Wash. Rev. Code » Title 46 · Chapter 46.61
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.250 (2026)

Pedestrians on roadways

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Where sidewalks are provided and are accessible, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk or otherwise move along and upon an adjacent roadway. Where sidewalks are provided but wheelchair access is not available, persons with disabilities who require such access may walk or otherwise move along and upon an adjacent roadway until they reach an access point in the sidewalk.
(2) Where sidewalks are not provided or are inaccessible, a pedestrian walking or otherwise moving along and upon a highway, and any personal delivery device moving along and upon a highway, shall:
(a) When shoulders are provided and are accessible, walk or move on the shoulder of the roadway as far as is practicable from the edge of the roadway, facing traffic when a shoulder is available in this direction; or
(b) When shoulders are not provided or are inaccessible, walk or move as near as is practicable to the outside edge of the roadway facing traffic, and when practicable, move clear of the roadway upon meeting an oncoming vehicle.
(3) A pedestrian traveling to the nearest emergency reporting device on a one-way roadway of a controlled access highway is not required to travel facing traffic as otherwise required by subsection (2) of this section.
(4) When walking or otherwise moving along and upon an adjacent roadway, a pedestrian shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any vehicle upon the roadway.
(5) Subsections (1) and (2) of this section do not apply when the roadway is duly closed to vehicular traffic by placement of official traffic control devices for the sole purposes of pedestrian and bicyclist use of the roadway.
(6) Subsections (1), (2), and (4) of this section do not apply on a shared street as defined in RCW 46.61.197.
[ 2025 c 300 s 2; 2022 c 235 s 3. Prior: 2019 c 403 s 9; 2019 c 214 s 14; 1990 c 241 s 6; 1965 ex.s. c 155 s 37.]

Notes:

Rules of court: Monetary penalty schedule—IRLJ 6.2.
Finding—Intent—Effective date—2019 c 403: See notes following RCW 46.04.071.
Effective date—2019 c 214: See note following RCW 46.75.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1970–2025 · leading case: State v. Barber, 823 P.2d 1068 (Wash. 1992).
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State v. Barber, 823 P.2d 1068 (Wash. 1992). · cites it 2× “155, § 35); former RCW 46.61.250 (Laws of 1965, 1st Ex. Sess.”
State v. Penman, 521 P.3d 96 (N.M. Ct. App. 2022). “Law § 1156 (a) (1959) (“Where sidewalks are provided and they may be used with safety it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along upon an adjacent roadway.”
Zook v. Baier, 514 P.2d 923 (Wash. Ct. App. 1973). · cites it 2× “Her conduct did not violate specifically RCW 46.61.250 (2) making her contributorially negligent as a matter of law.”
Dailey v. Lange, 578 P.2d 1322 (Wash. Ct. App. 1978). · cites it 2× “Dailey a Pedestrian*? The trial court gave the following instruction to the jury based upon RCW 46.61.250 and RCW 46.04.400: Where sidewalks are not provided any pedestrian walking along upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its…”
Day v. Goodwin, 478 P.2d 774 (Wash. Ct. App. 1970). · cites it 2× “RCW 46.61.250 Pedestrians on roadways. (1) Where sidewalks are provided it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.”
Stutz v. Moody, 476 P.2d 548 (Wash. Ct. App. 1970). · cites it 2× “The appellate courts have not had the occasion to interpret RCW 46.61.250 since its enactment in 1965.”
Chase L. McClurg v. Paul David Winters, et ux (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). · cites it 4× “RCW 46.61.250 governs the conduct of pedestrians on roadways.”
State Of Washington v. Steven W. Tower (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “VanWyck contacted Tower for violating “Pedestrians on roadways,” RCW 46.61.250. VanWyck pulled his car over and activated his lights.”
State of Washington v. Justin Levi Lorin Linville (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “See RCW 46.61.250 ("Where sidewalks are provided it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk or otherwise move along and upon an adjacent roadway.”
State of Washington v. J.Y.A.-V. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “RCW 46.61.250(2)5 provides in relevant part that [w]here sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking or otherwise moving along and upon a highway .”
State v. Penman (N.M. Ct. App. 2022). “16 1 defendant] was about to start walking down the prohibited right side of the 2 roadway”).”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.250(1) — 2 cases
State v. Penman, 521 P.3d 96 (N.M. Ct. App. 2022). “Law § 1156 (a) (1959) (“Where sidewalks are provided and they may be used with safety it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along upon an adjacent roadway.”
Chase L. McClurg v. Paul David Winters, et ux (Wash. Ct. App. 2025). “RCW 46.61.250 governs the conduct of pedestrians on roadways.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 46.61.250(2) — 4 cases
Zook v. Baier, 514 P.2d 923 (Wash. Ct. App. 1973). “Her conduct did not violate specifically RCW 46.61.250 (2) making her contributorially negligent as a matter of law.”
Stutz v. Moody, 476 P.2d 548 (Wash. Ct. App. 1970). “The appellate courts have not had the occasion to interpret RCW 46.61.250 since its enactment in 1965.”
State Of Washington v. Steven W. Tower (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “VanWyck contacted Tower for violating “Pedestrians on roadways,” RCW 46.61.250. VanWyck pulled his car over and activated his lights.”
State of Washington v. J.Y.A.-V. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “RCW 46.61.250(2)5 provides in relevant part that [w]here sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking or otherwise moving along and upon a highway .”
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