Washington § 46.61.770 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.

Washington Statutes

§ 46.61.770 — Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.

Washington § 46.61.770

Title 46MOTOR VEHICLES

Ch. 46.61RULES OF THE ROAD

This text of Washington § 46.61.770 (Riding on roadways and bicycle paths.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.770 (2026).

Text

(1)Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except:

(a)While preparing to make or while making turning movements at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;

(b)When approaching an intersection where right turns are permitted and there is a dedicated right turn lane, in which case a person may operate a bicycle in this lane even if the operator does not intend to turn right;

(c)While overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; and

(d)When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicle

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(1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except:

(a) While preparing to make or while making turning movements at an intersection or into a private road or driveway;

(b) When approaching an intersection where right turns are permitted and there is a dedicated right turn lane, in which case a person may operate a bicycle in this lane even if the operator does not intend to turn right;

(c) While overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; and

(d) When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, animals, and surface hazards.

(2) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or highway other than a limited access highway, which roadway or highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe.

(3) A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane.

(4) When the operator of a bicycle is using the travel lane of a roadway with only one lane for traffic moving in the direction of travel and it is wide enough for a bicyclist and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within it, the bicycle operator shall operate far enough to the right to facilitate the movement of an overtaking vehicle unless other conditions make it unsafe to do so or unless the bicyclist is preparing to make a turning movement or while making a turning movement.

(5) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

(6) This section does not apply on a shared street as defined in RCW 46.61.197 .

Finding — Intent — Effective date — 2019 c 403: See notes following RCW 46.04.071 .