OLYMPIA – Cyclists and pedestrians in Washington state gained much needed protections thanks to Rep. Julia Reed (D-Seattle). HB 2095 shifts civil liability to motor vehicle drivers when they collide with ‘vulnerable road users’ within certain protected areas such as sidewalks and crosswalks.  

“Taking steps to make cyclists and pedestrians safer is crucial to getting more people out of their cars and helping to lower emissions and meet our climate goals,” said Rep. Reed. “Shifting the liability to drivers, the ones operating 1,000 pound machines, is going to make them take notice of things like bike lanes and crosswalks where a lot of these accidents take place.”  

Also included in the bill are new educational and training requirements for law enforcement about these statutes so those responding to incidents are up to speed on the updates to state law.  

HB 2095 passed the House with a vote of 53 to 44 and moves on to the Senate for consideration.