Using a Crosswalk at a “No Left Turn” Intersection

Question

Nathan asked: Coming onto a divided highway from a side street, a ‘no left turn’ sign is posted, because there is no median break. Is it legal for a cyclist to turn left at the crosswalk (after the ‘no left turn’ sign but before the main part of the intersection) onto the sidewalk?

Answer

If legal to enter the crosswalk, you would then have the rights and duties of a pedestrian and could proceed in any direction like a pedestrian.

A situation in which you could not legally enter the crosswalk might be when facing a red traffic light. You are required to stop before entering the crosswalk, possibly at a clearly marked stop line, which should be before the crosswalk, then remain stopped until the light changed. Even then, you could not then proceed in the crosswalk since the green traffic light would not now be in your desired direction.

s. 316.075Traffic Control Signal Devices

(c) Steady red indication

1. Vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall remain standing until a green indication is shown ….

The same circumstances would not be present if at a stop or yield intersection, since entering the intersection and crosswalk would be predicated on yielding to other traffic.

In any case, you would need to yield to pedestrians and bicyclists already lawfully in the crosswalk.

Another option might be to leave the roadway before the intersection and ride on the sidewalk, then use the crosswalk. See this post, which is somewhat related:

http://flbikelaw.org/2014/03/cross-as-a-roadway-user-or-pedestrian/

4 Comments on “Using a Crosswalk at a “No Left Turn” Intersection

  1. “Even then, you could not then proceed in the crosswalk since the green traffic light would not now be in your desired direction.” But the law says you may not leave the curb on a red/don’t walk. IIRC nothing prevents you from continuing along the crosswalk if you’re already in it.

  2. The easiest way is to just pull onto the sidewalk on the right most side of the roadway and then when it is safe, go across the crosswalk. That is safe and legal.
    I don’t see the problem.
    Maybe if we had the cross streets that are in question…

  3. NE2,

    I think you are suggesting that when the light turned green, you could enter the crosswalk, dismount (or ride with the rights and duties of a pedestrian), make a left turn in the crosswalk, then proceed against a “Don’t Walk” pedestrian signal.

    You might have a hard time explaining that in traffic court.

    • It’d be easy to explain. 316.075 says “Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian control signal as provided in s. 316.0755, pedestrians facing a steady red signal shall not enter the roadway.” But you’re already in the roadway.

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