Washington State Bicycle Guide PDF

motor vehicle’s brakes are more powerful than a bicycle’s, and if you stop suddenly you could cause a crash. Bicyclist Responsibilities A bicycle is defined in Washington as every device propelled solely by human power upon which a person or persons may ride, having two tandem wheels either of which...

motor vehicle’s brakes are more powerful than a bicycle’s, and if you stop suddenly you could cause a crash. Bicyclist Responsibilities A bicycle is defined in Washington as 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 of which is more than twenty inches in diameter. State bicycle laws also apply to people riding an electric-assisted bicycle. Electric-assisted bicycles are defined as bicycles that can be operated with pedals, but also have an electric motor capable of propelling the bike not more than 20 mph on level ground. It is essential that bicyclists understand their responsibilities to do their part for safety on the road. Bicyclists may use the shoulders of freeways and other highways, except where signs say it is illegal. Bicyclists must use hand signals before turning. Bicycles can only be used to carry the number of people for which it is designed. Bicyclists operating on a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic must ride as near to the right of the roadway as is safe. Lane positioning for safety is in the rider’s judgment, and a bicyclist may legally use the full lane. Riders may move left before and during turns, or when passing another bicyclist or vehicle. Riders on a one-way road, other than a freeway, may ride as near to the left side of the road as is safe. When riding on a two-lane road where it is unsafe to pass, and five or more vehicles are in a line behind you, bicyclists must pull over and stop when, in the rider’s judgment, it is safe to let vehicles pass. Bicyclists have the choice to ride on the roadway, on the shoulder of a road, in a bicycle lane, or on a sidewalk where it is legal to do so. Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks or in crosswalks. Use an audible signal to warn pedestrians before passing. Local agencies may prohibit bicycling on some sections of sidewalks. 4-35 Bicyclists must not hold onto or be pulled by any other vehicle. Bicyclists may ride in groups on designated bicycle paths and lanes. On public roads, they may ride either single file or in pairs. Bicyclists cannot carry packages unless the rider can keep at least one hand on the handlebars at all times. When riding at night, the bicycle must have a steady white headlight visible for 5 feet and a red reflector visible for feet to the rear. A flashing taillight or a steady red taillight may be used in addition to the red reflector. Every bicycle must be equipped with a brake that makes the wheels skid on dry, level, clean pavement. In addition to state law, the following safety tips will help motorists and cyclists prevent injuries and collisions. Teach your children – Parents are responsible for teaching their children about traffic and bicycle safety. Children have trouble judging the speed and distance of moving cars and they lack a sense of danger. Remind them how important it is to always look out for themselves and their own safety. Teach them to always be aware of their surroundings. Make sure your bike is safe – Pedals, seat, handlebars, tires, and brakes should be in good condition and work properly. Your bike should be the right size for you. Bike shops can help make sure your bike fits you and is safe. Obey a traffic aws Traffic law violations cause most bicycle/motorist collisions. By following traffic laws, bicyclists help tell drivers where they are going and when. Drivers should take responsibility for knowing the laws that apply to bicyclists. Wear a bicycle helmet – CPSC, Snell, or ATSM approved helmets are recommended for all riders. Some cities and counties in Washington have a local ordinance mandating helmet use. In some locations this applies only to children, in other places it also applies to adults. Helmets can only do 4-36 their job if they fit and are properly adjusted. If you can push your helmet off your head without unbuckling it, adjust it. Always get a new helmet if yours has been in a crash. Enhance your visibility – Make eye contact with drivers at intersections. If you have a helmet-mounted light you can use it to attract a driver’s attention at night by moving your head. Consider applying reflective tape to your helmet and bike. Wearing reflective strips at your knees and ankles provides additional night-time visibility for drivers. Ride predictably and defensively – Avoid weaving in and out of the “parking lane.” Leave about three feet between yourself and parked cars so that an opened door will not block your path. Scan the road for hazards – Watch out for wet or icy surfaces, low-light areas, slotted storm drains, potholes, pavement cracks running parallel to your lane of travel, and train tracks. Ride at speeds appropriate for conditions and allow for additional braking time needed in wet or icy conditions.. Always yield to pedestrians and vehicle traffic before entering or crossing a roadway. Be responsible for yourself – When riding in a group, watch out for yourself instead of simply following the rider in front of you. ever ride against traffic – Motorists do not look for, or expect, bicyclists riding on the wrong side of the roadway. Ride in a straight line – Whenever possible, ride in a straight line and to the right of traffic but about the width of a car door away from parked cars. Do not pass on the right – Do not pass on the right side of vehicles in traffic at intersections. Motorists turning right may not look for, or see, a bicycle passing on the right. Watch for cars pulling out – Even though you look a driver in the eye, the driver might not see you and may pull out in front of you. 4-37 Turning – When turning left, a bicyclist can turn from the left lane or the left turn lane or, the rider can stay in the right lane, cross the street, and stop at the right corner, then proceed in the new direction of travel. with traffic or when the light turns green. Scan the road behind you – Even if you use rear view mirrors, learn to ride and look back over your shoulder without losing your balance or swerving. Keep both hands ready to brake – To stop in time, you will need both hands. Allow extra distance for stopping in the rain or on a wet road. Your brakes may not work properly when wet, and tires skid more easily. Watch for dogs – The spinning of your wheels and feet attracts Dogs. If a dog starts to chase you, ignore it or, using a firm, loud voice, yell NO If the dog does not stop, get off your bike and put it between you and the dog. Sharing the Road with Motorcycles At times, the experience of having a mix of cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicyclists, and pedestrians using the roadway complicates driving and increases hazards for everyone. The keys to minimizing those hazards are courtesy, respect for the rights of others, and a heightened awareness of potential problems. Caution and awareness on your part may save others from serious injury or death. Motorcyclist Responsibilities Motorcycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as other highway users and they must obey the same traffic laws. 4-38 Motorcycles are smaller and harder to see than cars. They are easily hidden in a car’s blind spot. Because it may be hard to judge the distance to motorcyclists, or to tell how fast they are moving. Be alert to their presence and be extra cautious. Approximately one-half of all motorcycle crashes involve another motor vehicle, so it is important to practice safe driving in order to help avoid collisions. Here are situations that call for special attention when motorcyclists are around. Left turns – Cars turning left in front of an oncoming motorcyclist may cause serious car/motorcycle crashes. Drivers may fail to see a motorcycle rider in the traffic scene or a driver may fail to judge the speed of an oncoming motorcycle. As a driver, look left, look right, and then look left again. Look twice Make sure you see the motorcyclist and know their speed before you make a left turn. Turn signals – Most motorcycles do not have turn signals that turn off automatically. At times, motorcycle riders may forget to switch the signal off. Before you make a turn in front of a motorcycle with a signal flashing, be sure the motorcycle is turning and not continuing straight into your path. Lanes – Motorcyclists are entitled to the same full lane width as all other vehicles. Good motorcycle riders are constantly changing positions within the lane so they can see and be seen, and to avoid objects in the road. Never move into the same lane alongside a motorcyclist, even if the lane is wide and the motorcyclist is riding far to one side. Bad weather – Weather conditions and slippery surfaces can be serious problems for motorcyclists. Allow even more following room when it is raining or the road surface is slick. Road surface – Bumpy road surfaces and irregularities that do not affect other vehicles can create problems for motorcyclists. Gravel, debris, pavement seams, small animals, potholes and even manhole covers may force a motorcyclist to change speed or lane position. 4-39 Visibility – Always make a visual check for motorcyclists by checking mirrors and blind spots before entering or leaving a lane of traffic or an intersection. Motorcyclists are often hidden in a vehicle’s blind spot or missed in a quick look due to their smaller size. Always use turn signals and brake lights to signal your intentions for turning, changing lanes, merging, slowing and stopping. This allows the motorcyclist to anticipate traffic flow and adjust to a safe lane position. Allow more than four seconds following distance between your vehicle and the motorcycle. This allows you and the motorcyclist enough time to maneuver or stop in an emergency. Passing – Motorcyclists may overtake and pass a pedestrian or bicyclist that is occupying the same lane; provided that the motorcyclist passes to the left with at least three feet of clear passing distance to clearly avoid coming into contact with the pedestrian or bicyclist and does not return to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken pedestrian or bicyclist Large Vehicles Safely sharing the road with large trucks and buses requires knowledge of their special limitations. Generally speaking, the bigger they are: the bigger their blind spots. the more room they need to turn or change lanes. the longer it takes them to stop. the longer it takes them to pass. the more likely you’re going to be the loser in a collision. When you are near large vehicles on the road, pay special attention to the following: Snow plows – Use extra caution when you encounter snow removal equipment; snowplow blades force snow up and off the road, potentially causing blizzard-like conditions and reduced visibility for drivers following too closely. 