Crosswalk Lights

Question

Jeffrey asked:  Many busy streets have non-intersection crosswalks, where pedestrians activate flashing yellow (not red) lights to alert traffic to stop to allow pedestrians to cross: Is it legal for a bicyclist to use these if they are not walking the bike across and acting like “pedestrians”? If a bicyclist is riding–not walking– a bike across such a crossing [“all of the duties applicable to the driver of any other vehicle under this chapter”] thus not acting like a pedestrian, must an oncoming car yield to the bike?

Answer

A bicyclist riding on the sidewalk or crosswalk has the same rights and duties as a pedestrian.

s. 316.2065 – Bicycle Regulations

(9) A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances.

Please see this post.

3 Comments on “Crosswalk Lights

  1. Never trust those lights. Flashing red means stop, flashing yellow means caution. I almost got hit because the cars on my side of the median stopped, but cars in opposite direction far lane blew thru intersection even though cars in lane closer to median stopped. Those lights should flash red or only be for one side of median at a time. You have to wait until you see cars stop before you go, at least cars on your side of median stopping. Unfortunately there’s no button in median, so you have to keep going, but only once you see that direction stop too. Drivers never know if light is flashing because someone about to cross or just finished crossing, and they often reduce wrong. Unfortunately, these mid crosswalks flash immediately, while intersections can say ‘wait’ for literally 5 minutes or more. So people use these much less safe flashing crosswalks instead. Even with me being on my bike, so higher than if walking, other car didn’t see me. Thankfully my brakes work well and I was able to see him sooner than if I was walking the bike.

  2. My observations of cars yielding to bicycles here in FL are the same as elsewhere – THEY DON’T. They are suppose to, but most who are not up on Rules of the Road still have in their mind from childhood that cyclists must walk their bikes in crosswalks. So, if you pedal somehow you are considered “fair game” as all cyclists know, or should. My advice as a long time bicycle commuter; you are within your rights to ride in a crosswalk, but be extra cautious if there is a motor vehicle within a two block area!

  3. This specific law about crosswalks varies by state and city. In California bikes do not have right away over vehicles in a crosswalk. These variations make it even more dangerous here in the tourist state of FL. I love riding my bike but not in crosswalks.

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