Bike Laws

Washington State (from WSDOT)

Bicycle Helmets - Currently, there is no state law requiring helmet use. However, some cities and counties do require helmets. See Localities Requiring Bicycle Helmets.
 

Riding on the Road - When riding on a roadway, a cyclist has all the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle driver (RCW 46.61.755). Cyclists who violate traffic laws may be ticketed (RCW 46.61.750). 
 

Roads Closed to Bicycles - Some designated sections of the state's limited access highway system may be closed to bicycles for safety reasons. See State Highway Sections Closed to Bicycles for more information. In addition, local governments may adopt ordinances banning cycling on specific roads or on sidewalks within business districts.  
 

Children Bicycling - Parents or guardians may not knowingly permit bicycle traffic violations by their ward (RCW 46.61.700).
 

Riding Side by Side - Cyclists may ride side by side, but not more than two abreast (RCW 46.61.770). 
 

Riding at Night - For night bicycle riding, a white front light (not a reflector) visible for 500 feet and a red rear reflector are required. A red rear light may be used in addition to the required reflector (RCW 46.61.780).
 

Shoulder vs. Bike Lane - Cyclists may choose to ride on the path, bike lane, shoulder or travel lane as suits their safety needs (RCW 46.61.770).

A Longer List...

More info on bicycling laws in Washington can be found on the Washington Bikes Bike Law page.

Local 

Chelan and Douglas counties do not have laws regarding bicycle use. A list of local laws by city is below:

Chelan County

Cashmere - Chapter 10.96 Bicycles...

10.96.010 Prohibited on sidewalk – Central business district.
It is unlawful for any person to ride any bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, scooter, coaster, or any other similar wheeled device upon any sidewalk, and it is unlawful for any person to ride any skateboard, roller skates, scooter, coaster, or any other similar wheeled device upon any street in the following described area of the central business district of the city of Cashmere:

Cottage Avenue from the intersection with Aplets Way to the intersection with Woodring Street, and Aplets Way from the intersection with Mission Avenue to the intersection with Elberta Avenue. (Ord. 1058 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1016 § 2, 2002; Ord. 921 § 2, 1998).

10.96.020 Conditions of use.
A person may ride a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, scooter, coaster, or any other similar wheeled device upon any other sidewalk in the city of Cashmere unless restricted or prohibited by traffic control devices or any other state or municipal law and provided such person on such device shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and traffic. (Ord. 1058 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1016 § 3, 2002; Ord. 921 § 3, 1998).

10.96.030 Violation – Penalty.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a civil infraction and shall be punished by a civil penalty of not less than $5.00 and not more than $100.00. (Ord. 1058 § 1, 2005; Ord. 1016 § 4, 2002; Ord. 921 § 4, 1998).

Chelan - Chapter 10.68 Bicycles...

10.68.010 Bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, and scooters – Prohibited in certain areas.
No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, or scooter upon any sidewalk in the areas described in Section 10.68.030. (Ord. 1116 § 1 (part), 1998).

10.68.020 General regulations.
A. A person may ride or operate a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, or scooter on any sidewalk or any roadway unless restricted or prohibited by this chapter or by traffic control devices. For purposes of traffic control, the term “toy wheels” shall be used to refer to bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates, and scooters.

B. Whenever a person is riding or operating a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, or scooter upon any sidewalk or any roadway, such person shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and motor vehicles and shall operate as follows:
1. In a single file manner;
2. In a fully erect and upright position;
3. In compliance with all rules of the road applicable to motor vehicles and bicycles. (Ord. 1116 § 1 (part), 1998).

10.68.030 Prohibition areas.
The prohibitions set forth in this chapter shall apply to the sidewalks and/or roadways, as applicable, in the following described areas:

A. Woodin Avenue from Saunders West to Columbia Street.
B. Johnson Avenue from Saunders West to Columbia Street.
C. Emerson Street between Johnson Avenue and Wapato. (Ord. 1116 § 1 (part), 1998).

10.68.040 Exemption.
The terms of this chapter shall not apply to Chelan County sheriff bicycle patrol officers in the course of performing law enforcement services for the city. (Ord. 1287 § 6, 2004; Ord. 1116 § 1 (part), 1998).

10.68.050 Violation – Penalty.
A person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a civil infraction and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by the imposition of a monetary penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars. Community service hours may be imposed in lieu of a portion of the monetary penalty. (Ord. 1116 § 1 (part), 1998).

Leavenworth - Chapter 10.36 Bicycles

10.36.010 Riding on sidewalks and closed streets prohibited
It is unlawful for any person or persons to ride or propel any bicycle, tricycle, bike, tandem, skateboard or roller skates on the sidewalks within the central commercial zoning district of the city or within the Front Street City Park area. The provisions of this section shall apply to any street or portion of a street which has been temporarily closed by action of the Leavenworth city council for parade, festival or special event purposes. [Ord. 901 § 1, 1992; Ord. 825 § 1, 1988; Ord. 24 § 1, 1907.]

10.36.020 Violation – Penalty
Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter is guilty of a civil infraction and shall pay monetary penalty in the maximum amount authorized by Chapter 7.80 RCW. [Ord. 1026 § 11, 1996; Ord. 24 § 2, 1907.]

