Tag: bike

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Bikes in Crosswalks

Q: When I approach a pedestrian crosswalk and someone is sitting on their bicycle with the intent to ride it across (as opposed to walking it), am I required to stop?

A: Basically, yes. The law requires drivers to treat cyclists in a crosswalk the same way they do pedestrians. RCW 46.61.235 groups the terms “pedestrian” and “bicycle” together, making it abundantly clear that any requirements that apply to drivers stopping for crosswalk occupants include people on feet and on bikes. Continue reading “Bikes in Crosswalks”

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Cycling and Texting – Legal, but Foolish

Q: I see bike riders, in traffic, riding with their cell phones up to their ear. Shouldn’t they have to follow the same no-cell-phone laws that vehicle drivers do?

A: “Should they” and “Are they required by law” are two different questions. Despite some drivers refusing to admit it, we have data to show that using a cell phone while driving increases the likelihood of a crash. Talking on a phone has similar crash rates to drivers with a .08 blood alcohol level. Texting while driving has crash rates more like a driver with a .20 blood alcohol level. Continue reading “Cycling and Texting – Legal, but Foolish”

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Wheelchairs in Bike Lanes

Q: Is it legal for a motorized wheelchair to use the bike lane?

A: Maybe. Let’s start with the story of Ian Mackay. Last August, this man rode his wheelchair from his home in Port Angeles across the state to Portland, OR for a total of 335 miles. Ian rode trails, bike lanes or road shoulders, depending on what was available to him. He has an inspiring story, which you can read at iansride.com. Continue reading “Wheelchairs in Bike Lanes”

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Angle Parking and Bike Helmets

Q: Could you address the rules and regulations on angle parking? In Fairhaven big trucks seem to hang out into the narrow street when they’re parked in the diagonal parking along the street.

A: The rule you’re looking for is in Washington Administrative Code 308-330-433. You’re not allowed to park a car in such a way as to leave less than ten feet of roadway available for traffic. Continue reading “Angle Parking and Bike Helmets”

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Bicycle Rules and Myths

Q: You state that “Target Zero is Washington’s plan to eliminate fatality and serious injury crashes by 2030,” which is laudable. When it speaks of “fatality and serious injury crashes” does that statement include those crashes where bikes are involved? I ask this because here in Bellingham there appears to be absolutely no laws affecting cyclist and their driving behavior.

A: The author of this question continues with a series of situations and statements involving cyclists. I’m going to work my way through the letter affirming laws, dispelling myths and trying to put cycling in perspective with the overall problem of fatalities on our roads. I can’t respond to all of them, but here are the highlights. Continue reading “Bicycle Rules and Myths”

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Can I Get a DUI On My Bike?

Q: With the upsurge of breweries in town I have seen more clearly intoxicated bike riders leaving local breweries. Is there a rule about riding your bike while intoxicated?

A: This is a great example of, “Dumb is not the same as illegal.” In Washington, it is not a crime to ride a bike while drunk. The Revised Code of Washington specifically addresses this issue, making it clear that the role of law enforcement is limited, in most instances, to offering assistance to the impaired cyclist. Some states make it a crime to cycle impaired, but not us. In ascending order of intrusiveness, I’ll list the options available to an officer who encounters a drunk cyclist. Continue reading “Can I Get a DUI On My Bike?”

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Bicycle Round-Up Part 3

Here’s the long-awaited (or maybe long-forgotten) part three of what I originally thought was a two-part series on bicycle questions.

1. Can a car drive in a bike lane? I sometimes see cars driving in the bike lane to pass a car turning left. Is that legal? How does a car make right turn across a bike lane?

A car is not allowed to drive in a bike lane except when making a right turn. That includes no passing on the right to get around a car turning left.

Now for the tricky part of the question: making a right turn across a bike lane. You may have noticed the variety of ways that bike lanes are marked approaching an intersection. Sometimes the solid white line that separates the cars from the bike riders stays solid. Sometimes it turns into a dashed line. Sometimes it ends completely about 50 feet before the intersection. Continue reading “Bicycle Round-Up Part 3”

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Bicycle Question Round-up Part 2

It’s time for bicycle question round-up part two. You’ve been asking a lot of questions about where bikes should ride; bike lane, sidewalk, or roadway. Let’s take a look at what’s legal, and what’s smart.

1. Is it legal to ride a bike on the sidewalk, and if so, who has the right-of-way? How about switching between the street and the sidewalk?

Riding a bike on the sidewalk is usually legal, and for a few cyclists it might be the right choice. When riding on the sidewalk, a cyclist is required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. For young cyclists that don’t have the confidence or experience to ride in a bike lane or on the street, riding on a sidewalk makes sense. It’s safer, and really, a five-year-old that’s just learned to ride doesn’t travel much faster than a pedestrian. I can also think of a couple situations when experienced cyclists might choose a sidewalk over a road. When traffic conditions are dangerous the sidewalk might be the safest choice, and on a steep hill without a bike lane, a cyclist riding at a slow pace might move to the sidewalk for safety, and also to open up the roadway for traffic. Continue reading “Bicycle Question Round-up Part 2”

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Bicycle Question Round-up, Part 1

Welcome to the bicycle question roundup. Questions about bicycles have been pouring in, and I’m going to try to tackle them several at a time, so this is part one. I don’t usually edit the questions much, but some of these had a strong bias, either pro-bike or anti-bike. I’ve tried to cut the bias and keep the question. Whatever your perspective, I hope these answers help to create harmony between cars, bikes and pedestrians. Please use this knowledge for good, not evil. Now, let’s get started. Continue reading “Bicycle Question Round-up, Part 1”