CB 121176 — Version 2 https://webapi.legistar.com/v1/seattle/Matters/16871/Texts/18495 CITY OF SEATTLE ORDINANCE __________________ COUNCIL BILL __________________ ..title AN ORDINANCE relating to shared streets; adding a new Chapter 11.45 to the Seattle Municipal Code; adding new Sections 11.14.562 and 11.52.125 to the Seattle Municipal Code; amending Sections 11.40.090, 11.40.100, 11.40.120, 11.40.160, 11.40.220, 11.40.240, 11.44.040, 11.44.060, and 11.53.205 of the Seattle Municipal Code; and amending the title of Title 11, Subtitle I, Part 4 of the Seattle Municipal Code. ..body WHEREAS, in 2025, the Washington State Legislature passed Engrossed Senate Bill 5595, establishing local authority to designate shared streets where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicular traffic share a portion or all of the same street; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires the Seattle Department of Transportation to develop procedures for implementing shared streets where appropriate; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. A new Section 11.14.562 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows: 11.14.562 Shared streets "Shared streets" means a city street designated by placement of official traffic control devices where pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicular traffic share a portion or all of the same street. Section 2. The title of Title 11, Subtitle I, Part 4 of the Seattle Municipal Code is amended as follows: Part 4((.)) PEDESTRIAN, HITCHHIKING, BICYCLE, SHARED STREETS, EPAMD, AND MOTORIZED FOOT SCOOTER RULES Section 3. A new Chapter 11.45 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows: Chapter 11.45 SHARED STREETS 11.45.010 Designation of shared streets The City Traffic Engineer shall establish procedures for the designation of non-arterial streets, parts of streets, or alleys as shared streets following the completion of appropriate traffic and engineering studies. 11.45.020 Right-of-way in shared streets A. Vehicular traffic traveling along a shared street shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian, bicyclist, or operator of a micromobility device on the shared street. B. A bicyclist or operator of a micromobility device shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian on a shared street. 11.45.030 Reporting The Seattle Department of Transportation shall post an annual report on the department's website of the number of traffic accidents, including those that involve a pedestrian, bicyclist, or operator of a micromobility device, that occurred on designated shared streets. The report shall include the number of speeding violations and driving under the influence violations that occurred on designated shared streets. Section 4. Section 11.40.090 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 108200, is amended as follows: 11.40.090 Entry into street outside of crosswalk-Disabled persons-Exception((.)) A. Except as otherwise provided in this ((subtitle)) Subtitle I, every pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point other than at designated crosswalks or other than within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. B. Where curb ramps exist at or adjacent to intersections or at marked crosswalks in other locations, disabled persons may enter the roadway from such curb ramps and cross the roadway within or as closely as practicable to the crosswalk. All other pedestrian rights and duties as defined elsewhere in this ((subtitle)) Subtitle I shall remain applicable. C. This Section 11.40.090 does not apply on a shared street. Section 5. Section 11.40.100 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 108200, is amended as follows: 11.40.100 Prohibited crossing near signals((.)) A. No pedestrian shall cross the roadway between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation, except in a marked crosswalk. (((RCW 46.61.240 (3)))) B. This Section 11.40.100 does not apply on a shared street. Section 6. Section 11.40.120 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 108200, is amended as follows: 11.40.120 Yield near overpass or underpass((.)) A. Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. (((RCW 46.61.240(2)))) B. This Section 11.40.120 does not apply on a shared street. Section 7. Section 11.40.160 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 108200, is amended as follows: 11.40.160 Crossing intersection diagonally((.)) A. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices; and, when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements. (((RCW 46.61.240(4)))) B. This Section 11.40.160 does not apply at unsignalized intersections within a shared street. Section 8. Section 11.40.220 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126681, is amended as follows: 11.40.220 Walking on sidewalk A. Where sidewalks are provided and are accessible, no pedestrian shall move along and upon an adjacent roadway. Where sidewalks are provided but wheelchair access is not available, disabled persons may move along and upon an adjacent roadway until they reach an access point in the sidewalk. B. Subsection 11.40.220.A does not apply when the roadway is duly closed to vehicular traffic by placement of official traffic control devices for the sole purposes of pedestrian and bicyclist use of the roadway. C. Subsection 11.40.220.A does not apply on a shared street. Section 9. Section 11.40.240 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126681, is amended as follows: 11.40.240 Walking in roadway A. Where sidewalks are not provided or are inaccessible, a pedestrian walking or otherwise moving along and upon a street shall: 1. When shoulders are provided and are accessible, walk on the shoulder of the roadway as far as is practicable from the edge of the roadway, facing traffic when a shoulder is available in this direction; or 2. When shoulders are not provided or are inaccessible, walk as near as is practicable to the outside edge of the roadway facing traffic, and when practicable, move clear of the roadway upon meeting an oncoming vehicle. B. A pedestrian traveling to the nearest emergency reporting device on a one-way roadway of a controlled access highway is not required to travel facing traffic as otherwise required by subsection 11.40.240.A. C. When walking or otherwise moving along and upon an adjacent roadway, a pedestrian shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any vehicle upon the roadway. D. Subsection 11.40.240.A does not apply when the roadway is duly closed to vehicular traffic by placement of official traffic control devices for the sole purposes of pedestrian and bicyclist use of the roadway. E. Subsection 11.40.240.A and subsection 11.40.240.C do not apply on a shared street. Section 10. Section 11.44.040 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126517, is amended as follows: 11.44.040 Riding on roadways A. Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed slower than the normal and reasonable flow of motor vehicle traffic thereon shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe, except: 1. While preparing to make or while making turning movements at an intersection or into a private road or driveway; 2. When approaching an intersection where right turns are permitted and there is a dedicated right turn lane, in which case a person may operate a bicycle in this lane even if the operator does not intend to turn right; 3. While overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction; and 4. When reasonably necessary to avoid unsafe conditions including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, parked or moving vehicles, bicyclists, pedestrians, animals, and surface hazards. B. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway that carries traffic in one direction only and that has two or more marked traffic lanes may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. C. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may utilize the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane. D. When the operator of a bicycle is using the travel lane of a roadway with only one lane for traffic moving in the direction of travel and it is wide enough for a bicyclist and a vehicle to travel safely side-by-side within it, the bicycle operator shall operate far enough to the right to facilitate the movement of an overtaking vehicle unless other conditions make it unsafe to do so or unless the bicyclist is preparing to make a turning movement or while making a turning movement. E. This Section 11.44.040 does not apply on a shared street. Section 11. Section 11.44.060 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 108200, is amended as follows: 11.44.060 Riding more than two (((2))) abreast prohibited((.)) A. Persons operating bicycles upon a roadway or sidewalk shall not ride more than two (((2))) abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles. (((RCW 46.61.770(2)))) B. This Section 11.44.060 does not apply on the roadway of a shared street. Section 12. A new Section 11.52.125 is added to the Seattle Municipal Code as follows: 11.52.125 Speed limit on shared streets No person shall operate any vehicle at a speed in excess of 10 miles per hour upon a shared street. Section 13. Section 11.53.205 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 126517, is amended as follows: 11.53.205 Overtaking a pedestrian or bicycle((.)) A. The operator of a vehicle approaching an individual who is travelling as a pedestrian or on a bicycle, riding an animal, or using a farm tractor or implement of husbandry without an enclosed shell, and who is travelling in the right lane of a roadway or on the right-hand shoulder or bicycle lane of the roadway, shall: 1. On a roadway with two lanes or more for traffic moving in the direction of travel, before passing and until safely clear of the individual, move completely into a lane to the left of the right lane when it is safe to do so; 2. On a roadway with only one lane for traffic moving in the direction of travel: a. When there is sufficient room to the left of the individual in the lane for traffic moving in the direction of travel, before passing and until safely clear of the individual: ((i.)) 1) Reduce speed to a safe speed for passing relative to the speed of the individual; and ((ii.)) 2) Pass at a safe distance, where practicable of at least 3 feet, to clearly avoid coming into contact with the individual or the individual's vehicle or animal; or b. When there is insufficient room to the left of the individual in the lane for traffic moving in the direction of travel to comply with subsection 11.53.205.A.2.a, before passing and until safely clear of the individual, move completely into the lane for traffic moving in the opposite direction when it is safe to do so and in compliance with Sections 11.53.210, 11.53.240, 11.53.260, 11.53.280, 11.53.290, and 11.53.300. B. A driver of a motor vehicle found to be in violation of subsection 11.53.205.A must be assessed an additional fine equal to the base penalty assessed under Section 11.31.120. This fine may not be waived, reduced, or suspended, unless the court finds the offender to be indigent, and shall be collected by the clerk of the court and transmitted to the state for deposit into the vulnerable roadway user education account created in RCW 46.61.145. C. This Section 11.53.205 does not apply on a shared street. Section 14. This ordinance shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Sections 1.04.020 and 1.04.070. Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2026, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this ________ day of _________________________, 2026. ____________________________________ President ____________ of the City Council Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ____day of _______________, 2026. ____________________________________ Katie B. Wilson, Mayor Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2026. ____________________________________ Scheereen Dedman, City Clerk (Seal) Calvin Chow LEG Shared Streets ORD D5 2 Template last revised February 19, 2025 2 Version No. 1