Wenatchee - 7.32.035 Bicycles

(1) “Central business district” of the city of Wenatchee is defined as: Sidewalks between Kittitas Street on the south, Fifth Street on the north, and between Chelan Street on the west and Columbia Street on the east, including sidewalks on both sides of the street and the sidewalks in between.

(2) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in the “central business district” of the city of Wenatchee.

(3) A person may ride a bicycle on any other sidewalk or any roadway, unless restricted or prohibited by traffic control devices, subsection (4) of this section, or any other state, county or municipal law.

(4) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian.

(5) Repealed by Ord. 2011-42. (Ord. 2011-42 § 1; Ord. 3097 §§ 1 – 5, 1994)

Douglas County

Bridgeport - Chapter 10.42 Bicycles

10.42.010 Bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates and scooters—Prohibited in certain areas.
No person shall ride or operate a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates or scooter upon any sidewalk in the areas described in Section 10.42.030. (Ord. 501 § 1 (part), 1998)

10.42.020 General regulations.
A.    A person may ride or operate a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates or scooter on any sidewalk or any roadway unless restricted or prohibited by this chapter or by traffic control devices. For purposes of traffic control, the term “toy wheels” shall be used to refer to bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, in-line skates and scooters.
B.    Whenever a person is riding or operating a bicycle, skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates or scooter upon any sidewalk or any roadway, such person shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and motor vehicles and shall operate as follows:
1.    In a single-file manner;
2.    In a fully erect and upright position;
3.    In compliance with all rules of the road applicable to motor vehicles and bicycles. (Ord. 501 § 1 (part), 1998)

10.42.030 Prohibition areas.
The prohibitions set forth in this chapter shall apply to the sidewalks and/or roadways, as applicable, in the following described areas:
A.    Columbia Avenue from 10th Street to 14th Street;
B.    Foster Creek Avenue from 25th Street to 26th Street. (Ord. 501 § 1 (part), 1998)

10.42.040 Exemption.
The terms of this chapter shall not apply to law enforcement officers using bicycles in performance of law enforcement services for the city. (Ord. 501 § 1 (part), 1998)

10.42.050 Violation—Penalty.A person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a civil infraction and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by the imposition of a monetary penalty of not more than two hundred fifty dollars. Community service hours may be imposed in lieu of a portion of the monetary penalty. (Ord. 501 § 1 (part), 1998)

East Wenatchee - 0.24.010 Operation on sidewalks.

It is unlawful for any person to operate any bicycle over and/or upon the sidewalks of the city, or to park any bicycle upon the sidewalks of the city in any manner which will restrict or endanger the passage of pedestrians. (1967 code § 10.16.010)

Waterville - Chapter 12.42 Skates, Skateboards, Scooters and Bicycles

12.42.010 Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter shall have the meaning set forth below, unless normal construction in the context shall clearly indicate to the contrary:

“Bicycle” shall have its ordinary meaning and includes a vehicle with two wheels tandem, a steering handle, a saddle seat, and pedals by which it is propelled.

“Riding a skateboard” means standing with one or both feet touching the skateboard, crouching, sitting or lying upon the skateboard while it is in motion.

“Roller skates” means a pair of shoes mounted upon wheels, and are most often propelled by the user in an upright, standing position or kneeling.

“Rollerblades” means a pair of shoes mounted upon single-line roller skates or blades, and are most often propelled by the user in an upright, standing position or kneeling.

“Scooter” shall have its ordinary meaning and includes a footboard mounted upon or between two or more small wheels and controlled by an upright steering handle.

“Skateboard” has its ordinary meaning and includes a board of any material with wheels affixed to the underside, designed to be ridden by a person. For the purposes of this chapter, “skateboard” includes “scooter” and “coaster.” (Ord. 683 § 1, 2007).

12.42.020 Prohibited areas.
It is unlawful for any person to operate or ride upon any skateboards, rollerskates, rollerblades, scooters, coasters or bicycles upon any sidewalk within the central business district of the town of Waterville. The central business district of the town of Waterville, for purposes of this chapter only, is defined as that public right-of-way bounded by the sidewalks on Chelan Street between Walnut Street on the south and Poplar Street on the north, Locust Street between Park Street on the west and Rainier Street on the east, and Central Street between Walnut Street on the south, and Locust Street on the north, including sidewalks, alleyways or roadways in such central business district. (Ord. 683 § 1, 2007).

12.42.030 Yielding right-of-way.
On any sidewalk outside the central business district as defined in this chapter, any person riding any skateboard, rollerskates, rollerblades, scooter, coaster, or bicycle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian. (Ord. 683 § 1, 2007).

12.42.040 Violation – Penalty.
Any person violating any provision of WMC 12.42.010 through 12.42.030 shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be punished by the imposition of a monetary penalty of not more than $25.00 for a first offense, $50.00 for a second offense, and $100.00 for a third or subsequent offense; further, the device ridden at the time of the violation shall be subject to impound by the town for a period of 10 days. (Ord. 683 § 1, 2007).