Frequently Asked Questions

Confused? Need some answers? Seattle's streets abound with traffic controls that direct us to go straight, turn, stop, walk, yield, merge... Below is a list a frequently asked questions that Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) staff field on a regular basis. If your question isn't answered below, or you would like more detail, give us a call at (206) 684-ROAD and our ROAD staff will direct you to the person with expertise to answer your specific question.

Bicycles

What are the rights and responsibilities of bicyclists on roadways?

Bicycles are considered vehicles and, as such, have all the rights and responsibilities that apply to drivers of motorized vehicles. Specific information about bicycle rules and use can be found in the City of Seattle's Official Traffic Code (Chapter 11.44). Examples of bicycle specific rules include riding on roadways, riding two abreast, the use of hand signals, and over-taking and passing on the right.

Are bicyclists allowed to ride on sidewalks?

Yes, provided riders obey traffic signs and signals, yield right of way to pedestrians, give an audible signal when overtaking and passing pedestrians, and travel in a safe, prudent manner at a speed appropriate to conditions.

Are bicyclists allowed to ride in crosswalks?

Yes. In crosswalks, bicyclists have the same rights as pedestrians. However, bicyclists are required to yield to pedestrians.


Lanes and Trails

How do I request a new bike lane or bike and pedestrian trail?

For more information or help from the Seattle Bicycle Program, call (206) 684-7583.

How can I find out where to bike or jog in Seattle?

SDOT has several bike and trail route maps available online; you can also order the Seattle Bicycling Guide Map by using our online form.


Cars and Towing

My driveway is often blocked by parked cars. What can I do?

While a "no parking" sign may not be possible, a property owner can paint the curb on each side of their driveway with "traffic yellow" paint to better define the driveway clearance. "Traffic yellow" paint can be found at local hardware stores. Be sure not to paint more than five feet of curb on either side of your driveway. For more info see the related Seattle Municipal Code and a diagram of where to paint "Traffic Yellow" on top of curb.

What do I do about an abandoned auto on my street?

For abandoned vehicles on public property, such as on the street outside your home, call (206) 684-8763. For abandoned vehicles on private property, such as in your private driveway, call (206) 684-7899. Only call 9-1-1 about an abandoned vehicle if this is an emergency situation.

What do I do if my car is towed?

Call City Towing at (206) 684-5444.


Pedestrians

What are pedestrians' rights at crosswalks?

Where there are no signals, or the signals are not operating, drivers are required to stop and remain stopped, allowing pedestrians to cross the roadway within marked or unmarked crosswalks. Vehicles must stop if a pedestrian is in their half, or within one lane of their half, of the roadway. Once the pedestrian is beyond one lane of their half of the roadway, the vehicles may proceed. If the pedestrian is crossing a roadway where there is an accessible pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing, the pedestrian is require to yield the right of way to vehicles.

What is an unmarked crosswalk?

Every intersection contains legal crosswalks; marked or unmarked. An unmarked crosswalk is the portion of the roadway at an intersection 10-feet wide that would connect opposite sides of the street.

When is crossing a street not legal?

It is illegal to cross the street:

• Against a red light
  
  
• Without staying inside the crosswalk area (marked or unmarked)
  
  
• Crossing an arterial street at a point other than a marked crosswalk or intersection
  
  
• When you cause a vehicle to brake suddenly, creating an unsafe condition

What special considerations apply to sight-impaired pedestrians?

Motorists are required to exercise special care of sight-impaired pedestrians. Drivers may not enter any crosswalk when a pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog is crossing, attempting to cross, or indicating an intention to cross.

Where are pedestrians supposed to walk?

On streets without sidewalks, pedestrians are required, when practicable, to walk on the shoulder of the left side of the roadway, facing traffic. Where sidewalks are provided, pedestrians may not walk in the part of the roadway designated for motor vehicles unless circumstances require it. For example, if wheelchair access is not available, pedestrians in wheelchairs may use the roadway until they reach an access point in the sidewalk.

