The bill establishes a framework for local authorities in Washington State to designate nonarterial highways as "shared streets," where pedestrians, bicyclists, and operators of micromobility devices can share the roadway. It mandates that vehicular traffic must yield to pedestrians and micromobility users, while bicyclists must yield to pedestrians. The bill defines "shared street" and "micromobility device," and allows local authorities to set a maximum speed limit of 10 miles per hour on these shared streets. Additionally, it amends existing laws to clarify that certain pedestrian and vehicular rules do not apply on shared streets, promoting safer interactions among all users.

Key amendments include the removal of specific pedestrian and vehicular regulations on shared streets, such as the requirement for pedestrians to yield to vehicles and the obligation for bicyclists to ride in designated lanes. The bill also introduces new provisions that allow local authorities to create procedures for establishing shared streets and to set speed limits without needing an engineering investigation, provided they have developed appropriate procedures. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance safety and accessibility for all road users in designated shared street areas.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 46.61.250, 46.61.415, 46.61.110, 46.61.240, 46.61.770