Bicycling

Each May, partners across Pierce County host special events and rides to celebrate Bike Month. Check out the Tacoma-Pierce County Bike Month website for the annual calendar of events and more details. You can also visit our Bike Month web page for additional information.

Thank you for using active transportation to get around Tacoma! The City of Tacoma is working on a range of strategies to make it as safe and easy as possible for you to walk and roll, including:

• Building new active transportation infrastructure like separated bike lanes, curb ramps, and sidewalks
• Updating our transportation policies to ensure they help us reach our equity, safety, and climate goals
• Investing in programs like Safe Routes to School and Bike Month

You can help by following the rules of the road (and sidewalk and trail) when you ride a bike or use a motorized foot scooter.

Where to Ride

This chart is intended to serve as a helpful guide to local & state regulations related to where to ride in the City of Tacoma, however additional requirements and nuances may apply. Please see the Revised Code of Washington and Tacoma Municipal Code for additional details.

*See RCW 46.04.169 for definitions of Class 1, 2, and 3 electric-assisted bicycles. See TMC 11.06 for definitions of motorized foot scooters and EPAMDs.

Riding at Night

If you’re riding during the hours of darkness – bicycles and motorized foot scooters must have a front white light and a rear red reflector. A red rear light may be used in addition to the required reflector.

Please Wear a Helmet

The City of Tacoma strongly encourages all people using human-powered and/or motorized bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, scooters, and similar modes to wear a helmet, especially children. However, the City recognizes that laws requiring helmets for these modes are not the most equitable or effective strategy to maximize positive public health outcomes. While helmets are no longer required by law in the City of Tacoma, the City will continue efforts to reduce barriers to accessing helmets and educate the community about why and how to wear helmets. The City also recognizes that helmets are just one strategy to improve active transportation safety; the City will continue to pursue a multi-faceted approach, including engineering, education, and encouragement, to enhance the safety of its transportation system. Washington State helmet laws for motorcycles, mopeds, and motor-driven cycles remain in effect in the City of Tacoma.​

Additional Resources

Washington State Bicycle Laws

Washington State Pedestrian Laws

E-bikes can make bicycling accessible to more people and make it easier to bike with kids, groceries, or other gear. E-bike programs support access to e-bikes and e-bike education – supporting more people to choose bicycling for everyday trips. Check out the City’s E-Bike Program web page for more details.

When cycling in Tacoma, if you encounter situations in the street or public right-of-way that the City should be notified about, please call and let us know using the contact options below. In case of emergency, contact 911.

You may have noticed more bike racks popping up all over Tacoma.

The City of Tacoma currently has a bike rack program and can provide free racks for businesses or employers to meet the needs of cyclists.

Join the many local businesses that provide their bike-riding patrons a safe place to park their bike. City staff will evaluate the proposed area to come up with an appropriate location for the racks. They must be located in the public right-of-way on a concrete surface and cannot interfere with pedestrian or ADA mobility.

If you are interested in having a free bike rack installed at a local business, contact Liz Kaster with the subject “Bike rack request.”

The City of Tacoma values the many organizations working to make Tacoma a safer & more enjoyable place to walk, bike and roll –  including:

2nd Cycle is a community cycle center that supports, educates, and advocates for cyclists, new and experienced, in the Hilltop and surrounding Tacoma communities. 2nd Cycle provides community workspace, bicycle maintenance classes, literature, repair service, as well as new and used bicycle components while maintaining accessibility by providing affordable pricing.

VeloFemmes is a group of women who recognize that cycling tends to be a male-dominated activity, and they are focused on getting more women on bikes. They hope to inspire more women (and more people in general) to get out and explore their communities by bike, and they hope to be a safe space where women can meet new friends and feel supported.

Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club is a 501c7 non-profit that aims to provide “Cycling for Fun, Fitness, and Livable Communities.” The Tacoma Washington Bicycle Club (TWBC) organizes social and bicycle activities, works with other clubs and organizations to promote bicycling, and informs and educates members and the public regarding bicycle issues and safety.

Kidical Mass Tacoma is a safe and fun series of bike rides for kids, kids at heart, and their families. Part of a larger Kidical Mass movement, the group organizes rides through various neighborhoods of Tacoma. Kidical Mass rides are hosted by 2nd Cycle Tacoma.