Are skateboards and roller-skates allowed on sidewalks and public paths?

Yes, provided the users obey traffic control devices, yield right of way to pedestrians, and travel in a safe, prudent manner at a speed appropriate to conditions.

Are skateboards and roller-skates allowed on the roadway?

They are all prohibited on bus routes and arterial streets except to cross at crosswalks. In general, no one on roller-skates, skateboards, coasters or toy vehicles may engage in any "sport, amusement, exercise or play" in the roadway of any street.

Curb Ramps

Why are some curb ramps positioned so wheelchair users have to go out of the crosswalk area to enter and leave the street?

Some of these curb ramps were installed before the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed; center or corner ramps were designed as a cost-effective way to accommodate both crossings at an intersection. The ADA now requires curb ramps to be within the crosswalk. Seattle Transportation meets this requirement wherever possible, but sometimes utility poles or other features of the street get in the way and the curb ramp must be designed to account for the existing conditions.


Disabled Parking

How can I get a disabled parking zone in front of my house?

The disabled resident must provide to Seattle Department of Transportation a Washington state permit number and have no other off-street parking available to them. Call (206) 684-5104 for more information, or visit our Disabled Parking in the City of Seattle web page.


Permits

How do I get a parking permit?

There are different types of parking permits offered by SDOT. For more information about applying for all types of parking permits, call (206) 684-5086.

If you want a permit for a Residential Parking Zone in your neighborhood, call (206) 684-5092 for a new RPZ, or (206) 684-5086 for an existing RPZ. Visit our Residential Parking Zone Program web page for more info.

If you need a Commercial Vehicle Load Zone permit, call (206) 684-5086. Visit our Commercial Vehicle Load Zone web page for more info.

How do I get a permit for a special event, such as a block party?

SDOT issues Street Use Permits for any activity that temporarily closes a street or sidewalk, exclusive of escorted processions, parades, or any event for which Police Department personnel are required. Call our Street Use Permit Counter at (206) 684-5284 to obtain a permit for events that will be attended by less than 300 people. If you are planning a larger event, or if your event will require the assistance of the Seattle Police Department, call the City Special Event Committee at (206) 684-8017 to learn permit requirements and procedures.



Right-of-Way

Who has the right-of-way at an uncontrolled or unsigned intersection?

The driver on the left should always yield to the driver on the right. This is also true for intersections that are controlled by a traffic circle.

Can I turn left over a double yellow line?

You may turn left over a double yellow line that is less than 18-inches in width if you do not block traffic. If a double yellow line is wider than 18-inches and marked with crosshatching, it's illegal to turn left.

Can I turn left onto a one-way street if the signal is red?

Yes, but only into the nearest lane after checking for pedestrians and oncoming traffic.

Can two lanes of traffic turn left or right?

Yes, but only if signs designate those two lanes are turning.

Are motorists required to yield to buses or other transit vehicles?

Yes. When a transit vehicle has signaled and is reentering traffic flow, or is traveling in the same direction, motorists are required to yield the right of way.



Traffic Signs

What do the "No Stopping" signs that I see in Seattle really mean?

"No Stopping" signs mean exactly what they say. If you need to drop off a passenger or make some other quick stop, move your vehicle to a meter space or load/unload zone. "No Stopping" signs are installed to keep the curb lane clear for traffic, to minimize congestion, and improve transit turning.

How do I get time limit parking signs installed?

Time limit signing is normally installed by request to provide parking turnover. This is often needed for visitors to nearby businesses. SDOT will install time-limit signs if the majority of the businesses on a block sign a petition in favor of the signs.

Wouldn't additional speed limit signs help to slow traffic?

In Seattle, the speed limit on residential streets is 25 mph and 30 mph on arterial streets unless otherwise posted. Drivers are expected to know and obey the limit. Speed limit signs are usually only installed to indicate a change in the normal speed limit. Studies have shown that additional speed limit signs, if installed without informing people in additional ways, will not slow traffic.

