Nunymare

Sometimes the button needs to be pressed to get a "walk" signal where I am so I most of the time I follow the traffic light.

dru_

As I understand it, while a MUP is a case of bicycling allowed sidewalks, the use of a bicycle on a MUP is legally the same as the use of a bicycle on a sidewalk. What this means is that when using a MUP on a bike, you are subject to all laws and rules that cover pedestrians in that right of way. Ergo, no, you do not magically become a vehicle at that green light, you are still a pedestrian and you cannot proceed agains the signal.

achoo

Most states where I've bothered to look that up have laws that specify exactly that - a bicycle using a crosswalk is required to follow all the signals a pedestrian has to. (Although, strangely enough, in Virginia VDOT itself questions the legal basis for stop signs on MUPS here: https://www.virginiadot.org/vtrc/main.../pdf/11-r9.pdf - see p. 57. And note that only applies to signs - NOT signals of any kind.)

Interesting how the posters claiming "I'm a vehicle not a pedestrian so I can ignore "Don't Walk" signals" have disappeared....

unterhausen

i don't see why they would have a stop sign if that's not the only applicable traffic control device. In my case, I'll just ride in the road if anyone in an official capacity hassles me.

The only intersection where this applies to me is very dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists. It would have been changed long ago if it was similarly dangerous for motorists. I generally follow traffic control devices, but this is one situation where it's better to go when there is no cross traffic. If I wait for the walk signal, there is almost always cross traffic.

dru_

One of the examples locally is right here:

https://www.google.com/maps/@34.1560...dWTtBMCTZQ!2e0

If you look at the intersection, you have a MUP that crosses the road at a cross walk (in U-turn fashion, running parallel up to the intersection on both sides, it literally comes up out of a valley to use that intersection rather then bridge over #facepalm ). This particular intersection has caused no end of discussion with the county and it's LEO's, on the subject of stop/go/walk/etc.

FWIW, I rarely use this MUP section on a bike, though I run it a fair bit. I have seen bicycle patrols issue warnings and citations for cyclists going without a walk signal. The funny thing, is that the way that intersection is setup, you can go straight up Atlanta Hwy, across that side, enter the lane, become a vehicle, turn with the traffic light and reenter the MUP on the other side converting back to a pedestrian. Short version is that IMO, the dynamics of MUP/Street interactions are still very much in a learning/transition phase and we will see more of these things codified as MUP's continue to grow in popularity and scale.

njkayaker

No, if the pedestrian signal indicates "Don't walk", you are required stop and stay on the sidewalk.

If you have failed to yield and entered the crosswalk, the driver is supposed to yield but they might not be able to.

(Some people think that the "crosswalk laws" allow pedestrians to enter the crosswalk anytime they like. That's not true: pedestrians are required to abide by traffic controls and yield to drivers who don't have enough time to reasonablu stop. The point of the "crosswalk laws" is to place the burden of avoiding "fighting" for the right of way on drivers in a way that works against a collision being the outcome).

Drivers are not supposed to use the sidewalks. If you are riding your bike on the sidewalk, you aren't a "driver".

If pedestrians are controlled by a pedestrian stop light (Don't walk), it would be chaos to release sidewalk riders to be released from that requirement.

Bicyclists are an odd case: on the roadway, they are governed by the traffic laws for vehicles. Those rules don't apply when not riding on roadways (such as riding on sidewalks). If they are allowed to use the way (sidewalk or MUP), bicyclists have to follow the laws/rules that apply to all users. There's no magic unspoken exception for bicyclists (to do what they want). There could be explicit requirements or exceptions made for bicyclists but those would be explicit (clearly stated).

njkayaker

It doesn't make any sense to require pedestrians to stop and allow bicyclists to blast through. There is no reasonable reading of the law that would where that would make sense.


https://bicycledriving.org/law/guide-to-improving-laws
That is, in the other 10 states, it's assumed.

Jaywalk3r

Not around here. A multi-use path is not the same as a sidewalk. Where a MUP runs close and parallel to a road, there is typically also a sidewalk immediately adjacent to the road.

A wide sidewalk is not a MUP in most places. It's just a wide sidewalk.

Ridefreemc

I ain't ridin', I'm walkin' in my example.

Anyway, this post is confused so much I'm not sure it is helpful to anyone.

Fargo Wolf

If the MUP is next to the street and there's no signals specifically for bicycles, I push the button and go with the walk light.

achoo

You think you can WALK across a crosswalk in violation of a DON'T WALK signal to the point you complain that cars with green lights are "violating your right of way"?

And you call others confused?

WTF?

scott967

Well, no we're here, but when some one offers an assumption without cite, there isn't much to be said. I did
happen to come across Arizona's definition of pedestrian "41. "Pedestrian" means any person afoot. A person who uses an electric personal assistive mobility device or a manual or motorized wheelchair is considered a pedestrian unless the manual wheelchair qualifies as a bicycle."

So a wheelchair (user) is a pedestrian UNLESS it is a bicycle. Sort of implies a bicycle is not a pedestrian don't you think? And says nothing about being on or within a sidewalk, MUP, or anything else. And look up afoot, it means "walking", not riding a bicycle, or more generally human propelled vehicle.

But as I wrote initially, I go when safe to do so per the vehicle control signals, not caring about "walk lights" so "proving" the law isn't that important to me.

scott s.
.

CrankyOne

Are crossing signals always regulatory or are they sometimes advisory?

EvilWeasel

Same rule i use for all intersections regardless of what the traffic lights and signs tell me. Make sure it's safe and proceeded with caution". It's pretty much the only traffic rule we should really need in a perfect idiot free world.