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Bike Laws in Washington State

 


  The popular Pocket Reference Guide for Washington Bicycle Laws is available for download here.

  Print it double-sided and you can cut it out, fold it up, and put it in your wallet or saddle bag for future needs.

  This pocket guide includes a description of the safety stop law which was passed in 2020. You should know this law.

Below is a more complete list of the statutory laws related to bicycling, including motor vehicle laws as they pertain to interacting with cyclists. 

You may download a copy of these laws.

Washington State Bike Laws - 2022

RCW

Code Description

46.04.071

A Bicycle is defined as a human powered device with 2 wheels bigger than 16 inches.

46.61.050

Bicycles must obey traffic lights and stop signs (as well as all other traffic control devices)

46.61.110

Vehicles passing bicycles shall allow at least 3 feet of distance

46.61.126

Bicycles & Pedestrians must follow traffic laws

46.61.160

Bicycles cannot ride on some limited access highways

46.61.190

The Safety Stop allows cyclists to treat stop signs as yields if there is no oncoming traffic

bikes forbidden:

SR 520, I-405, I-90 (exit 0 to exit 17), I-5 (Lakewood to Marysville), parts of 18, 518, 522 & 599 and a few others.

46.61.261

A bicycle must yield to a pedestrian on a sidewalk or crosswalk.

46.61.700

Parents are responsible for kids obeying bike laws

46.61.710

Mopeds and gas powered bikes & scooters are not allowed on sidewalks or trails.

46.04.169

Electric-assist bicycles permissible with no more than 1,000 watts of power and maximum speed of 20mph with or without assist.

46.61.710

Electric-assist bicycles allowed on sidewalks and trails but maybe locally forbidden.

46.61.723

Fully electric powered bikes are not allowed on sidewalks or trails.

46.61.750

Bicyclists riding on roads must obey all traffic laws.

46.61.750

Bicyclists may be ticketed for violating traffic laws

46.61.750

Traffic laws apply on bicycle trails too.

46.61.755

Bicycles have all the same RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES as cars.

46.61.755

A bicycle is a vehicle on the road or a pedestrian on the sidewalk

46.61.758

Must signal turns with left hand (right=up, left=out, stop=down). But Right hand signal for right turn is an acceptable substitute.

46.61.760

Only one person per bicycle seat.

46.61.765

Clinging to vehicles is illegal

46.61.770

Ride as far to the right as is safe and practical except when turning or passing.

46.61.770

Bicycles are not required to use a bike lane or shoulder.

46.61.770

Bicycles can and should use turn lanes

46.61.770

Bicycles can ride on the left (with the traffic flow) on one way streets.

46.61.770

Can ride 2 abreast, not more.

46.61.770

Can legally take the lane if necessary.

46.61.775

Must have at least one hand on the handlebars at all times

46.61.775

Cannot ride carrying anything with both hands while riding.

46.61.780

Bikes must have brakes

46.61.780

At night, bikes must have white light on front, red reflector on the back.

46.61.780

Steady or flashing red rear light may be used in addition to the reflector.

46.61.790

Legal to bicycle drunk, but police may impound bicycle if you are too drunk.

47.36.025

New and updated traffic signals must detect bicycles.

Some state laws for cars which are useful for bicyclists to know - 2022

RCW

Code Description

46.04.197

A Highway is defined as the width of every public roadway between property lines.

46.04.500

A Roadway is defined as a highway excluding sidewalk & shoulder.

46.04.670

A Vehicle is defined as a device capable of being moved upon a public highway.

46.04.670

Bicycles are defined as vehicles.

46.61.115(b)

It is OK to pass cars on the right if safe & there’s space for bicycle traffic

46.61.125(1)(d)

Car must yield to oncoming bicycle if passing.

46.61.135(3)

Illegal to go left around traffic circles.

46.61.185

Vehicle turning left must yield to all oncoming vehicles going straight

46.61.205

A car on a private road or driveway must yield to all vehicles approaching.

46.61.235

Illegal to pass a car stopped for a pedestrian or bicycle.

46.61.261

Car must yield to bicycle on sidewalk

46.61.400

Max speed: 25 MPH on city streets, 50 on county roads, 60 on state highways

46.61.425

May go slow & impede traffic if necessary for safety.

46.61.425

May exceed speed limit briefly to pass slow vehicle.

46.61.427

Must pull out where safe if five or more vehicles delayed on a 2 lane hwy.

46.61.445

Due care is required!

46.61.500

Driving in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property

46.61.606

Cars can’t drive on sidewalk

46.61.620

Check before opening car door. Don’t leave car door open.

46.61.667

Driver may not hold a celphone to their ear. (effective Jul 1 08)

46.61.668

Driver may not send, read or write text message except in emergency.

46.61.670

Illegal for car to drive with 2 or 4 wheels off pavement.

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