KevinmH9

While cycling, I do enter a few small towns, some filled with crosswalks. While cycling today the pedestrian question crossed my mind. As cyclists, we do share the same road and rules that motorists do. With that said, are we by law supposed to stop for pedestrians in the crosswalks too?

For those wondering, I do stop at the crosswalks for pedestrians.

kubla khan

I prefer running them over. Wider tires help.

drumbum

Is weaving around them somewhere between stopping or running them over?

Bikepacker67

I don't "stop" but I certainly yeild.

galen_52657

Again I am overwhelmed by the ignorance of my fellow cyclist. First, people want to know if it's OK to ride on the interstate. Now, if you have to stop for pedestrians in a cross walk. Is there no hope**********

Bikepacker67

Chill out there bud..

I slow down just to the point where I don't have to unclip.

Only the dimmest of Peds can't handle that, and for those unfortunate few who can't, I consider it Darwin's fault

galen_52657

Only the dimmest of cyclists want to go to court and pay damages. If a ped is crossing agains a traffic signal then that would be J-walking and the ped would be at fault for an accident- bike or car. If they are crossing with the traffic and you run the light and hit them then that would be your fault, bike or car. If there is no traffic signal, there will be signs saying 'yeild to peds in crosswalk'. If the ped is in the crosswalk and you hit them, it's on you. If they step off the curb right in front of you, then that would be on them unless you were speeding.

You may not have to stop completely to miss them. But it's a good idea to miss them.

KevinmH9

Pretty honest question to say the least...In times of heavy traffic, and there is a pedestrian waiting in the crosswalk, I will stop, trying to get my point across to some of the motorists who won't stop. Most of the time I will just slow down enough to let them cross without coming to a complete stop.

KristenGilbert

We want to be treated like cars, so we are supposed to stop for them just like cars would because pedestrians have the right of way, especially in crosswalks. Here is something that says that as well: https://bicycling.511.org/traffic.htm The second point says to specifically yield to pedestrians.

madman91

why dont WE ride on sidewalks

CastIron

I'll yield if they're too fat to run over.
Seriously, in my state--right or wrong--the pedestrian ALWAYS has the right of way. I generally just try to steer a safe distance around so we can both move along merrily.

forum*rider

I yield to the peds, don't necessarily stop but I yield.

Ex. If I'm pretty far away and I see someone crossing in the crosswalk I will stop pedaling and just coast for a bit so they are clear by the time I reach the intersection.

As You Like It

I stop at stop signs and stoplights, therefore I stop at ped-Xings. I often have pedestrians try to wave me through or tell me "it's okay, go ahead" and then I briefly and cheerfully explain to them that I have the same rights and responsibilities as a car driver would, including the responsibility, nay obligation to stop at crosswalks and yeild right-of-way to pedestrians.

Jaywalkers...well, those I usually slow down for, and try to swing wide so I can get around 'em, though a whole gaggle of clueless tourists, parading across the road like a clutch of ducklings after a mama duck gave me a fine excuse to have a good wreck one day earlier this summer. It had been raining, and it had cleared off for a bit, so I was busting a move trying to get home before it started raining again, and I was coming down a hill a little (okay a lot) faster than I should, when a good dozen out-of-towners come trooping out between two parked tour buses, straight out into the street, in front of me. There was no swinging wide, no swerving, nothing I could do but clamp down on my brakes and pray against litigation. I laid my bike down hard on the pavement, but I didn't wipe out any of the tourists. What ruined my evening could have ruined somebody's entire vacation, as I expect getting clobbered with 40lb of bike, 15lb of cargo, and 130lb of woman at probably around 25mph would surely mess someone up pretty badly.

DCCommuter

I yield to pedestrians, it doesn't cost me anything to go around them. I like to give them a verbal signal to go ahead so they don't do anything unpredictable. If they're so thick I can't go around, which is rare, I'll stop and wait.

Technically, I should stop. In DC the law is that all vehicles have to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, which is a new law and not the norm in the US.

If there is a traffic signal and I have the green I'll be a little more assertive, though I won't run anyone off the road. In particular on my commute there's one light that's on a stretch of downhill where I'll often be going 25+ mph. It's amazing how many people will walk right into my path against the light when there aren't cars around. I try to ride right in the middle of the road then so I have maximum ability to dodge 'em.

iamlucky13

In some areas it is legal to ride on the freeway (you'll probably be able to tell by the warning signs). In some areas it is legal to ride on the sidewalk (cheaper for small towns like Winlock than putting in bike lanes that run all of 5 blocks). Stopping for pedestrians does seem like a little more of a no-brainer, but someone might wonder, is the rule exactly the same?

For example, in Washington, you stop if the pedestrian crossing the street is within one lane of your half of a two way road, so you're technically not supposed to take off as soon as they clear your lane. When I'm on the bike, I try to time it so I don't have to stop, by yielding or else mashing my way past before they get their foot onto the street.

lilHinault

are you kidding? They're essential to developing good bunnyhopping skills. And the old keirin shoulder knockdown too. And the sprint as they get up and chase you lol.

ovoleg

I dont like Peds, but I always stop because you never know with the whacko's that live in Cali. I usually dont encounter this many peds in my area but I try to give them some room.

I just hate the ones that walk into the MIDDLE of the street to see if the Bus is coming. OMG that is by far the most annoying thing ever, and if your riding in the bike lane, they just stand there and expect you to go around. Sometimes I just want to run into them...ARgh

CPcyclist

I do and I also take the lane when letting ped across the roads.

ovoleg

thats living on the wild side...

Metieval

Some freeways you can, some freeways you can't.

I am not 100% sure, but I think all Interstates are off limit to bikes.

Peds is cross walks? depending on the number of peds in them you should normally be able to go behind them by simply slowing down and timing it. If that isn't possible then stop.

*shrugs* I ride a hybrid, when peds and walkers get in my way on bike paths I just take the offroad route around them I think I carry that same idea to the streets.

baj32161

A few things you can count on....the sun rising and setting, death, taxes, and Galen being a dick.

msparks

Who said we wanted to be treated like cars?? Way too many Rules.

operator

There's really no point to this question. The only places you would stop are at stop signs and at red lights. Both times you would stop for cars anyways. The only other place where this won't happen is those pedestrian crossings. In that case of course you yield.

lilHinault

Actually this is weird, a ped was walking in the street, California street just north of Sunnyvale Ave. by that Daisy apt. complex, I'm pretty silent riding but she heard me coming and stepped up onto the sidewalk - I was going to go wayy around otherwise. This was almost 10 at night, so it was dark.

ngateguy

I stop if the are crossing legally. I hit them if they are jaywalking