Link to Ch 46 of the Revised Code of Washington
<![CDATA[RCW 46.04.071 Bicycle. "Bicycle" means every device
propelled solely by human power upon which a person or persons may
ride, having two tandem wheels either of which is sixteen inches or
more in diameter, or three wheels, any one of which is more than
twenty inches in diameter. [1982 c 55 § 4; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 86.]]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.04.197 Highway. Highway means the entire width
between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when
any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of
vehicular travel. [1965 ex.s. c 155 § 87. Formerly RCW
46.04.431.]]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.04.200 Hours of darkness. "Hours of darkness" means
the hours from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before
sunrise, and any other time when persons or objects may not be
clearly discernible at a distance of five hundred feet. [1961 c 12
§ 46.04.200. Prior: 1959 c 49 § 21; prior: 1937 c 189 § 1, part; RRS § 6360-1, part.]]]><![CDATA[ RCW 46.04.500 Roadway. "Roadway" means that portion of a
highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular
travel, exclusive of the sidewalk or shoulder even though such
sidewalk or shoulder is used by persons riding bicycles. In the
event a highway includes two or more separated roadways, the term
"roadway" shall refer to any such roadway separately but shall not
refer to all such roadways collectively. [1977 c 24 § 1; 1961 c 12
§ 46.04.500. Prior: 1959 c 49 § 54; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 § 1,
part; 1937 c 188 § 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 6312-1, part. (ii)
1937 c 189 § 1, part; RRS § 6360-1, part.]]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.04.670 Vehicle. "Vehicle" includes every device
capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by
which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn
upon a public highway, including bicycles. The term does not
include devices other than bicycles moved by human or animal power
or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. Mopeds shall
not be considered vehicles or motor vehicles for the purposes of
chapter 46.70 RCW. Bicycles shall not be considered vehicles for
the purposes of chapter 46.12, 46.16, or 46.70 RCW. [1994 c 262 §
2; 1991 c 214 § 2; 1979 ex.s. c 213 § 4; 1961 c 12 § 46.04.670.
Prior: 1959 c 49 § 72; prior: (i) 1943 c 153 § 1, part; 1937 c
188 § 1, part; Rem. Supp. 1943 § 6312-1, part. (ii) 1937 c 189 §
1, part; RRS § 6360-1, part; 1929 c 180 § 1, part; 1927 c 309 § 2,
part; RRS § 6362-2, part.]
NOTES:
Mopeds
helmet required: RCW 46.37.530, 46.37.535.
motorcycle endorsement, exemption: RCW 46.20.500.
operation and safety standards: RCW 46.61.710, 46.61.720.
registration: RCW 46.16.630. ]]><![CDATA[ RCW 46.61.160 Restrictions on use of limited-access highway--
Use by bicyclists. The department of transportation may by order,
and local authorities may by ordinance or resolution, with respect
to any limited access highway under their respective jurisdictions
prohibit the use of any such highway by funeral processions, or by
parades, pedestrians, bicycles or other nonmotorized traffic, or by
any person operating a motor-driven cycle. Bicyclists may use the
right shoulder of limited-access highways except where prohibited.
The department of transportation may by order, and local
authorities may by ordinance or resolution, with respect to any
limited-access highway under their respective jurisdictions
prohibit the use of the shoulders of any such highway by bicycles
within urban areas or upon other sections of the highway where such
use is deemed to be unsafe.
The department of transportation or the local authority
adopting any such prohibitory regulation shall erect and maintain
official traffic control devices on the limited access roadway on
which such regulations are applicable, and when so erected no
person may disobey the restrictions stated on such devices. [1982
c 55 § 5; 1975 c 62 § 25; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 27.]
NOTES:
Severability--1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.61.700 Parent or guardian shall not authorize or
permit violation by a child or ward. The parent of any child and
the guardian of any ward shall not authorize or knowingly permit
any such child or ward to violate any of the provisions of this
chapter. [1965 ex.s. c 155 § 78.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note: This section was enacted just before sections
about the operation of bicycles and play vehicles and was
accordingly so codified in 1965. Other sections enacted later have
been codified under the numbers remaining between RCW 46.61.700 and
46.61.750. The section appears in the Uniform Vehicle Code (1962)
as part of the first section of Article XII--Operation of Bicycles
and Play Vehicles.
