I was pulled over on Hwy 509 today, thats the one that runs from des moines - burien area to seattle. First of all I know a bunch of you out there will say it is stupid to ride on a hwy but Ive been wanting to try it to eliminate some of the stop and go traffic I deal with daily. I have seen a few other bikers on that hwy before but wasnt sure it ws leagal until this morning when I found a list of hwys closed to cyclist in the greater seattle area on the Washington DOT site. Low and behold 509 wasnt on the list so off I went. I made it 300 feet up the ramp at normandy park and a cop pulled over, after explaining the information I had found the officer agreed to research the rules and get back to me, she was very understanding and fair. Well, she called me and explained that she had asked 2 bike cops , and called base and they both said that it was NOT leagal to ride on 509. But, she continued, after researching it further found that I was correct, it was infact leagal and I should carry a copy of the DOT site on my bike to avoid future problems, as she predicted I would have.
So, anyone fealing daring enough can give it a go, and by the way 509 has EXTRA LARGE shoulder and little traffic, so as hwys go it should be safe enough. I do expect that this could change in the future but for now its 100% leagal, I also noticed that hwy 167 is not on the list but that one seems sketchy.
anyway thats my commuting story for today

good to hear you got out of it - rightfully so!

i've thought about the illegal roads list, and how aurora's not on it, but i'd never ride in the viaduct (and you're probably not allowed to anyway), unless i'm with critical mass. so some roads might not be on the list but still be "off limits."

Good for you - and you must have run into the most understanding cop ever. Some of the testosterone junkies we have would have probably arrested you for obstruction of justice for challenging their authority.

aurora ave is not bad once you hit the snohomish county line and the 3 lanes of traffic become two lanes plus outside lane bus, bike and right turn traffic only.

riding the viaduct is illegal; also the west seattle high bridge and portions of I-5, I-90 and 520. everything else is fair game in the greater seattle area, i believe.

Here's some video i shot riding critical mass on the viaduct:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSW_fDS4_sQ

The only concern I'd have about a road like 509 (I live in Burien, so I drive 509 often) is getting across the on and off ramps. Cars hit those ramps at 60+ MPH and often aren't looking for anything smaller than another car. Other than that, though, you're absolutely right. The shoulders are nice and wide and the pavement is generally in good condition.

Good for you - and you must have run into the most understanding cop ever. Some of the testosterone junkies we have would have probably arrested you for obstruction of justice for challenging their authority.From the original post:

...after explaining the information I had found the officer agreed to research the rules and get back to me, she was very understanding and fair. Does that explain it?

Ha! I think you may be right, SHE was also European, which made her more open to the whole bicycling thing, I got luck.
By the way, 509 cuts my commute by 20 minutes because I dont have all the stops and it is a starighter shot. I think Ill just use it when Im running late, I feel like Im missing 1/2 my workout when I go that way.

Squirl, sounds like She is someone to stay in touch with even if she is not a cyclist. I could go for someone who is that nice to a biker.