@RESTONTODC 5992 wrote:
The Virginia law also says yield for pedestrian in crosswalk, it doesn’t say anything about the cyclists.
Now, I learned that the drivers yield for us are taking a risk. They could be responsible for an accident.
@RESTONDC The Virginia law DOES cover cyclists, specifically. I’ve cited it below. The drivers that yield to trail users are following the law. The only one responsible for the accident was the person that rear ended the car in front of them.
Based on the following codes below, I’m under the impression that a cyclist (as well as any other trail user) is not to enter the crosswalk if there is oncoming traffic, but once that traffic sees you, and begins to yield, as required by law, you can proceed. To me, this makes the NVRPA stop sign moot. If there is traffic that will hit you, stop. If there is traffic approaching down the road, proceed, they are obligated to yield.
I’d love to hear other interpretations.
§ 46.2-904
A person riding a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, motorized skateboard or scooter, motor-driven cycle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances.
§ 46.2-924
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard of approaching traffic.
The drivers of vehicles entering, crossing, or turning at intersections shall change their course, slow down, or stop if necessary to permit pedestrians to cross such intersections safely and expeditiously.
§ 46.2-100. Definitions.
“Highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel in the Commonwealth, including the streets and alleys, and, for law-enforcement purposes, (i) the entire width between the boundary lines of all private roads or private streets that have been specifically designated “highways” by an ordinance adopted by the governing body of the county, city, or town in which such private roads or streets are located and (ii) the entire width between the boundary lines of every way or place used for purposes of vehicular travel on any property owned, leased, or controlled by the United States government and located in the Commonwealth.
