Crosswalks: dismount and walk? Or ride?
#51
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The OP needs to provide some information about what the heck he is talking about. Not enough information.
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#52
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When I was a kid (about a thousand years ago it seems) we were taught to get off our bikes and walk them when crossing a street at a marked crosswalk. Is this still a thing? I don’t even know if it was an actual state/national law, or just the neighborhood overprotective moms trying to keep us kiddos safe. I see current day examples of both, people riding in crosswalks and people dismounting and walking across and it has me wondering if there are laws dictating the proper way to handle a marked crosswalk. 🤔
You need to clarify your situation.
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#53
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Well, I certainly opened up a can of worms with this one! That wasn’t my intention, although it led to some informative discussion. My original post was in regards to a recently developed bike/walking path that goes from one end of our small town to the other. It’s fully paved and crosses some bridges, parking lots, alleys, and (get ready: here it comes) busy streets. I’ve seen cyclists waiting to cross while still in the saddle, and I’ve seen them dismount and wait to walk their bikes across. There is no traffic light there, but there are signs that state “traffic must yield to pedestrians in crosswalk”. And by the way, I’m coming at this from a motor vehicle operator point of view. As I approach the crosswalk in my car, and a cyclist is still seated on the bike, I will stop for them. But I often wonder if they’re supposed to dismount and walk, or if it’s ok/legal to ride across a marked crosswalk.
Now that I’ve clarified my original post and reread it, most likely it varies state by state. Maybe. I think.
Mike
Now that I’ve clarified my original post and reread it, most likely it varies state by state. Maybe. I think.
Mike
#54
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You can't get a reasonable answer, basically because every State in your country seems to have different laws (ridiculous in a country with 52 tiny States).
Where I live, I can ride wherever I like (roads, footpaths, crossings, shared paths, on-road bikelanes) with the exception of Motorways.
Where I live, I can ride wherever I like (roads, footpaths, crossings, shared paths, on-road bikelanes) with the exception of Motorways.
#55
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California's economy is 5th largest in the world. That make it larger than the UK. In more ways that one you might want to rethink the term "tiny"states. Also, for the record, there are 50 states, but the laws are more alike than they are dissimilar.
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Well, I certainly opened up a can of worms with this one! That wasn’t my intention, although it led to some informative discussion. My original post was in regards to a recently developed bike/walking path that goes from one end of our small town to the other. It’s fully paved and crosses some bridges, parking lots, alleys, and (get ready: here it comes) busy streets. I’ve seen cyclists waiting to cross while still in the saddle, and I’ve seen them dismount and wait to walk their bikes across. There is no traffic light there, but there are signs that state “traffic must yield to pedestrians in crosswalk”. And by the way, I’m coming at this from a motor vehicle operator point of view. As I approach the crosswalk in my car, and a cyclist is still seated on the bike, I will stop for them. But I often wonder if they’re supposed to dismount and walk, or if it’s ok/legal to ride across a marked crosswalk.
Now that I’ve clarified my original post and reread it, most likely it varies state by state. Maybe. I think.
Mike
Now that I’ve clarified my original post and reread it, most likely it varies state by state. Maybe. I think.
Mike
The big difference here is that the crosswalk is alongside a path, not a street, so there is no difference between riding in the crosswalk or beside it in the lane, as you would on a street. No motor vehicles can turn into it or out of it, which is the real danger. I'd be surprised if anyone could legally insist that you dismount.
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In the seventies(about 1976 or so) I took a cycling class at our local Community College. I was getting serious about cycling and my wife and I had recently given up driving for a few years. I was taught then that if you are on your bike you do not use cross walks or side walks. If you are walking your bike you are considered a pedestrian and can use crosswalks or side walks. It seems pretty simple really, but then humans are not simple so I guess anything goes! Now I don't see the same courtesy as often but then that is my perception. In Southern California where I live it is pretty densely populated so a lot of the time I just focus on my behavior , not others , unless it gets scary . Joe joesvintageroadbikes.wordpress
#59
☢
In the seventies(about 1976 or so) I took a cycling class at our local Community College. I was getting serious about cycling and my wife and I had recently given up driving for a few years. I was taught then that if you are on your bike you do not use cross walks or side walks. If you are walking your bike you are considered a pedestrian and can use crosswalks or side walks. It seems pretty simple really, but then humans are not simple so I guess anything goes!
Now I don't see the same courtesy as often but then that is my perception. In Southern California where I live it is pretty densely populated so a lot of the time I just focus on my behavior , not others , unless it gets scary . Joe joesvintageroadbikes.wordpress
Last edited by KraneXL; 08-29-19 at 09:27 AM.
#60
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However:
"Automobiles are not required to yield to bicycles being ridden across a crosswalk (at a trail crossing for example) as the bicycle is treated as a vehicle. A better choice is to dismount and walk your bike across."
