(1) Bicycle race permits shall be granted only under conditions that ensure reasonable safety for participants, spectators, and other highway users. Reasonable safety implies that race participants, spectators, and other highway users have been accommodated during the planning process in a manner that minimizes the possibility of placing one highway user in conflict with another.
(2) Bicycle race permit requests must include a race description stating all the pertinent information required to understanding the bicycle race event. The request must include a map showing the roadway on which the race will be held. Applications must specify the number of escort vehicles on the roadway used to conduct the race, starting and anticipated finishing time, maximum number of racers, number and training of course marshals, types of signing, and communications equipment.
(3) Approval of other involved jurisdictions shall be obtained prior to formal issuance of a bicycle race permit from the department.
(4) If the race only crosses a state highway, the department region administrator may waive the need for a bicycle race permit provided the permittee can show that reasonable traffic control and safety are provided by the organizer and other road authority: Provided further, That the permittee provide the indemnification and liability insurance prescribed in subsections (6) and (7) of this section.
(5) Bicycle racing will not normally be allowed on the Interstate Highway System.
(6) The permittee shall indemnify, defend and save harmless the state of Washington for any claim, suit, action for injuries, death or any other cause of personal injury or property damage arising from the issuance of a bicycle race permit, including claims of race participants, pedestrians, or other roadway users.
(7) The permittee shall obtain liability insurance in an amount no less than two million dollars to cover the state of Washington for any and all liabilities, including all costs, attorney fees, judgments or other expenses, arising from the use of state highways for the bicycle race event. The state shall be named as an additional insured on all insurance policies. When motor vehicles participate during the event, liability insurance for those vehicles is also required.
(8) When five or more vehicles are lined up behind a bicycle race and delayed for more than five minutes, the bicycle race shall be neutralized at a place of safety to allow the delayed vehicles to pass.
(9) Requests for bicycle race permits must comply with the latest edition of the department's "Washington State Bicycle Racing Guidelines."
(10) The original or certified copy of the permit must be available at the bicycle race for the duration of the bicycle race event.
The "Washington State Bicycle Racing Guidelines" may be obtained from the department's web site.
[Statutory Authority: RCW
47.36.030. WSR 10-23-075, § 468-400-040, filed 11/15/10, effective 12/16/10. Statutory Authority: Chapters
34.05 and
34.08 RCW. WSR 98-06-029 (Order 171), § 468-400-040, filed 2/26/98, effective 3/29/98.]