Interestingly, I had a bit of an issue in this very area this weekend. I was riding from the Evergreen Collage area toward Harrison. Somewhere between Bush and Harrison a driver attempted to “crowd” me farther into the bike lane from the white marker line. I was using the line to avoid opening car doors and a surface issue in the bike lane. I did have words (some of them not nice) with the driver in the parking lot on the corner. When I got home I decided to check my knowledge regarding use/non-use of bike lanes (which I was technically in when harassed). Here’s the data. The last entry from the driver’s hand book seals the WSDOT direction.

http://www.bicyclealliance.org/safety/rcwNew.html

46.61.425 May go slow & impede traffic if necessary for safety.

RCW 46.61.425

Minimum speed regulation — Passing slow moving vehicle. 

(1) No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law: PROVIDED, That a person following a vehicle driving at less than the legal maximum speed and desiring to pass such vehicle may exceed the speed limit, subject to the provisions of RCW 46.61.120 on highways having only one lane of traffic in each direction, at only such a speed and for only such a distance as is necessary to complete the pass with a reasonable margin of safety.

(2) Whenever the secretary of transportation or local authorities within their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that slow speeds on any part of a highway unreasonably impede the normal movement of traffic, the secretary or such local authority may determine and declare a minimum speed limit thereat which shall be effective when appropriate signs giving notice thereof are erected. No person shall drive a vehicle slower than such minimum speed limit except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

46.61.620 Check before opening car door. Don't leave car door open.

RCW 46.61.620

Opening and closing vehicle doors. 

No person shall open the door of a motor vehicle on the side adjacent to moving traffic unless and until it is reasonably safe to do so, and can be done without interfering with the movement of other traffic, nor shall any person leave a door open on the side of a vehicle adjacent to moving traffic for a period of time longer than necessary to load or unload passengers.

RCW 46.04.670 "Vehicle."

"Vehicle" includes every device capable of being moved upon a public highway and in, upon, or by which any persons or property is or may be transported or drawn upon a public highway, including bicycles. The term does not include devices other than bicycles moved by human or animal power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks. Mopeds shall not be considered vehicles or motor vehicles for the purposes of chapter 46.70 RCW. Bicycles shall not be considered vehicles for the purposes of chapter 46.12, 46.16, or 46.70 RCW.

RCW 46.61.755 Traffic laws apply to persons riding bicycles.

Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle by this chapter, except as to special regulations in RCW 46.61.750 through 46.61.780 and except as to those provisions of this chapter which by their nature can have no application.

46.61.770 Bicycles are not required to use a bike lane or shoulder.

46.61.770 Can legally take the lane if necessary.

RCW 46.61.770 Riding upon roadways and bicycle paths.

(1) Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a rate of speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place shall ride as near to the right side of the right through lane as is safe except as may be appropriate while preparing to make or while making turning movements, or while overtaking and passing another bicycle or vehicle proceeding in the same direction. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway or highway other than a limited-access highway, which roadway or highway carries traffic in one direction only and has two or more marked traffic lanes, may ride as near to the left side of the left through lane as is safe. A person operating a bicycle upon a roadway may use the shoulder of the roadway or any specially designated bicycle lane if such exists. (2) Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway shall not ride more than two abreast except on paths or parts of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.

Washington State Drivers' manual

Page: 79

• Allow at least three feet of space when overtaking or

passing a bicycle.

• Pass to the left of a pedestrian or bicyclist that is on the

right hand shoulder or bicycle lane at a distance that

will clearly avoid coming into contact with them. Do not

return to the right side of the road until safely clear.

• If parked at a curb, look before you open any door in the

path of a car, bicycle, or pedestrian.

• Bicyclists have the choice to ride on the roadway, on the

shoulder of a road, in a bicycle lane, or on a sidewalk.

Bicyclists must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks or in

crosswalks. Use an audible signal to warn pedestrians

before passing.