Required to dismount in crosswalk?

[lordofthemark]

1. My understanding is that it is completely legal in all local jurisdictions for cyclists to ride through crosswalks (though in that case in addition to checking for cross traffic, they should also give right of way to the pedestrians crossing with them in the crosswalk, as they would on a sidewalk)

2. I have no idea what the situation is for a school regulating the behavior of kids off of school property. That would be about school rules and their limits, not local traffic law.

[scoot]

@lordofthemark 160329 wrote:

1. My understanding is that it is completely legal in all local jurisdictions for cyclists to ride through crosswalks (though in that case in addition to checking for cross traffic, they should also give right of way to the pedestrians crossing with them in the crosswalk, as they would on a sidewalk)

+1. It is also my understanding that even where there are signs instructing cyclists to dismount and walk at crosswalks (such as those at ramp crossings along MVT), they are not legally enforceable.

[Emm]

@lordofthemark 160329 wrote:

2. I have no idea what the situation is for a school regulating the behavior of kids off of school property. That would be about school rules and their limits, not local traffic law.

I suspect this is where the rule falls since it is perfectly legal to bike in the crosswalk around here. You should contact the school and ask them if this is an official school rule, the crossing guard’s policy, or something else. You can also email/tweet/call Arlington County and ask them. They’re usually really responsive.

I suspect the school may say it’s a safety issue and if your daughter wants to ride to school, she needs to obey the crossing guard. Last I checked obeying a crossing guard IS required, although the law doesn’t address bikes from what I see, just cars and vehicles on the road. Someone with more legal background would need to give you better insight. http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-834/

Some of the “regulating behavior outside of school” falls into a legal grey area too, but not sure this is one of the issues that’s worth a fight…

[mstone]

Our school has the same policy. It’s stupid, but who has the energy to fight all the stupid these days?

[dkel]

The elementary school in my neighborhood asks everyone inside the crossing-guard zone to dismount. I prefer to think of it as a good, common-sense recommendation where there are a zillion kids running around in every direction, rather than a “rule” or “regulation.”

[bobco85]

I would add to all of this that you should let the kid know that this rule only applies to school crossing guards. There are still people out there who believe that cyclists are required to dismount when in a crosswalk.

[scoot]

dkel brings up a good point: it totally depends on context. If there are no pedestrians around, I don’t think anyone should be asked to dismount. But if you’re crossing with a crowd, especially children, it’s much safer and more courteous to just walk your bike.

[Crickey7]

In Maryland, there is a drafting error in the motor vehicle law that makes it advisable to dismount, in certain circumstances, when in a crosswalk.

[scoot]

@Crickey7 160364 wrote:

In Maryland, there is a drafting error in the motor vehicle law that makes it advisable to dismount, in certain circumstances, when in a crosswalk.

Some background on this:

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2016/07/maryland-judge-reportedly-rules-that-its-not-illegal-to-crash-into-a-cyclist-in-a-crosswalk.html

[cvcalhoun]

@scoot 160392 wrote:

Some background on this:

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2016/07/maryland-judge-reportedly-rules-that-its-not-illegal-to-crash-into-a-cyclist-in-a-crosswalk.html

There was actually legislation to fix this, Senate Bill 925. It looks like it has passed, and is waiting to be signed by the governor.

[mstone]

@scoot 160361 wrote:

dkel brings up a good point: it totally depends on context. If there are no pedestrians around, I don’t think anyone should be asked to dismount. But if you’re crossing with a crowd, especially children, it’s much safer and more courteous to just walk your bike.

Yes, of course. It’s just obnoxious when a kid is on an empty street and an empty sidewalk getting yelled at to get off the bike because rules. To my knowledge nobody was ever hit by a bike before this policy, and multiple people were hit by cars. A much more safety-proactive rule would be for people do dismount their cars a quarter mile from the school and walk them the rest of the way.

[dasgeh]

What school? You may want to reach out to Lauren Hassel, APS Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator and/or Elizabeth Denton, Coordinator for APS Go (basically staff TDM) to point out the issue.

@scoot 160361 wrote:

But if you’re crossing with a crowd, especially children, it’s much safer and more courteous to just walk your bike.

It really depends on the bike and the rider. Cargo bikes are much easier to control, even at very low speeds, when you’re riding than when you’re pushing. In fact, my son is just more stable on a bike than off. I fully support a crossing guard, when there are tons of kids around, to ask a rider who’s really squirrelly to dismount, but it shouldn’t be a blanket rule. It should depend on context.

[thucydides]

@lordofthemark 160329 wrote:

1. My understanding is that it is completely legal in all local jurisdictions for cyclists to ride through crosswalks (though in that case in addition to checking for cross traffic, they should also give right of way to the pedestrians crossing with them in the crosswalk, as they would on a sidewalk)

What about the parts of the District where it is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. Would this apply to crosswalks since crosswalks are often seen as extensions of sidewalks? I’ve always assumed it was illegal though I see people ride in crosswalks (and ride on sidewalks) every day.

[lordofthemark]

@thucydides 160565 wrote:

What about the parts of the District where it is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. Would this apply to crosswalks since crosswalks are often seen as extensions of sidewalks? I’ve always assumed it was illegal though I see people ride in crosswalks (and ride on sidewalks) every day.

I don’t know for sure. Personally I don’t ride in crosswalks in those places, as I am already in the road, and generally do not like the practice of swerving from the road into the crosswalk

[dasgeh]

@thucydides 160565 wrote:

What about the parts of the District where it is illegal to ride a bike on the sidewalk. Would this apply to crosswalks since crosswalks are often seen as extensions of sidewalks? I’ve always assumed it was illegal though I see people ride in crosswalks (and ride on sidewalks) every day.

I’m pretty sure it doesn’t, because bikes are instructed to use the crosswalks to turn in that district (e.g. from the PA bike lanes).

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