Can I legally drive through the backstreets in Seattle?

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I'll summarize below the answers received in the comment section.

Can I legally drive through the backstreets in Seattle?

Yes. From this article:

  1. The speed limit is 15 MPH.
  2. It's typically referred to as an alley.
  3. One has to be extra careful about pedestrians as they may not watch for cars coming from the alleys.
  4. Cars must yield to pedestrians. "When emerging from an alley, drivers are supposed to yield the right of way to any pedestrian, bicyclist or car when entering into the adjacent roadway. In Bellevue, any vehicle exiting an alley must first stop and yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and all other vehicles." (-> notice that the law depends on the city).
  5. Directions: "The alleys allow for two-way travel, unless they are marked with “One Way” or “Do Not Enter” sign".
  6. Regarding parking: "City code prohibits anyone from stopping, standing or parking a vehicle within an alley in a way that would block access to adjacent property. There is no set limit of time for how long you can park in an alley, but only commercial vehicles with a permit may park there, Westing said."

Comments:

  • Yes you can: seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/… You might get temporarily stuck by fairly unsympathetic slow commercial traffic though and if you get into an accident you might find yourself in an uphill battle to try to argue any innocence. lamont 2 days ago
  • Google Maps says this is "Nord Alley." A Google Search on "Nord Alley" returns documents showing the City of Seattle recently doing work to improve it. Trash and recycling trucks use the alley to collect, so it's passable by (big) vehicles. Seattle Municipal Code Sec. 11.14.025 defines "Alley" as "'Alley' means a highway not designed for general travel and primarily used as a means of access to the rear of residences and business establishments." It's the same definition as found in the Washington State Statutes. DavidSupportsMonica 2 days ago
  • While most people might not cavalierly walk down the middle of a main street, they probably regard a back alley as a low traffic area where pedestrians aren't so constrained. So if you drive through a back alley, be even more cautious than you normally would about pedestrians, cyclists, small children, etc. Kyralessa 2 days ago

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