San Diego police issued 526 citations to bicyclists for failing to stop or yield properly between January 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016, according to data from the San Diego Police Department.

That amounts to 28 percent of the 1,625 tickets given to bicyclists during the same time period.

(Beto Alvarez)

The city’s recent push to increase bicycle commuting has stirred fierce debate between motorists and cyclists about proper biking and driving etiquette.


× Cars will have to share downtown San Diego’s streets much more evenly with bicyclists and pedestrians under an ambitious new plan that aims to boost safety and fight climate change.

Some called out bicyclists for taking up the full traffic lane - 26 bicyclists received tickets for not using the right edge of the road during the year and a half of data obtained through the public records request. Cyclists pushed back, saying that in certain situations they need space, especially in areas where they are likely to get doored by someone getting out of a car.

Others critiqued bicyclists on what they get cited for most: not stopping.

Olin Thompson commented on The San Diego Union-Tribune website about a month ago, “The basic problem with bike riders is their complete ignorance and/or ignoring rules of the road. Since when is a bike rider immune from stopping at STOP signs or crossing against a red light, ignoring pedestrians, and other rules of the road?”


Bill Davidson, an advocate of bicycle safety classes, responded, “I see more law breaking by motorists than cyclists, especially speeding, tailgating, failing to signal and failing to yield to pedestrians. I can’t remember the last time I was on the road and didn’t notice several different motorists holding cell phones. I also always see someone enter an intersection just after the light turns red, often from a left turn lane. I see a lot of rolling right on red, rolling stop signs.”

Not all tickets were related to bicycle operation. The reasons for the citations ranged from biking on the wrong side of the street to drug possession.

Forty-five people were ticketed for having headphones or earplugs in both ears. One person, a 36-year-old man, received a ticket for texting while biking.

A 57-year-old man was cited for having handlebars that were too high. Handlebars should be no higher than shoulder-height, according to California’s vehicle code.


A 49-year-old man was ticketed for hitching a ride with another vehicle.

Also see: Where bicycles get stolen