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The Seattle Municipal Code City of Seattle Bike Laws |
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| Correct as of Spring 2008. Use full text weblinks to confirm current status. | |||||
| Seattle city laws which are useful for bicyclists to know | |||||
| SMC | 11.14.055 | Bicycle is a human powered steerable device with a seat and wheels bigger than 16". | full text of 11.14.055 | ||
| SMC | 11.14.060 | Bicycle lane is a portion of road for preferential or exclusive use by bicycles. | full text of 11.14.060 | ||
| SMC | 11.14.310 | A marked bicycle crossing is a portion of road indicated for bicycle crossing. | full text of 11.14.310 | ||
| SMC | 11.14.345 | Motor-driven cycle includes every bicycle with motor attached | full text of 11.14.345 | ||
| SMC | 11.14.530 | A Roadway is a portion of a highway used for travel, not including sidewalk or shoulder | full text of 11.14.530 | ||
| SMC | 11.14.645 | Traffic includes pedestrians, bicycles, ridden or herded animals and vehicles. | full text of 11.14.645 | ||
| SMC | 11.14.710 | A bicycle is a vehicle. | full text of 11.14.710 | ||
| SMC | 11.40.020 | Pedestrians must obey traffic lights & walk signals | full text of 11.40.020 | ||
| SMC | 11.40.040 | Cars must stop for Pedestrian who steps off curb at intersection. | full text of 11.40.040 | ||
| SMC | 11.40.060 | Pedestrian can't step in front of a moving car. | full text of 11.40.060 | ||
| SMC | 11.40.090 | Can cross in middle of block if no traffic. | full text of 11.40.090 | ||
| SMC | 11.40.100 | Cannot cross in middle of block with traffic light at one or both ends. | full text of 11.40.100 | ||
| SMC | 11.40.140 | Cannot cross in middle of block on arterial. | full text of 11.40.140 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.020 | Bicycles have all the same RIGHTS and RESPONSIBILITIES as cars. | full text of 11.44.020 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.040 | 1 | Ride as far to the right as is safe and practical except when turning or passing. | full text of 11.44.040 | |
| SMC | 11.44.040 | 2 | Bicycles are not required to use a bike lane or shoulder. | full text of 11.44.040 | |
| SMC | 11.44.040 | 6 | Can legally take the lane if necessary. | full text of 11.44.040 | |
| SMC | 11.44.040 | 4 | Can ride on the left (with flow) on one way streets. | full text of 11.44.040 | |
| SMC | 11.44.040 | 5 | Can ride 2 abreast, not more. | full text of 11.44.040 | |
| SMC | 11.44.040 | 3 | Bicycles use turn lanes | full text of 11.44.040 | |
| SMC | 11.44.060 | Riding more than two (2) abreast prohibited. | full text of 11.44.060 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.080 | It is OK to pass cars on the right if safe & there's space for bicycle traffic | full text of 11.44.080 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.100 | A Bicycle may use a crosswalk, as if legally a pedestrian. | full text of 11.41.100 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.100 | Bicycles must yield to pedestrians when using a crosswalk. | full text of 11.44.100 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.100 | Bicycles may not enter a crosswalk in front of a moving car. | full text of 11.44.100 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.120 | Bicycles must yield to pedestrians when using a sidewalk or path. | full text of 11.44.120 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.140 | 1 | Must signal turns for 100 feet with left hand. (right: up, left: out, stop: down) | full text of 11.44.140 | |
| SMC | 11.44.140 | 2 | Right hand signal for right turn is an acceptable substitute. | full text of 11.44.140 | |
| SMC | 11.44.140 | 3 | OK to not use signal if both hands are needed to control the bicycle before turn. | full text of 11.44.140 | |
| SMC | 11.44.160 | At night, bikes must have white light on front, red reflector on the back. | full text of 11.44.160 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.160 | A red light on the back may be used in addition to the reflector | full text of 11.44.160 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.200 | Bikes must have brakes | full text of 11.44.200 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.210 | Must ride on the seat of the bike. | full text of 11.44.210 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.220 | One person per seat. | full text of 11.44.220 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.240 | Clinging or hitching to vehicles is illegal | full text of 11.44.240 | ||
| SMC | 11.44.260 | 1 | Must have at least one hand on the handlebars at all times | full text of 11.44.260 | |
| SMC | 11.44.260 | 2 | Cannot ride carrying anything with both hands while riding. | full text of 11.44.260 | |
| SMC | 11.44.280 | 1 | May not park obstructing pedestrian or car traffic. | full text of 11.44.280 | |
| SMC | 11.44.280 | 2 | May not park obstructing a bus stop or shelter. | full text of 11.44.280 | |
| SMC | 11.44.320 | Parents are responsible for kids obeying bike laws | full text of 11.44.320 | ||
| SMC | 11.53.190 | A car may not drive in a bike lane except to turn. | full text of 11.53.190 | ||
| SMC | 11.53.190 | Turning cars must yield to bicycles in a bike lane. | full text of 11.53.190 | ||
| SMC | 11.46.010 | Gas motorized scoters and bikes may not use sidewalks, bike lanes or paths. | full text of 11.46.010 | ||
| SMC | 11.46.010 | Electric bikes may not use bike lanes or paths. | full text of 11.46.010 | ||
| King County Health Code | |||||
| King County helmet law | |||||
| KCC | 9.10.010 | Must wear a bicycle helmet when riding a bicycle in King County. | full text of KC Health Code Title 9 | ||
| For legal opinions: | |||||
| consult | John Duggan | 206/343-1888 johnd@warrenduggan.com | |||
| or | Harvey Grad | 425/204-1100 harv@lawyerseattle.com | |||
| or | Joe Chalverus | 206/361-4840 Lawyerjoe@comcast.net | |||
| or | Bob Anderton | 206/262-9290 bob@andertonlaw.com | |||
| or | Bob Mionske | bob@bicyclelaw.com or http://www.bicyclelaw.com/html/index.html | |||