San Diego, CA Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Cal. Veh. Code § 21209
- Allowed entry
- Parking, driveways, turn prep only
- Turn prep limit
- Within 200 feet of intersection
- Local ordinance
- None: state law governs
Summary
San Diego has no separate bike-lane ordinance: the ban on driving in a marked bicycle lane comes from California Vehicle Code § 21209, which lets a vehicle enter only to park, to reach a driveway, or to turn within 200 feet of an intersection.
(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.
Full Breakdown
California Vehicle Code § 21209 bars driving a motor vehicle inside a marked bicycle lane on San Diego streets except for three narrow purposes: parking where parking is legal, entering or leaving the roadway, or moving into the lane within 200 feet of an intersection to prepare for a turn. Motorized bicycles get a separate carve-out to use the lane at a safe, reasonable speed. SDPD enforces this as a moving violation; San Diego has not layered its own municipal bike-lane ordinance on top of the state rule.
Violations & Fines
Driving or stopping in a marked bike lane for any reason other than parking, entering/exiting the roadway, or setting up for a turn within 200 feet of the intersection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I drive in a San Diego bike lane to pass a car turning left?
Is there a San Diego city ordinance on bike lanes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego to another location·View the California mobility & curb rules overview
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Bike Lane Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Diego County handle bike lane rules.