4-40 Blind spots – Stay out of blind spots. If you are following a large vehicle and you cannot see the driver’s mirrors, then the driver cannot see you either. There are blind spots behind and on each side of large vehicles. Avoid driving alongside large vehicles for prolonged periods. Visibility – Large vehicles can block your vision of the road ahead. When following large vehicles, adjust your following distance so you can see most of the roadway ahead. Speeding up and stopping – Large vehicles cannot gain speed or stop as quickly as smaller vehicles can. For example, it takes a loaded truck with properly adjusted brakes 450 feet to come to a complete stop when traveling 55 mph on a dry road. Allow extra space for large vehicles to speed up or stop. The operators of these vehicles adjust the space between their vehicles and the vehicles ahead to allow for a safe following distance. When passing them, be sure to allow for this increased safety zone when returning to your lane of travel. Turning space – When making sharp turns, large vehicles sometimes require more than one lane to complete the turn. Be sure to allow enough room for these vehicles to safely complete their turns. When turning right, these drivers may angle into the left lane so they can make the right turn without running over the curb or hitting something. Do not try to squeeze by on the right side when a large vehicle is making a turn. This is a frequent cause of collisions involving large vehicles. Hazardous Materials – Avoid driving near vehicles carrying hazardous materials. These vehicles will be placarded to identify what they are carrying. All vehicles carrying hazardous materials must stop at all railroad crossings, so be prepared to stop if you are following one. Long, Steep Grades – When traveling up or down steep grades, large vehicles travel slowly. On four-lane roads, they will use the right lane. Be prepared to encounter slow vehicles in the right lane, and do not park in or near “escape” or “runaway” ramps. These ramps should only be used to stop vehicles whose brakes have failed. 4-41 Space for Special Situations There are certain drivers and other road users you should give extra room. Some are listed here. Those who cannot see you – Anyone who cannot see you may enter your path without knowing you are there. Those who could have trouble seeing you include: drivers at intersections or driveways whose view is blocked by buildings, trees, or other vehicles. drivers backing into the roadway, or backing into or out of parking spaces. drivers whose windows are covered with snow or ice or are steamed-up. pedestrians with umbrellas in front of their faces or with their hats pulled down. pedestrians who are walking in the same direction as traffic flow. Since they have their back to you, they cannot see you. pedestrians or bicyclists crossing the street where another driver has stopped. bicyclists riding behind others. People who are distracted – Even when others can see you, allow extra room and be extra cautious if you think they may be distracted. People who may be distracted include: delivery persons. construction workers. children. drivers who are not paying attention to their driving. pedestrians using electronic devices. People who may be confused – People who are confused, and/or your response to them may cause an unsafe situation. These people may include: tourists or others who do not seem to know where they are going. drivers, motorcyclists, or bicyclists slowing for no apparent reason. Remember that they may be able to see something you can’t see from your lane position. 4-42 drivers, motorcyclists, or bicyclists looking for street signs or house numbers. Drivers in trouble – If another driver makes a mistake in passing you, do not make it worse. Slow down and let them return to the drive lane safely. If another driver needs to suddenly change lanes, slow down and let them merge. These actions will keep traffic moving smoothly and safely. Avoiding Run-Off-the-Road Collisions Nearly 44% of all fatal collisions involve a vehicle that left the roadway. The most common contributing factors in fatal or serious injury run-off-the-road collisions were speeding, impairment from drugs or alcohol, inattention or distracted driving, crossing the centerline and falling asleep or fatigue. Speeding and impairment remain the most frequent contributors in run-off-the-road collisions, even though their numbers are declining. Speeding was involved in more than half of run-off-the-road fatalities and in just under half of serious injuries reported. Impairment contributed to more than half of run-off-the-road fatalities and a portion of serious injuries. Impairment is under reported in serious injury collisions, compared to fatalities where impairment is confirmed by toxicology. Over 90% of fatal and serious injury run-off-the-road collisions involve only one vehicle. Once a vehicle left the roadway, the most common occurrences in fatal and serious injury collisions were: Overturn Hit tree Ran into ditch Hit utility pole Ran over embankment Hit earth bank, hit guardrail Hit fence or hit parked car You can reduce the likelihood of a run-off-the-road collision by following the speed limit, avoiding distractions, and not driving when you’re impaired or fatigued. 4-43