Quick Summary:
- Cross a dashed bike lane only to enter the kerbside turn area.
- Do not drive in a solid bike lane, except where markings permit.
- Always yield to cyclists going straight before turning right across them.
- Shoulder check twice, signal early, and merge smoothly without sudden braking.
Driving a car hire in California often means sharing busy streets with cyclists, scooters, buses, and frequent right turns off multi-lane roads. One of the most common points of confusion for visitors is whether you are allowed to cross a bike lane to turn right, and exactly when you must yield. California’s rules are straightforward in principle, but the road markings and local layouts can make it feel less clear in real traffic.
This guide breaks down solid versus dashed bike lane lines, how to execute the turn with proper checks, and where officers are most likely to enforce failures to yield. It is written for everyday driving situations around airports and city centres, including routes you might take after picking up a vehicle via San Francisco Airport car rental or on business and leisure trips starting from Sacramento car hire.
What the bike lane lines mean in California
Before you turn, read the paint. California uses several styles of bike lane markings, and each has a different implication for where you can position your car before turning.
Dashed (broken) bike lane line near intersections is the marking you are usually looking for when you need to turn right. It typically appears as you approach a junction or driveway. This indicates a mixing zone where motor vehicles may move across the bike lane to prepare for a turn, provided it is safe and you yield to cyclists.
Solid (continuous) bike lane line indicates a lane reserved for bicycle travel. In general, do not drive in it. You may need to cross it briefly at a specific crossing point, such as where the bike lane becomes dashed approaching the intersection, or where there is a marked driveway or junction entry. Treat the solid line as a strong cue to stay out until the permitted merge area arrives.
Two solid lines or a painted buffer often separate the bike lane from traffic, sometimes with diagonal hatching. This is a more protected layout. Do not enter the buffer. You should only cross where markings explicitly show a mixing or turn zone, often with dashes. If you cannot legally merge, you must turn from the adjacent general traffic lane and yield across the bike lane at the corner, without driving along the bike lane.
Green paint is usually a visibility treatment at conflict points. It does not by itself change who has priority. Assume cyclists may be present and that enforcement is more likely where green paint highlights a merging or crossing area.
Can you cross a bike lane to turn right?
Yes, but only in the correct place and only after yielding. The safest, most legally defensible approach is to wait until the bike lane becomes dashed (or otherwise marked as a mixing zone), then merge across the bike lane close to the corner to set up your right turn. This reduces the chance of “right hook” collisions, where a driver turns across a cyclist travelling straight.
If the bike lane remains solid all the way to the corner, do not drive along it. Instead, stay in your lane, slow, signal, and turn right across the bike lane at the intersection or driveway opening when clear. The key difference is that you cross the bike lane as part of the turning movement, rather than merging early and travelling parallel in the bike lane.
In practical terms, in a California car hire you should assume: merge only where you see dashes or clear turn guidance, otherwise stay out of the bike lane and turn across it at the corner after yielding.
When must you yield, and to whom?
You must yield to cyclists travelling straight in the bike lane when your right turn would cross their path. This includes e-bikes and standard bicycles. If a cyclist is approaching from behind in the bike lane, they are the through traffic. Your obligation is to wait until they pass, or until you can safely merge into the turn position without forcing them to brake or swerve.
You also must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Many right-turn conflicts happen because drivers focus on cyclists behind them and forget that pedestrians may be stepping off the kerb. California intersections often have high foot traffic near beaches, stadiums, and downtown corridors.
If there is a right-turn-only lane next to a bike lane, treat the lane change into that turn lane like any other lane change. Signal, check mirrors, shoulder check, then move only when safe. If cyclists can also ride in the right-turn lane area due to markings, they still have priority to continue straight unless signage indicates otherwise.
Solid vs dashed bike lanes, how to execute the right turn safely
Use this sequence to handle most California right turns across bike lanes. It is deliberately methodical because a visitor in an unfamiliar car hire may have different blind spots, mirror shapes, or seating position than at home.
1) Identify the lane type early
About a block before your turn, scan for the bike lane boundary. Is it solid, dashed, buffered, or protected by posts? This tells you whether you should plan to merge near the corner or stay in your lane and turn across at the intersection.
If you are driving in dense areas such as San Francisco, where cycling volumes are high, consider leaving extra time for turns. If you are collecting keys through San Francisco SFO car hire, practise finding your right-side blind spot in a quiet street before heading into the centre.
2) Signal early, but do not drift
Signal right well in advance. Signalling early helps cyclists anticipate your intention and may prevent them from riding up the inside at the worst moment. However, do not drift toward the bike lane while you are still behind solid lines. Keep a steady line until you reach the permitted merge area.
3) Mirror check, then shoulder check twice
Do a right mirror check, then a quick shoulder check over your right shoulder. In many vehicles, a cyclist can sit in a blind spot even when the mirror looks clear.
Do a second shoulder check just before you cross the line or begin turning. This matters because cyclists can close distance quickly, especially on slight downhills, and because a rider may appear from behind a parked vehicle line.
