Traffic hazard on 35th near Avalon

[JTB]

At the new building on 35th and Avalon, some cars on 35th southbound will ignore the double yellow line in order to turn left into the building’s parking garage. I discovered this after making a left onto 35th southbound when following another car which stopped abruptly after making the turn, no signal, no clue, etc.

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[trickycoolj]

Thanks for the warning. I’ve had some close calls with people exiting the KFC drive-thru haphazardly as well.

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[velo_nut]

I believe you can cross a double… You just can’t pass.

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[JanS]

and when you think about it, if the driver is coming from downtown, how else would they get into their garage? Perhaps poor planning on the building designers…

at least people are becoming aware, so they can pay attention :)

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[Franci]

The best option is to take the Harbor Ave exit and turn left onto

Avalon.

Left turns are not allowed from SB 35th onto EB Avalon, between 3 pm and 6 pm. Its really annoying to get stuck behind drivers that decide the rules don’t apply to them.

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[MB]

Seems sketchy when I see it happen, but not illegal. Though, people should obviously use their blinker.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2011/07/19/is-it-legal-to-turn-over-a-double-yellow-line/

RCW 46.61.130

No-passing zones.

(1) The state department of transportation and the local authorities are authorized to determine those portions of any highway under their respective jurisdictions where overtaking and passing or driving to the left of the roadway would be especially hazardous and may by appropriate signs or markings on the roadway indicate the beginning and end of such zones. When such signs or markings are in place and clearly visible to an ordinarily observant person every driver of a vehicle shall obey the directions thereof.

(2) Where signs or markings are in place to define a no-passing zone as set forth in subsection (1) of this section, no driver may at any time drive on the left side of the roadway within the no-passing zone or on the left side of any pavement striping designed to mark the no-passing zone throughout its length.

(3) This section does not apply under the conditions described in RCW 46.61.100 (1)(b), nor to the driver of a vehicle turning left into or from an alley, private road, or driveway.

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[JimmyG]

JTB, they aren’t ignoring the double yellow line, there isn’t anything illegal about crossing it to enter the parking garage.

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[JTB]

Thanks for the clarifications about when it’s permissible to cross the double yellow line. More important is that making the left turn will often involve a stop for oncoming traffic and since it happens just after making the turn from Avalon, any cars following may have to stop quickly or swerve abruptly into the outside lane.

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[Author]

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