SDOT strives to make the roads safe for all travelers. To achieve this goal, SDOT is using roadway markings such as painted identifiers to encourage safer and more predictable travel.
These colorful street markings are meant to draw attention and promote visibility for all who use the roads, regardless of mode of transportation.
Roadway colors you may come across around the city:
Red bus lanes
These visible red “bus only” lanes are meant to provide additional cues to alert drivers that these are meant specifically for ‘transit use only’ and improve driver compliance for these bus lane restrictions. The goal of these lanes is to help make transit flow more smoothly, to help those who take transit get to where they’re going.
Green and white bike facilities
 |
 |
Green bike lanes and bike boxes designate a space where bicyclists can travel with general traffic in a more predictable, visible, and safer manner. The green pavement also indicates spaces in which bicycles and other traffic may cross paths. It alerts drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians to be extra aware of each other. To learn more about bike facilities, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/bikefacilities.htm
Multicolored crosswalks
Multicolored crosswalks, like the rainbow crosswalks on Capitol Hill, are previously marked crosswalks that have been painted with unique colors and are meant to highlight a community’s culture and history or liven up an intersection crosswalk with a colorful design. This is a great way for our neighborhood communities to celebrate themselves in a creative and visual manner. For more about current crosswalks and how to request one, please visit: http://www.seattle.gov/neighborhoods/community-crosswalks
Beige curb bulbs
Beige painted curb bulbs are meant to extend an existing curb and shorten the crossing distance in an intersection. The light color helps increase pedestrian visibility in locations including busy streets near schools where kids are traveling to and from.
For more information other ways we are making the roads safer for everyone, please visit our Vision Zero homepage at http://www.seattle.gov/visionzero. Please travel safely and be aware of others!