4) If the line is dashed, merge into the turn position close to the corner
When the bike lane becomes dashed, merge smoothly across it into the kerbside position to turn, but only if it is clear. Do not cut across late with a sharp angle. A gentle merge gives cyclists and drivers behind you a predictable path.
Once you merge, maintain a steady speed and complete the turn without stopping unnecessarily. Stopping in the mixing zone can invite a cyclist to pass on your right at the exact moment you turn.
5) If the line is solid or buffered, do not enter the bike lane
Stay in your lane until the intersection, then turn across the bike lane when clear, yielding to cyclists and pedestrians. If you cannot see well, slow earlier and be prepared to wait. Never “creep” into the bike lane to improve your view if it blocks cyclists, particularly near driveways.
6) Watch for special cases: protected intersections and right-turn pockets
Some California cities use protected intersections, where the bike lane bends away from the kerb and crosses the turning path at a marked crossing. You may have to yield at a specific point, similar to yielding at a crosswalk. Follow the paint and any yield markings. Cyclists may approach from behind and also from your right if the geometry routes them differently.
Other places provide a dedicated right-turn pocket that requires crossing a bike lane at a designated dashed segment earlier than you expect. The same rule applies: cross only where permitted, yield, then complete the turn.
Common enforcement hotspots and what police look for
Enforcement varies, but officers and traffic units tend to focus on predictable conflict areas: high-volume commuting routes, tourist corridors, and streets with a history of bike crashes. Typical patterns include:
Downtown grids and waterfront routes, where cyclists travel straight through multiple signals and drivers make frequent right turns. Failure to yield is highly visible here because conflicts happen at low speeds and in full view of patrols.
Near major campuses and transit hubs, where bike lane use is heavy and riders may be less predictable. Officers watch for right turns made from the wrong position, such as turning from the second lane while cutting across a bike lane and the kerb lane.
Airport approach roads and hotel districts, where out-of-town drivers in car hire vehicles may signal late or miss dashed merge zones. If your trip starts near Southern California airports, be especially careful on multi-lane arterials around Santa Ana and Orange County after arranging Santa Ana SNA car rental.
Beach cities and entertainment areas, where bike lanes run alongside parking and frequent driveways. Police often focus on unsafe turns into car parks, and on drivers who block bike lanes while waiting for pedestrians.
What enforcement often comes down to is whether your movement was predictable and whether you yielded. If a cyclist had to brake, shout, or change line, that is the sort of interaction that draws attention.
Practical tips for hire-car drivers in California
Set mirrors before you leave the car park. Many visitors drive away with mirrors set for a different driver. Adjust side mirrors to minimise blind spots, and confirm you can see the bike lane zone when you shoulder check.
Expect filtering. Cyclists may ride past queues on the right. If you are waiting to turn right at a red light, keep your wheels straight and leave space, but do not invite passing on the inside by drifting wide.
Do not stop in the bike lane. If traffic is backed up, wait before the dashed mixing zone so you do not block the bike lane. This is both a safety issue and a frequent source of citations in some cities.
Be careful with wide vehicles. If you are in a people carrier or larger vehicle, your rear swing can intrude into the bike lane during tight right turns. Build in extra space and turn slowly. This is especially relevant if you are travelling with family in a larger option like California minivan hire at LAX.
Assume cyclists can be fast. E-bikes can approach quicker than you expect. Make your second shoulder check a habit just before you commit.
What if a cyclist is behind you when you need to turn?
If you are approaching a right turn and a cyclist is close behind in the bike lane, the safest option is to slow smoothly, signal, and let the cyclist pass before you merge or turn. If there is a dashed mixing zone and the cyclist is far enough back, you may be able to merge into the turn position after yielding, then turn. The key is not to force the cyclist into a sudden stop or into moving left into traffic.
If you are already at the corner and the bike lane is solid up to the intersection, you will typically stay in your lane and complete the turn only when the bike lane is clear. If in doubt, wait. A brief pause is better than a right hook collision.
FAQ
Q: Can I drive in a California bike lane briefly to reach my right turn?
A: Only where markings allow, typically a dashed segment near the junction. If the line stays solid or there is a buffer, do not enter, turn across only when clear.
Q: When I’m turning right, do cyclists going straight have priority?
A: Yes. You must yield to cyclists travelling straight in the bike lane before crossing their path, even if you are already signalling.
Q: If I signal right, should cyclists stop and let me merge?
A: No. Signalling communicates intent, but it does not grant priority. Wait for a safe gap, then merge where permitted without forcing a cyclist to brake.
Q: What is the safest way to avoid a right hook in a hire car?
A: Signal early, mirror check, shoulder check, then shoulder check again just before turning. Merge only in dashed zones, and keep your turn smooth and predictable.
Q: Where is enforcement more common for bike lane violations in California?
A: Often in downtown grids, near campuses and transit hubs, and on tourist corridors with heavy cycling. Police focus on failures to yield and blocking bike lanes in queues.