What is a stop sign used for?

Stop signs are intended to help drivers and pedestrians determine who has the right-of-way at an intersection. Stop signs are installed to assign right-of-way at intersections where accidents or other data show that driver observance of the right-of-way law is not working.

Why not place a stop sign at every intersection?

Too many stop signs reduce their effectiveness. When stop signs are installed as "speed breakers" there is a high incidence of intentional violation or running the stop sign.

How do I report a broken or damaged street sign?

For downed, missing or replacement of street signs, call the SDOT Traffic Shop at (206) 386-1206.



Parking Meters

How do I change the length of time or type of parking meter in my area?

Individual meter space changes are done on a request basis. Property owners can request changes be made to maximum meter time or meter removal and installation of a Passenger Load Zone of Commercial Load Zone. Uncontrolled spaces are not permitted in a metered area.

What do I do if I try to park and find the parking meter is broken?

The Seattle Municipal Code (SMC 11.76.010) states that it is unlawful to park along or next to a parking metered space at which the parking meter is not in operation. If you encounter a broken parking meter in the City of Seattle, call (206) 684-5260 to report the malfunctioning meter. SDOT regrets the inconvenience caused by broken meters, and will repair them as soon as possible. Visit our Parking Meter web page for more information.


Traffic Signals

How much time does a pedestrian have to cross the street at a pedestrian traffic signal?

Generally, the City of Seattle gives the pedestrians a minimum of 7 to 10 seconds of "walk" time.

What does the flashing "Don't Walk" or the flashing hand symbol mean?

A flashing "DON'T WALK" or the "flashing hand" symbol means don't step off the curb. Pedestrians should have enough time to complete a crossing if he or she has already started.

When does the solid "Don't Walk" come on?

Generally, the solid "DON'T WALK" comes on at the same time that vehicular traffic receives a yellow light. This gives the pedestrian an additional 3 to 6 seconds to clear the intersection before conflicting traffic receives a green light.

I pushed the pedestrian signal button and the light changed for the car, but the "WALK" light didn't change. Why?

You may have pushed the button after the light began to change its cycle. The "WALK" light should come on during the following green cycle. It is crucial that pedestrians wait for the green cycle and then activate the push button signal. Otherwise, the signal will detect only the waiting vehicle or vehicles. The signal could allow as little as 5 seconds if there is only one vehicle, not enough time for a pedestrian crossing.

How do I report a broken or malfunctioning traffic signal?

To report a broken or malfunctioning traffic signal in all areas of Seattle, call SDOT at (206) 386-1206. You can also use our Street Maintenance Online Request Form to report broken or malfunctioning traffic signals. Visit our Traffic Signal Program web pages for more information about traffic signals.

How do I request a traffic signal for an intersection or a crosswalk for a busy street?

Call (206) 684-ROAD or (206) 684-5118, or send an e-mail to traffic.signals@seattle.gov.

How do I report a streetlight outage?

To report street light trouble and to request repairs for streetlights, call Seattle City Light at (206) 684-7056, or use the Streetlight Online Trouble Report.

What is the purpose of a yellow flashing beacon?

Yellow flashing beacons are used to caution traffic at busy intersections. However, SDOT does not install flashing yellow beacons anymore because they do not slow traffic and some drivers believe that the beacon flashes red for opposing traffic which can result in accidents.



Street Design

What does street design have to do with traffic flow?

Good street design supports traffic laws. If crosswalks and/or traffic signals are spaced too far apart, pedestrians may jaywalk. Poorly located stop signs may cause motorist to ignore them. When you think about the design of your street, think about design options that encourage compliance with traffic regulations.


Potholes and Street Work

How do I report a pothole?

Call SDOT to report pot holes. Give us the exact location, including address and side of street or intersection. You can also use our Street Maintenance Online Request Form to report potholes.

