Bicycles Stop Before Crossing?

Question

Robin asked: I often see bicycles in my neighborhood that are riding on sidewalks, and when they come to a street, they keep riding across the street without stopping, continuing to the sidewalk on the other side of the street. I have personally witnessed 4 incidents where they were almost hit by cars. Do they have to stop when approaching a street or not?

Answer

Bicyclists are not required to stop before crossing the roadway in a crosswalk unless a traffic signal indicates otherwise. When on the sidewalk or crosswalk, bicyclists have the same rights and duties as pedestrians. Motorists must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists in the crosswalk or nearly so.

Obviously, a bicyclist cannot travel at a high rate of speed and expect to have the rights afforded by the law. Crosswalks and sidewalks are designed for pedestrians and the expectation is that bicyclists using them will travel accordingly.

You have pointed out one of the many reasons that sidewalks can be potentially more dangerous to bicyclists than the roadway.

See a lot more information in the section entitled “Sidewalks and Crosswalks”.