It is the goal of Sacramento County to create and maintain an integrated system of bikeways that is direct, safe and convenient to use for work, school, errands and recreation. The County recognizes the need to encourage and promote bicycle use as a viable, attractive, non-polluting form of transportation that improves physical fitness and community well-being. The Sacramento County Bicycle Master Plan is the guiding document for achieving this goal.

Bikeway Maintenance

The Department of Transportation maintains bikeways in unincorporated Sacramento County.  This maintenance includes sweeping bike lanes to keep them free of debris, ensuring that bike lane markings are visible and that traffic signal equipment is operational.

You may initiate a request for maintenance in the unincorporated area of Sacramento County HERE.

Bicycle Safety

The most common cause of bicycle accidents occur when bicycle riders travel on the wrong side of the road against traffic.  Bicycle riders and automobile drivers follow the same rules and have the same rights.  These rules include obeying traffic signals and signs.  Be sure to use the proper safety equipment such as an approved bicycle helmet, bright clothing and safety goggles.  Your bicycle should be equipped with the appropriate color reflectors.  It is the law in California that when riding at night you have a white headlamp, attached to the bicycle or your body that can be seen from 300 feet to the front and from the sides and illuminates the road or bikeway in front of the bicyclists. (California Vehicle Code Section 21201)

Planning a Bike Trip?

Before heading into uncharted territory for the first time consider doing the following for your safety:

1. Drive the route in your car first with an eye on how it would be on a bike.
2. If not possible, check the route using Google Streetview, or other online tools.  Remember that conditions can change quite a bit from when the photos were taken.
3. Try the new route for the first time on a Saturday or Sunday morning when traffic is light and you are not under time constraints.
4. Ask other bicyclists what their favorite routes are and what to look out for.
5. Try out the Sacramento Region Travel Info website and the online bicycle trip planner for suggested routes at http://www.sacregion511.org.  Don’t take their word for it, check the route with steps 1 through 4.

Contact Information

Dan Klinker, Associate Civil Engineer
Phone: 916-874-3926
Email: klinkerd@saccounty.net