Captions used herein, not part of the law: RCW 46.61.990.
Unlawful to allow unauthorized child or ward to drive: RCW
46.20.343.]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.61.750 Effect of regulations--Penalty. (1) It is a
traffic infraction for any person to do any act forbidden or fail
to perform any act required in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780.
(2) These regulations applicable to bicycles apply whenever a
bicycle is operated upon any highway or upon any bicycle path,
subject to those exceptions stated herein. [1982 c 55 § 6; 1979
ex.s. c 136 § 92; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 79.]
NOTES:
Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule--JTIR 6.2.
Effective date--Severability--1979 ex.s. c 136: See notes
following RCW 46.63.010.
Bicycle awareness program: RCW 43.43.390.
"Bicycle" defined: RCW 46.04.071.]]><![CDATA[ RCW 46.61.755 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.
Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all
of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable
to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special
regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780 and except as to
those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no
application. [1965 ex.s. c 155 § 80.]
NOTES:
Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule--JTIR 6.2.]]><![CDATA[ RCW 46.61.758 Hand signals. All hand signals required of
persons operating bicycles shall be given in the following manner:
(1) Left turn. Left hand and arm extended horizontally beyond
the side of the bicycle;
(2) Right turn. Left hand and arm extended upward beyond the
side of the bicycle, or right hand and arm extended horizontally to
the right side of the bicycle;
(3) Stop or decrease speed. Left hand and arm extended
downward beyond the side of the bicycle.
The hand signals required by this section shall be given
before initiation of a turn. [1982 c 55 § 8.]]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.61.760 Riding on bicycles. (1) A person propelling a
bicycle shall not ride other than upon or astride a permanent and
regular seat attached thereto.
(2) No bicycle shall be used to carry more persons at one time
than the number for which it is designed and equipped. [1965 ex.s.
c 155 § 81.]
NOTES:
Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule--JTIR 6.2.]]><![CDATA[ RCW 46.61.765 Clinging to vehicles. No person riding upon
any bicycle, coaster, roller skates, sled or toy vehicle shall
attach the same or himself to any vehicle upon a roadway. [1965
ex.s. c 155 § 82.]
NOTES:
Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule--JTIR 6.2.]]><![CDATA[ RCW 46.61.770 Riding on roadways and bicycle paths. (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 as may be appropriate while preparing to
make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and
passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same
direction. 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. A person operating a bicycle upon a
roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially
designated bicycle lane if such exists.
(2) 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. [1982 c 55 § 7; 1974 ex.s. c 141 §
14; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 83.]
NOTES:
Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule--JTIR 6.2.
Use of bicycles on limited-access highways: RCW 46.61.160.]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.61.775 Carrying articles. No person operating a
bicycle shall carry any package, bundle or article which prevents
the driver from keeping at least one hand upon the handle bars.
[1965 ex.s. c 155 § 84.]
NOTES:
Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule--JTIR 6.2.]]><![CDATA[
RCW 46.61.780 Lamps and other equipment on bicycles. (1)
Every bicycle when in use during the hours of darkness as defined
in RCW 46.37.020 shall be equipped with a lamp on the front which
shall emit a white light visible from a distance of at least five
hundred feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of
a type approved by the state patrol which shall be visible from all
distances up to six hundred feet to the rear when directly in front
of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle. A lamp
emitting a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet
to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector. A light-
emitting diode flashing taillight visible from a distance of five
hundred feet to the rear may also be used in addition to the red
reflector.
(2) Every bicycle shall be equipped with a brake which will
enable the operator to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level,
clean pavement. [1998 c 165 § 17; 1987 c 330 § 746; 1975 c 62 §
39; 1965 ex.s. c 155 § 85.]
NOTES:
Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule--JTIR 6.2.
Short title--1998 c 165: See note following RCW 43.59.010.
Construction--Application of rules--Severability--1987 c 330:
See notes following RCW 28B.12.050.
Severability--1975 c 62: See note following RCW 36.75.010.]]><![CDATA[ ]]><![CDATA[ ]]>