Dallas, TX Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Dallas Code Chapter 28
- State backstop
- TX Transportation Code 551
- Sidewalk ban zone
- Central business district only
- Night lighting
- Front white rear red required
- Plan
- 2011 Dallas Bike Plan ongoing
Summary
Dallas treats bicycles as vehicles under Chapter 28 traffic rules and is building out the 2011 Dallas Bike Plan with on-street, buffered, and protected lanes. Motor vehicles must yield within marked bicycle lanes.
Sec. 551.103. OPERATION ON ROADWAY. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a person operating a bicycle on a roadway who is moving slower than the other traffic on the roadway shall ride as near as practicable to the right curb or edge of the roadway, unless:(1) the person is passing another vehicle moving in the same direction;(2) the person is preparing to turn left at an intersection or onto a private road or driveway;(3) a condition on or of the roadway, including a fixed or moving object, parked or moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or surface hazard prevents the person from safely riding next to the right curb or edge of the roadway; or(4) the person is operating a bicycle in an outside lane that is:(A) less than 14 feet in width and does not have a designated bicycle lane adj...
Full Breakdown
Dallas Chapter 28 incorporates Texas Transportation Code Chapter 551 and treats bicycles as vehicles entitled to use the full travel lane unless a bike lane is provided. The 2011 Dallas Bike Plan, updated through subsequent transportation bond programs, expands a network of striped, buffered, and concrete-protected bicycle lanes across downtown, Oak Cliff, and East Dallas. Drivers may not park, stop, drive, or turn through a marked bike lane except to enter a driveway or make a right turn from the closest practicable position. Cyclists must ride with traffic, signal turns, and use front white and rear red lights at night. Sidewalk riding is permitted citywide except inside the central business district, where it is banned by ordinance.
Violations & Fines
Drivers blocking or driving in a bike lane face moving violations starting at two hundred dollars under Chapter 28. Cyclists who ride against traffic or without required night lighting face citations near fifty dollars per offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride my bike on Dallas sidewalks?
Does Dallas require bicycle helmets?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas to another location·View the Texas mobility & curb rules overview
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Bike Lane Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle bike lane rules.