City of Berkeley, CA
04/01/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/01/2025 16:06
Park 20 feet from intersections to better see, protect pedestrians
With statewide "daylighting" law in effect as of Jan. 1, parked vehicles even in unpainted areas risk a $64 fine.
Published:
April 1, 2025
Last Updated:
April 1, 2025
Drivers should park their vehicles at least 20 feet from the approaching side of an intersection to help fellow motorists see and yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
Doing so also lowers the risk of getting ticketed as part of a California law that went into effect this year. Parking in these areas is illegal statewide and can yield a $64 ticket in Berkeley, regardless of whether the curb is painted red. On Cal Football gamedays in the autumn, the fine will increase to $96.
In Berkeley, parking enforcement has been educating drivers by giving out warnings about these newly off-limits "daylighting" zones -areas where parking is prohibited within 20 feet before a crosswalk on the right side of a two-way street or both sides on a one-way street.
Warnings will continue in unpainted red curbs as people continue to learn about the law. However, repeat offenders in unpainted daylighting zones may find they are ticketed.
The main reason for parking further away from intersections is safety. Help fellow motorists better see pedestrians at marked crosswalks as well as those unmarked ones (wherever a sidewalk curb opens toward another curb for a crossing).
Park at least 20 feet away from the approaching side of an intersection.
park approximately one car length from the crosswalk
Twenty feet is slightly longer than the length of a car. A Toyota Prius sedan car is 15 feet long. A Ford F-150 is 17.5 to 19 feet long. Park at least one car's length away from the intersection to avoid a citation.
Previous parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities within 20 feet of a crosswalk will be relocated away from the crosswalk to comply with this statewide law.
Below is a diagram to show how daylighting works at an intersection with both marked and unmarked crosswalks.
drivers must yield to pedestrians at all intersections
Generally speaking, pedestrians have the right-of-way at crosswalks and vehicles have the right-of-way on the roadway at points other than crosswalks.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter."
California Vehicle Code Section 21954 states: "Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard."
use cues to be aware of crosswalks
To alert drivers to yield to pedestrians, you'll see these cues on Berkeley streets:
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Yield lines (white triangles painted on the pavement) or paint markings reading "YIELD"
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Posted Yield signs near intersections
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Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons which flash at driver's eye level at select crosswalks
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High visibility crosswalks
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Curb extensions where a sidewalk juts out to create shorter crossing distances for pedestrians
When you see those cues, be alert for pedestrians.
city is working to paint all curbs red
The City of Berkeley has more than 1,700 intersections. Many of these intersections need upgrades to be consistent with the new daylighting law, such as: removing existing parking meters within 20 feet of a crosswalk, relocating parking spaces for people with disabilities (marked by blue curbs), and painting red curbs.
As resources allow, the City's ultimate goal is to paint the curb red at all daylighting zones and to implement additional infrastructure in select intersections - such as additional no parking paint, bike corrals, flexible posts, and boulders - to deter repeat daylighting violations.
Drivers can play a major role in the City's efforts by yielding to pedestrians and parking at least 20 feet from the approaching side of an intersection.