There are, however, several explicit exceptions. Bicyclists can leave the bike lane and enter traffic when maneuvering the circumstances listed below:
- Overtaking slower vehicles
- Avoiding obstacles, debris, or other hazards, such as car doors
- Preparing for left turns
When cyclists leave bike lanes to avoid obstacles and are struck by following vehicles, drivers can be held liable for any injuries that occur. These cyclists are within their right to leave the bike lane, even if they’re traveling slower than traffic, if they are doing so to avoid a hazard.
How Common Are Bicycle Accidents?
There were 1,116 bicycle-involved motor vehicle accidents in Orange County in 2023, 196 of which involved riders under the age of 15. From 2021 through 2023, an average of 107 cyclists per year were killed in the OC.
Because bicyclists do not have anything but plastic helmets to protect them from impact, they often sustain severe and even fatal injuries when they are struck by cars, trucks, and SUVs. Drivers have a duty to protect all users of the road, including bicyclists, from undue harm. Responsible drivers should do their part to keep bicycle fatality and injury statistics low.
Why Choose Us?
The team at Easton & Easton has been practicing personal injury law for years, and in that time, we’ve taken on many bicycle accident cases. With over 100 years of combined legal experience, our bicycle accident attorneys know how to protect bicyclists and their families when injuries caused by motor vehicles disrupt careers and finances.
We can handle serious and complex injury cases and are always ready to take your case to court if the driver’s insurance company refuses to offer a fair settlement.
FAQs
Q: What Are the Rules for the Bike Lane in California?
A: The rules for the bike lane in California are that it’s exclusively for bicyclists, and those using it must ride in the same direction that traffic is flowing. Bicyclists can leave the bike lane to pass other cyclists, prepare for left turns, avoid hazards, or navigate lanes too narrow to share. Otherwise, they’re required to use the bike lanes if they are moving slower than vehicular traffic.
Q: What Are the New E-Bike Laws in California for 2026?
A: The new e-bike laws in California for 2026 are SB 1271 and AB 1774. SB 1271 dictates that all e-bikes and batteries sold in California after January 1, 2026, must meet certified safety standards. AB 1774 defines speed modifications and prohibits the use of any device or software designed to override speed or power limits. It also defines an electric bike as having operable pedals with an electric motor powered by fewer than 750 watts.
Q: Do You Have to Walk Your Bike Across a Crosswalk in CA?
A: You do not have to walk your bike across a crosswalk in CA. California Vehicle Code 21650(g) stipulates that it is legal to ride a bicycle in crosswalks in the Golden State as long as it’s permitted by local ordinances. While riding in a crosswalk, you must yield to pedestrians, and because you’re considered a vehicle, cars don’t have to stop for you while you’re crossing the crosswalk.
Q: Can You Ride Your Bike on the Sidewalk in CA?
A: You can ride your bike on the sidewalk in CA as long as there are no local city or county laws indicating that it is not permitted. California Vehicle Code Section 21206 gives local municipalities the authority to regulate sidewalk riding as long as their rules don’t conflict with statewide vehicle codes that apply to bicycles.
Hire a Bicycle Accident Lawyer With Knowledge of California Bike Accident Laws
If you’ve been hit by a car while riding in a bike lane, you should hire a bicycle accident lawyer right away. Your bicycle accident attorney can help you understand California bike accident laws, reconstruct the crash, establish liability, and hold the motor vehicle operator liable for the injuries you’ve sustained. Contact Easton & Easton to schedule an initial consultation to talk more about your bicycle accident case.
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