Are bicyclists allowed to run stop signs in Washington? What state law says

Washington is one of the most bike-friendly states in the country.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Evergreen State took first place in the League of American Bicyclists’ 2024 ranking of the U.S. states with the best bike infrastructure.

How friendly is Washington state law to cyclists who violate the rules of the road?

For the most part, state law treats bikes like any other vehicle on the road, according to the state Transportation Department.

However, there are a few cases where cyclists have slightly different requirements than their four-wheeled counterparts, including a different set of rules at intersections with stop signs, implemented in 2020.

Here’s what state law says:

Do bicyclists have to stop at stop signs in Washington?

In Washington, the rules of the road apply equally to motorists and bicyclists.

“Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway” is “subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle,” Washington state law says.

There are exceptions, however, especially when it comes to stopping and yielding at intersections.

According to state law, cyclists have two options when approaching a stop sign: come to a complete stop, or treat the stop sign like a yield sign instead.

However, when approaching a stop sign at a railroad crossing or a school bus that’s boarding students, a cyclist is legally required to stop.

What are Washington traffic rules for bikes?

In Washington state, bicyclists have their own set of traffic laws they have to follow, including:

• Bicyclists are required to use hand signals to indicate when they’re about to turn
• Cyclists can only ride a bike with a permanent seat attached and you can’t ride with more than one person per seat at a time
• You’re not allowed to ride a bike on the street if it’s tied to a car
• Cyclists can’t carry items that interfere with their ability to keep a hand on the handlebars
• Any bike on the road at night needs to have a front light visible from 500 feet away and a red reflector in the back, visible to a car with headlights on from 600 feet away
• Bikes used on a road need to be equipped with proper brakes

What does state law say about lane position?

Additionally, state law governs how a cyclist should position themselves within a lane while riding on the street.

Cyclists going below the speed of traffic generally have to stay as close to the right edge of the right lane as they safely can.

This doesn’t apply if the cyclist is making a turn, at an intersection with a right-turn only lane, passing a bike or car or when it’s necessary to avoid a road hazard.

Cyclists on multi-lane one-way streets can stay to the left hand side of the left lane as well.

In a lane that’s wide enough to safely accommodate a car and a bike next to each other, cyclists should ride as close to the right edge of the lane as is safe.

Unlike cars, bikes are permitted to use the shoulder of the road and, of course, bike lanes. More than two bikes can’t ride side-by-side in the street, unless they’re in a designated bike lane.

What are penalties for breaking bike laws?

You can get a ticket for failing to comply with traffic laws or specific requirements for cyclists.

Penalties for breaking traffic laws vary depending on the infraction.

For instance, a driver who fails to stop at a stop sign could pay a fine of at least $48. You’ll pay a similar penalty for not signalling before a turn.

The base fine for “any infraction regarding bicycles” is $38, according to the state’s schedule of fines.

Can a cyclist be held liable in a crash?

If you’re found at fault for causing a crash while cycling, are you liable for damages similar to a driver who causes a collision?

According to Washington Bike Law, a bike-centered personal injury law firm, cyclists can be at fault for a car crash, although it’s rare.

However, since cars tend to end up in better shape than bikes when the two collide, cyclists might not be liable for too much damage.

If a cyclist causes an accident, the damage to their bike could be covered by their homeowners or renters insurance, depending on the policy, according to insurance company Progressive.

That could even cover liability for damages to the other party, Washington Bike Law attorney Bob Anderton told McClatchy in an email.

“Contrary to the popular belief that only drivers have liability insurance ... there is often liability insurance via homeowner’s or renter’s insurance (for bicyclists),” Anderton said.

Additionally, Washington is a comparative-fault state.

In other words, when an accident is primarily caused by one party but the other is partially at fault as well, liability can be split between the two parties proportionally.

If the accident was primarily the fault of the cyclist but partially the fault of the driver, the driver could be liable for some of the damages, according to Washington Bike Law.