Spokane County, WA Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 46.61.770
- Bike lane use
- Permitted where 'specially designated' lane exists
- Riding abreast
- Max two, except on bike-exclusive paths
- Adjacent bike path
- Must use it; roadway use barred
- Violation class
- Traffic infraction, SCC 46.61.750
- Lighting after dark
- Front lamp 500 ft, rear reflector 100-600 ft
Summary
In unincorporated Spokane County, cyclists must ride as near the right side of the roadway as practicable, may use a specially designated bicycle lane or the shoulder where one exists, and must use an adjacent usable bike path instead of the roadway when one is provided. Riding more than two abreast off a bike-exclusive path is a traffic infraction under SCC 46.61.750.
46.61.770 - Riding on roadways and bicycle paths. (1)Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable and may utilize the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane if such exists, exercising due care when passing a standing vehicle or one proceeding in the same direction.(2)Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.(3)Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 63).
Full Breakdown
61 (Rules of the Road), sets the operating rules for bicycles on county roads. Subsection (1) requires every person operating a bicycle on a roadway to ride as near the right side as practicable, but expressly permits using the roadway shoulder or 'any specially designated bicycle lane if such exists,' while requiring due care when passing a standing vehicle or one moving in the same direction. Subsection (2) bars riding more than two abreast on a roadway, except on paths or roadway sections set aside exclusively for bicycles.
Subsection (3) goes further than a simple option: 'Whenever a usable path for bicycles has been provided adjacent to a roadway, bicycle riders shall use such path and shall not use the roadway' - meaning a cyclist can be required off the road entirely once the county has built an adjacent path. 780 carve out bicycle-specific rules. 780 requires a front white lamp visible 500 feet and a rear red reflector visible 100 to 600 feet after dark, plus a brake able to skid the wheels on dry, level, clean pavement. All of these sections trace to Resolution 80-0591, Attachment A.
Violations & Fines
SCC 46.61.750 makes it a traffic infraction, not a criminal offense, for any person to fail to perform any act required or to do any act forbidden under Sections 46.61.750 through 46.61.780, which covers riding more than two abreast, refusing to use a provided adjacent bike path, missing required lamps or reflectors after dark, or carrying a package that takes a hand off the handlebars. Traffic infractions are civil, punishable by a monetary penalty rather than jail time, and are heard in Spokane County District Court under the disposition procedures of Chapter 46.63.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I ride on the road in Spokane County if there's a bike lane?
How many cyclists can ride side by side on a county road?
What lights does my bike need on Spokane County roads at night?
Is violating Spokane County's bicycle rules a criminal offense?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Spokane County
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