Bicycle Safety Tips for Motorists in Seattle

Seattle has an eco-friendly and fitness-conscious population that makes choosing a bicycle for transportation within the Seattle communities a popular choice. It also includes a maze of bike lanes and trails, earning the city a third-place ranking for bike-friendly cities in the U.S. in 2023.

Despite the popularity of cycling in Seattle and the city’s attempts to protect cyclists with bike lanes and lower-than-typical speed limits for motorists in the urban meccas, an alarming number of accidents still occur.

When an exposed, unprotected cyclist has an accident with an average 4,000-pound metal vehicle, the bike rider takes the brunt of the impact and often suffers serious or fatal injuries. Although cyclists make mistakes too, the most common cause of bicycle accidents in Seattle is driver negligence. So how can motorists take all reasonable measures to prevent causing injuries to cyclists in Seattle?

Bicycles Have The Same Right to the Roadway as Cars and Trucks

First, it’s critical to understand that cyclists have the same right to ride on the roads in Seattle as motorists, even when there is a bike lane present. They’re also subject to all traffic laws as are motorists. Drivers must respect the right of way for cyclists as they would full-sized vehicles at all intersections and when merging into a lane. In the event you’ve been hit while riding your bike, contact our bicycle accident lawyers in Seattle.

Practice Vigilance for Cyclists, Especially When Making a Turn

The greatest number of bicycle accidents in Seattle occur when drivers fail to see an approaching cyclist as they’re making a turn.  When turning  or pulling into a driveway, motorists should do the following:

• Yield the right of way to oncoming cyclists rather than trying to beat the cyclist in making a turn
• Check for cyclists in the crosswalk or on an adjacent sidewalk
• Check side mirrors and double-check blind spots for cyclists before making a turn

Bicycles are slim in design and easier for drivers to fail to see or to misjudge speed. Drivers in Seattle have a duty of care to take all reasonable measures to avoid causing injury to a cyclist.

Avoid Distractions While Driving

One of the biggest causes of increasing bicycle accident statistics despite Seattle’s wide array of bike lanes and trails, is distracted driving. With drivers’ increasing reliance on cell phones for everything from communicating with family and friends, choosing playlists, and using cell phone GPS systems for navigating, distracted driving accidents are rising steadily—including car vs. bicycle accidents in Seattle. When a driver takes their eyes off the road for the average five seconds it takes to read a text message, they travel the length of a football field when driving 55mph. 

Give a Cyclist Plenty of Space When Passing

Seattle traffic laws require drivers to leave at least three feet of space between the widest points of both vehicle and bicycle while passing. The law requires a vehicle to maintain a three-foot distance even when cyclists are riding close to the inside line of a bicycle lane. Cyclists have a right to ride near the line to avoid potholes, debris, and other hazards.

When approaching a bicycle ahead in the lane, a driver must wait until traffic clears so they can safely pull around the bike to pass.

Additional Seattle Safety Tips for Drivers Sharing the  Road with Cyclists

Never tailgate a cyclist while waiting to pass. Riding too closely behind a cyclist doesn’t allow enough time to avoid an accident if the bicycle slows or stops. It may also feel intimidating to the cyclist and could result in erratic cycling behaviors and an increased chance of an accident.

When parking on a roadside in Seattle, be sure to check for approaching bicycles before opening the car door.