As a longtime resident of Sacramento, I have witnessed the popularity of biking in the capital city. With the relatively recent introduction of the electric “JUMP” bikes and scooters, more people than ever are riding bikes around the city. However, did you know that in California, biker-riders are considered to have the same rights, responsibilities, and traffic laws as motor vehicle drivers?
California state law allows cities and counties to determine whether bike riding on sidewalks is legal. A City of Sacramento ordinance, Sacramento Municipal Code 10.76.010, allows bike-riding on sidewalks, unless a sign has been posted prohibiting it. Essentially, this ordinance enables bikers to ride on sidewalks even if there is a bike lane.
In some situations, riding a bike on a sidewalk may be the only safe option. Not all roads have bike lanes or the traffic is too heavy to ride in the street. However, sidewalks are designed for people walking; thus, bikers need to be aware of their surroundings even if sidewalk riding is legal in your area. Only five cities in California have completely banned bike-riding on sidewalks: Carlsbad, El Cajon, Escondido, National City, and Vista.
Over the years, many people in Sacramento have been severely injured by biking on sidewalks or by bikes on sidewalks. Around 150 people were killed on the streets in Sacramento between 2009 and 2015. During this time, nearly half of the people killed were either biking or walking at the time.
Sacramento has been trying to do more in recent years to protect pedestrians and bikers with many bikeway projects currently underway. In 2017, the Sacramento City Council adopted a new traffic safety philosophy known as Vision Zero with the goal “to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2027.” Another initiative that recently passed the Assembly Transportation Committee was the Complete Streets for Active Living Bill, Senate Bill 127, which would require Caltrans to follow its own Complete Streets Policy.
So should we be able to ride bikes on sidewalks even if there are bike lanes just because it’s legal? Are our bike laws too antiquated now? Let us know what you think. Contact a Sacramento personal injury lawyer at Eason & Tambornini, A Law Corporation if you have been hurt while riding a bike so we can discuss your case.