Potholes on Streets North of or on Denny Way - 684-7508

Potholes on Streets South of Denny Way - 386-1218

For Emergencies at All Hours of the Day - 386-1218

How do I request or report street repairs?

Call SDOT to request and report minor street repairs. Give us the exact location, including address and side of street or intersection. You can also use our Street Maintenance Online Request Form to request and report minor street repairs.

Repairs on Streets North of or on Denny Way - 684-7508

Repairs on Streets South of Denny Way - 386-1218

For Emergencies at All Hours of the Day - 386-1218

How do I request paving or re-paving on my street?

Call (206) 386-1218 to request or find out about major paving on Seattle streets. Visit our Street Maintenance and Paving web page for more info.

How do I request a sidewalk or sidewalk repair on my street?

Sidewalks are the maintenance responsibility of the abutting property owners in most cases.

If you find a raised portion of the walk, call (206) 684-ROAD, with the address, and we will investigate and notify the property owner to make repairs. Property owners may install sidewalks or other improvements along streets adjacent to their property under a street use permit.

For cars obstructing sidewalks, call Seattle Police Department Parking Enforcement at (206) 386-9012. For scaffolding obstructing sidewalks, call SDOT Street Use at (206) 684-5253.

How do I find out what streets or lanes are closed because of road construction?

Visit our News web page for the latest SDOT news releases, which often report upcoming street or lane closures. You may also wish to join a project or neighborhood e-mail alert group, which send traffic alerts directly to citizens. Use our Construction Projects List and Map to find out about road construction in Seattle, or call the SDOT project manager of a specific project to find out about it (SDOT project managers are listed on the above Construction Project List). Also call (206) 684-ROAD if you have specific questions, and our staff will find out the answer or direct you to the person who knows the answer.

How do I report loud noise caused by road work, day or night?

During business hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, call (206) 684-ROAD. After business hours or during the weekends, call (206) 386-1218.


Speeding

What can our neighborhood do about people who speed on our street?

To request speed enforcement from the Seattle Police Department, call (206) 684-8757.

If this is a speeding car emergency situation, call the Seattle Police Department at 9-1-1. For more information about how to report an emergency situation, visit the SPD 9-1-1 web page.

SDOT can help your neighborhood with traffic control. There are several options that may help calm traffic in your neighborhood, such as the Speed Watch program, or use of traffic calming devices such as traffic circles or speed bulbs. To find out more about these programs, call (206) 684-0353 or visit the Neighborhood Traffic Control Program web pages.


Graffiti

How do I report graffiti in my neighborhood or near where I work?

Call the Seattle Public Utilities Litter, Illegal Dumping, and Graffiti hot line at (206) 684-7587 to report litter, illegal dumping, and graffiti in your neighborhood.

If the graffiti is on a bridge, retaining wall or similar structure, call the SDOT Bridge Maintenance Painters at (206) 684-7514. If the graffiti is on a traffic sign, please call SDOT Street Maintenance at (206) 386-1206. If you see someone in the act, call SPD at 9-1-1.


Sewers and Flooding

How do I report a sewer backup?

If your sewer or floor drain backs up because of an obstruction in the City's main line sewer, call Seattle Public Utilities. Also, call SPU to report odor problems from sewers in your neighborhood.

Areas North of Ship Canal - (206) 684-7506

Areas South of Ship Canal - (206) 386-1230

How do I report high water or flooding in my street?

For fire hydrant or water utility problems, call Seattle Public Utilities at (206) 386-1800.

During significant weather-related emergencies that result in multiple landslides and/or water, drainage, sewer or electrical outage problems, the City may activate the Storm-Slide Citizen Resource number at (206) 684-3355. Staff at this number may provide updates and answer questions during weather-related emergencies.

Tree Care

How do I request pruning of an overgrown tree or removal of a dead tree?

Call the SDOT Landscape Services office at (206) 684-7649 to request any type of landscape services within the public right-of-way. Visit the Landscape Services web site for more info.

