By Leslie Vasquez Guzman
Washington recently became the first state in the country to authorize “shared streets,” a shift that could reshape how people move in cities across the state and serve as a model nationwide. The measure gives walkers and bikers priority, slows vehicle traffic to 10 miles per hour, and removes jaywalking restrictions. Washington’s law, signed in April, is a major step toward safer, people-centered streets.
While relatively new in the U.S., shared streets have been common in parts of Europe and Asia for decades. Successful shared streets are typically areas where pedestrians can walk freely across the entire roadway, cars move slowly, and the street is designed to encourage more ways to travel other than cars. Some U.S. cities have experimented with the idea: Under a city ordinance, Seattle’s Pike Place has allowed people to walk in the street in certain areas, but that ordinance technically clashed with state law until now.
Washington’s new law stands out because it removes state-imposed barriers that have long limited cities’ ability to make changes that benefit walkers and bikers. Until now, cities couldn’t set speed limits below 20 mph. While this law doesn’t mandate anything, it creates space for local governments to experiment with street layouts and safety measures tailored to their communities.
State laws have often been obstacles to safer, more accessible streets. Through state preemption, many state laws override local authority on issues like speed limits, lane widths, and street designs, making it difficult to adopt proven safety measures like protected bike lanes and reduced speed zones. But state policies can also create opportunities for progress.
In 2023, the Illinois and Chicago DOTs signed a joint agreement that streamlined the process for implementing traffic safety improvements on state-controlled roads within city limits. Florida offers another example: in 2017, the state’s DOT adopted a context classification system that organizes roadways based on the surrounding land use and development patterns. These strategies remove barriers by granting local governments more flexibility to design streets that better align with local needs and priorities.
Washington’s new law adds to the growing list and sets a precedent for other states interested in modernizing their transportation policies. By explicitly permitting shared streets and giving cities more flexibility, the law could lead to safer, more people-friendly urban spaces and help reverse troubling trends in pedestrian deaths.
Photo credit: Miguel A Amutio on Unsplash. License.