The State of Washington has over a dozen “bike-friendly” cities, including Seattle and Bellingham, and was recently ranked the most “bike-friendly” state in the country. These accolades recognize the steps local authorities have taken to make bicycling more accessible and safer for residents, including passing and enforcing bike safety laws.
Obeying Washington’s helmet laws is not just about avoiding a citation and fine; it’s also about protecting yourself from bicycle accidents and others. Wearing a bicycle helmet is the single most effective way to prevent a serious head injury if you fall from your bicycle.
Without a helmet, even a crash at low speed that knocks you off your bike can lead to a concussion or other severe, potentially permanently disabling brain trauma.
Washington Has No Statewide Helmet Law
Does Washington have a helmet law for bicyclists? Surprisingly, the most “bike-friendly” state in the country has no statewide bicycle helmet law. In other words, no Washington helmet law requires bike riders of any age to wear a helmet. Under state law, bicyclists may choose to wear a bicycle helmet, but they face no penalty, civil or criminal, for choosing not to wear one.
In this regard, Washington is similar to the majority of other states in the country that do not have statewide bike helmet laws. Only 21 states and the District of Columbia have a statute that requires specific riders, mainly children, to wear a helmet whenever they ride a bike in public anywhere in the state.
Local Communities Can (and Do) Pass Their Own Helmet Laws
Washington’s lack of a statewide bike helmet law does not mean there are no helmet laws anywhere in the state. To the contrary, local communities are free to pass ordinances regarding helmet use that apply within their own jurisdictions. Several Washington cities and communities have chosen to do so, including Pierce County and Spokane County.
In both counties, any operator, passenger, or rider being towed by a bicycle must wear a helmet that meets or exceeds safety standards set by one or more authorities. Those authorities include the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the American Society for Testing and Materials, or similar organizations.
Seattle used to have a universal helmet law that required all riders and passengers to wear a bike helmet. However, it repealed this ordinance in 2022, and as a result, there is no longer a requirement for Seattle bicyclists to wear a helmet. Similarly, King County does not have any helmet ordinance for bicyclists.
Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Washington
Just because there are no bike helmet laws in Washington does not mean motorcycle helmets are optional. Unlike with bikes, there is a universal motorcycle helmet law in WA that requires all riders and passengers to wear a helmet approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Because this is a state law, all riders must comply with it wherever they ride within the state.
How to Know Whether a Community Has a Helmet Law
If you plan to ride your bike in a city or county regularly, it is wise to check that area’s local ordinances to see if a helmet law is in place. You are expected to know and follow the local rules of any community where you choose to ride, even if you have never been to that city or town before.
Of course, the safest course of action is always to wear a bicycle helmet, no matter where you are riding in Washington. Not only will you not face any penalty for wearing a helmet, but you will also be protected against a severe head injury if you are knocked from your bike in a crash.