Note that all persons who prune and/or remove privately maintained trees within the public right-of-way area must obtain a street use permit. The City Arborist office at 206-684-TREE (8733) issues the permit. Visit the City Arborist web site for more info.

Street Cleaning and Trash Removal

Who sweeps and cleans our streets?

SDOT Street Maintenance crews sweep major arterials on a regular basis, ranging from daily to every two weeks, depending on the need. Most minor arterials are swept once a month; some are swept only when requested. SDOT does not sweep nonarterial streets, but does limited leaf cleaning in the fall. Because of their heavy use, downtown streets are swept every night, and alleys are cleaned five nights a week. They are hand-cleaned and flushed once per week. The crews usually sweep the streets at night. They also clean streets after parades and other special events. To find out more about street sweeping, call SDOT Street Maintenance at (206) 386-1218.

For street cleaning concerns north of Denny Way, call (206) 684-7508. For streets south of Denny Way, call (206) 386-1218.

Who dumps out the trash in public litter receptacles?

Litter cans are serviced by (Seattle Public Utilities) SPU's commercial contractors. The contact for litter can issues is (SPU's) Michael Davis at 615-1376. Also, litter cans at bus stops are typically an SPU responsibility and litter cans at bus shelters are (King County) Metro Transit's responsibility.


Road Laws

Where can I find the local road laws?

Washington State Traffic Code regulations are available online. The online Seattle Municipal Code contains a searchable database where you can look up traffic code subjects by keyword.

Another good online research tool is the Municipal Research and Service Center of Washington.

Winter Storms

Why aren't residential sidewalks, streets or driveways plowed or sanded when it snows?

When it snows, SDOT equipment is busy 24-hours a day clearing and sanding major arterial streets. Our 20 snow plows with sanders must take care of 1,524 lane miles of arterial streets. Once the snow stops and we are comfortable with the condition of the arterial streets, we can take care of residential streets on a request-basis. However, many residential streets are too narrow for our plows to work in them safely.

Why does the City plow snow to the center of the street?

Snow is plowed to the center of the street so it doesn’t block the path of melting snow flowing to street drains along the curb. Also, this way it doesn’t get in the way of cars parked along the curb. Another benefit of having snow pushed to the center of the street is that it serves as a barrier between lanes of traffic going in opposite directions.

How do I find out which streets, highways or bridges are opened or closed when it snows?

SDOT will report major closures, especially of City arterials and bridges, when they occur. You can find the latest SDOT news releases posted on our web site. For the most up-to-date news about closures and winter conditions, SDOT recommends tuning into local television or radio stations.

Trucks

How do I find out about truck regulations in the city of Seattle? How do I obtain a permit for an overlegal load?

Over-Legal Vehicles and Loads, Travel Directions, and Downtown Traffic Control Zone Regulations - Call: (206) 684-5086
All over-legal loads traveling within the City of Seattle are required to obtain a special permit. Click here for more information.

Buses

How do I find a local bus schedule?

Call Metro Transit Rider Information at (206) 553-3000, or visit the Metro Transit Online web site.

Carpool Parking

Does the City have any low-cost public parking lots?

The City provides downtown parking lots for people who participate in the City of Seattle Carpool Parking Program, to help reduce the cost of work-day commutes. For more information about this program, call (206) 684-0816, or visit the Carpool Parking Program web pages.


Emergencies

How do we find out how to get around Seattle if there is a large-scale emergency here?

The best source of information for up-to-date traffic news is generally provided on television and radio by local and regional media and news stations. Visit the City of Seattle Media web page for lists of local media web sites.


Bridges

How often do the Seattle drawbridges open? How long do they stay open?

Drawbridge openings vary; for more specific information, visit our Bridge Openings web pages or call (206) 386-4251.

Street Vacations

What is a street vacation? How do I request a street vacation?

The term Street Vacation refers to a process whereby individuals can acquire public street related land known as right-of-way for private use. To request a street vacation, call SDOT at (206) 684-7564. Visit our Street Vacation web pages for more information.