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Sense of entitlement This one is tricky, but drivers complain bicyclists appear to go wherever they want, including this fella spotted on I-5 Thursday morning. But even when bicyclists are granted designated bike lanes and cycle tracks, drivers feel they've been robbed a lane of traffic. Seattle Traffic Code: 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 as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. 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. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may utilize the shoulder of the roadway or any specifically designated bicycle lane if such exists. No blinkers It's not always clear what a bicyclist is up to and maybe that's because their bikes aren't equipped with blinkers. But according to Seattle Traffic Code, bike riders must use hand signals just the same as drivers use blinkers. Left turn: Left hand and arm extended horizontally beyond the side of the bicycle. Right turn: Left hand and arm extended upward beyond the side of the bicycle, or right hand and arm extended horizontally to the right side of the bicycle. Stop or decrease speed: Left hand and arm extended downward beyond the side of the bicycle. No helmet While this rule doesn't directly affect anyone but the bicyclist, it's annoying when people don't follow the rules (or drink coffee while bicycling). It is required to wear a helmet in Seattle, as enacted in King County in 2003. Running red lights While a driver must sit patiently at a light, even if no other cars are present, bike riders have been known to run red lights. According to Seattle Traffic Code: Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to a driver of a vehicle. Riding on sidewalks While not illegal, drivers and pedestrians find this irritating. It bothers pedestrians to be overtaken and beeped at. It irks drivers because it gives bike riders another option to keep moving. Seattle Traffic Code: Every person operating a bicycle upon any sidewalk or public path shall operate the same in a careful and prudent manner and a rate of speed no greater than is reasonable and proper under the conditions existing at the point of operation, taking into account the amount and character of pedestrian traffic, grade and width of sidewalk or public path, and condition of surface, and shall obey all traffic control devices. Every person operating a bicycle upon a sidewalk or public path shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian thereon, and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian.
Annoying habits of Seattle bike riders