Originally Posted by
BlazingPedals
I can't speak for everywhere, but in Michigan pedestrians have the right-of-way at all marked and unmarked crosswalks, an unmarked crosswalk being anyplace it would be logical for pedestrians to cross, i.e. a parking lot directly across the street from a big building, etc. Lights are for their safety, not to enforce when or where they can cross.
OTOH, bikes are given all the rights and responsibilities of vehicles. Vehicles are not pedestrians, and that's where the problem comes in: too many cyclists consider themselves 'pedestrians on wheels' rather than 'human powered vehicles.'
What really is the difference though between 'human powered vehicle' and 'pedestrian on wheels'? I don't think the rules of the road can reasonably be applied to cyclists, we are far more like pedestrians than vehicles. The only place we really differ is our speed, which isn't THAT great (usually below the posted speed limit).