-mr. bill
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According to previous posters each of those 50 States have different road rules that road users need to be aware of.
That was the basis for my comment, not your ramblings about how California has a great economy, or how great you think the USA is.
I hope that you learned something today, and will learn to ask questions to clarify when you don't understand a comment in future (rather than doing an incredibly poor job of puffing out your chest and attempting to belittle others.
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#63
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You have 50 States (sorry, I must have included Greenland and whatever other country President Fanta-face thinks he can buy this week), 48 of which are within a land mass the size of Australia where I live (which has 7 States and 2 Territories).
According to previous posters each of those 50 States have different road rules that road users need to be aware of.
That was the basis for my comment, not your ramblings about how California has a great economy, or how great you think the USA is.
I hope that you learned something today, and will learn to ask questions to clarify when you don't understand a comment in future (rather than doing an incredibly poor job of puffing out your chest and attempting to belittle others.
According to previous posters each of those 50 States have different road rules that road users need to be aware of.
That was the basis for my comment, not your ramblings about how California has a great economy, or how great you think the USA is.
I hope that you learned something today, and will learn to ask questions to clarify when you don't understand a comment in future (rather than doing an incredibly poor job of puffing out your chest and attempting to belittle others.
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This is an Ann Arbor intersection of Maple Rd. and Jackson Rd. I pass this frequently on one of my favourite routes.
No offense, but I find absolutes like this at best peculiar. Without any knowledge of local specifics regarding intersections and the approaches they baffle me. I much prefer the road, but sadly we have a few intersections where it would be foolish to attempt this. Fortunately, these six lane death traps are guarded by pedestrian controlled signals. Once beyond them, I gladly hit the road again.
Last edited by bobwysiwyg; 08-29-19 at 07:42 PM.
#66
☢
And yet this website (and society) exists, and filled with people who are doing just that. What makes them different? Superior knowledge? Wisdom? Morality? You might want to rethink that philosophy.
#68
Cycleway town
I have walk mode. It's when I'm perched on a bike but moving at walking speed, sometimes slower. Kinda like mobility scooters.
Remember I'm sat upright, with platform pedals, and other such practicalities.
Remember I'm sat upright, with platform pedals, and other such practicalities.
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Usually ride across after being (sometimes) ridiculously (sp?) sure about approaching drivers both ways. Yesterday's close call was because I made sure it wasn't a back page headline.
As stated before, in another thread, you have to drive for them too... even if rolling on two wheels/walking....
As stated before, in another thread, you have to drive for them too... even if rolling on two wheels/walking....
#70
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#72
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as you may imagine!
Before we moved to Savannah we lived 3 miles from work at what used to be Edwards Brothers, a book manufacturer, close to State and Ellsworth, and I could bike to work, but not in Winter. One time I left work in a blizzard and waited too long for my bus to come that would take me right by my domicile, but it never showed. I was dressed for sitting in a fairly warm bus and running to my door, not for slogging 3 miles in a raging blizzard through a foot of snow, wind in my face! It was a life changing experience!
John
Before we moved to Savannah we lived 3 miles from work at what used to be Edwards Brothers, a book manufacturer, close to State and Ellsworth, and I could bike to work, but not in Winter. One time I left work in a blizzard and waited too long for my bus to come that would take me right by my domicile, but it never showed. I was dressed for sitting in a fairly warm bus and running to my door, not for slogging 3 miles in a raging blizzard through a foot of snow, wind in my face! It was a life changing experience!
John
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I committed some serious violations today. I rode my bike through about 15 pedestrian crosswalks, Anybody wants to come and arrest me ??
#74
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College Rules
The official rules on my college campus state you can not ride your bike on the crosswalk, you must dismount and walk. Also, riding bikes on the sidewalk is "only allowed when no pedestrians are on the sidewalk." However, this rule is ignored all the time and we all ride around like crazy. The only bike racks are adjacent to sidewalks with heavy traffic, so it creates quite a dilemma. Another dilemma occurs when some designated bike paths are only accessible by sidewalks. Quite a muddy situation.
#75
☢
The official rules on my college campus state you can not ride your bike on the crosswalk, you must dismount and walk. Also, riding bikes on the sidewalk is "only allowed when no pedestrians are on the sidewalk." However, this rule is ignored all the time and we all ride around like crazy. The only bike racks are adjacent to sidewalks with heavy traffic, so it creates quite a dilemma. Another dilemma occurs when some designated bike paths are only accessible by sidewalks. Quite a muddy situation.
Still, USC just removed a chunk of their previous bike path through the center of campus for safety. That includes skate boards and scooters (although there are still vehicles on the path).
Anyway, the VA campus has a similar rule, and like in your case there is zero enforcement by police or security. When I see someone riding on the sidewalk I remind them to obey the signs. The moment I step on the sidewalk, I dismount.