A minor clarification to Matt's post. He said, "They make pedestrians much more
visible (since the law requires motorists to stop at *all* corners, as they are
legal, unmarked, crosswalks)."
The law doesn't require a motorist to stop at all corners unless there's a
reason to. Like, say, a stop sign, or a red light, or someone walking across
the street in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
It's has to be one of the most widely ignored traffic laws in Minnesota.
Perhaps even less well known is what he law says about bicycles and crosswalks.
State statute 169.222 contains most of the bicycle traffic laws. Subdivision 4,
titled âriding rules,â includes the following:
"4 (f): A person lawfully operating a bicycle on a sidewalk, or across a
roadway or shoulder on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties
applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances."
Pedestrians rule in crosswalks, and this law says bicyclists have the same
right.
Granted, it's somewhat confusing. Bicyclists sometimes behave like vehicle
drivers, and are subject to many of the same laws. If a bicyclist sat in the
traffic lane on, say, 23rd Ave. S., and tried to cross East 42nd St., they
would be rightfully treated like a vehicle in the same circumstance and would
have to wait for an opening to cross 42nd without disrupting traffic.
If the same bicyclist is in the crosswalk, however, they have the right of way.
This morning I rode my bike up to Lake Street and Hiawatha, as I usually do on
my way into downtown. I waited at the traffic light for the walk signal. When
it appeared, I started to pedal across Lake Street. A black VW jetta turning
right from westbound Lake Street onto Northbound Hiawatha nearly creamed me. He
sped through the crosswalk at 10 to 15 miles an hour, curving right on a red
light without so much as looking at me. Since it was rush hour, he was soon
mired in traffic on Hiawatha and I pedaled past. I didn't say anything, but I
found it laughable. He was in such a rush that he broke the law, nearly hit and
injured me, and still didn't get into downtown any faster.
Anyway.
Not wanting to end my life prematurely, I usually yield to the law of the
jungle and give the heavier vehicle wide berth. It would be nice, and a whole
lot safer, if people just started following the law.