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Wilmington, DE Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Rule
Must use adjacent bike path, not roadway
Citation
Wilmington City Code § 37-325
No path available
Ride near right side (§ 37-324)
Applies to
Bicycles, e-bikes, low-speed scooters, mopeds

Summary

Wilmington law requires cyclists to use an adjacent bike path instead of the roadway whenever one is provided, under City Code § 37-325.

Whenever a usable path for bicycles, electric bicycles, low-speed motorized scooters, or motorcycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, such riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.

Source: DE Motor Vehicle CodeView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 72).

Full Breakdown

Where a usable path for bicycles, electric bicycles, low-speed scooters, or motorcycles runs alongside a street, riders must use that path and are barred from riding on the roadway itself. Riders who lack a dedicated path must instead keep as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable under § 37-324. Both rules sit in the traffic chapter's bicycle article, enforced like other moving-vehicle rules.

Violations & Fines

Violating the mandatory-path-use rule is a traffic offense under Wilmington's bicycle regulations, subject to the same enforcement and penalty framework as the chapter's other bicycle provisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I ride on the street if there's a bike path next to it in Wilmington?
No. City Code § 37-325 requires cyclists to use a usable adjacent bike path and prohibits riding the roadway when one exists.
What if there's no bike path on my street?
Section 37-324 requires riding as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable, using normal care when passing standing or slower vehicles.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Wilmington

All Wilmington rules

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