An original Everett bicycle license is on display at Bayside Bikes in downtown Everett. Photo credit: Eric Smith
Should bicycles in Everett be licensed?
A recent inquiry from citizen activists on bicycle laws in the City of Everett is bringing up some interesting questions.
At the citizen comment portion of a city council meeting in early March Jackie Minchew inquired about the legality of bicycles on city sidewalks.
After doing some checking the Everett City Attorney’s office responded that the City of Everett has adopted the “Washington Model Traffic Ordinance” Chapter 308 – 330 WAC as the traffic ordinance of the City of Everett. That would include WAC 308-330-555 which states:
Bicycles—Riding on sidewalks.
(1) No person shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in a business district.
(2) A person may ride a bicycle on any other sidewalk or any roadway unless restricted or prohibited by traffic control devices.
(3) Whenever any person is riding a bicycle upon a sidewalk, such person shall yield the right of way to any pedestrian.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.90.010. WSR 94-01-082, § 308-330-555, filed 12/13/93, effective 7/1/94.]
So while that answers the question of riding on the sidewalk another citizen, has asked the following…
No person who resides within the jurisdiction of the local authority shall ride or propel a bicycle on any highway or upon any public path set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles unless such bicycle has been licensed and a license plate or decal is attached thereto as provided in WAC 308-330-500 through 308-330-540.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.90.010. WSR 94-01-082, § 308-330-500, filed 12/13/93, effective 7/1/94.]
Application for a bicycle license and license plate or decal shall be made upon a form provided by and to the chief of police. An annual license fee as prescribed by the local authority shall be paid to the local authority before each license or renewal thereof is granted. Duplicate license plates or decals may be supplied for the same cost as the original plate or decal in the event of loss of the plate or decal.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.90.010. WSR 94-01-082, § 308-330-505, filed 12/13/93, effective 7/1/94.]
(1) The chief of police upon receiving proper application therefor is authorized to issue a bicycle license which shall be effective for one calendar year.(2) The chief of police shall not issue a license for any bicycle when he/she knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that the applicant is not the owner of, or entitled to the possession of, such bicycle.(3) The chief of police shall keep a record of the number of each license, the date issued, the name and address of the person to whom issued, and a record of all bicycle license fees collected by him.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.90.010. WSR 94-01-082, § 308-330-510, filed 12/13/93, effective 7/1/94.]
Violation of any provision of WAC 308-330-500 through 308-330-540 is a traffic infraction.[Statutory Authority: RCW 46.90.010. WSR 94-01-082, § 308-330-560, filed 12/13/93, effective 7/1/94.]
MyEverettNews.com reached out to City of Everett Public Information Director Meghan Pembroke who sent us the following via e-mail:
On the bicycle question, we are currently reviewing the regulations and expect to have more information to share in the next couple of weeks.
The bicycle license requirement raises some interesting questions…
Would a license issued to each bicycle in the City of Everett help cut down on bike theft?
Would fees from licenses help Everett to advance its bicycle master plan?
Would it be too big a burden on the Everett Police Department to issue the licenses and enforce the license requirements?
MyEverettNews.com will follow as the City of Everett studies the issue and we’ll pass along what we learn.
March 16, 2016
Everett, Everett Government