Ok, exactly what IS the rule/law?

[Medusa]

I learned that pedestrians walk against traffic, bicycle riders ride with traffic. Lately, though, all I see is the opposite. I've been extra vigilant because I'm afraid I'm going to hit someone!

[pomtzu]

When I was a kid (many, many moons ago ), we always rode bikes against traffic so we could see what was coming. Not sure what the walking rules were tho, since we always rode our bikes. Frankly, I think the law now of riding with traffic is hazardous, since you obviously can't see what's coming up behind you.

[Karen]

It may vary according to local law.

But as far as I have been taught, bicycle riders are supposed to obey all the same rules as cars - stop light, signs, etc., and go with the flow of traffic, but pedestrians are not subject to those laws, and just need to be careful. As far as I know, there's no law saying you have to walk in the direction traffic is flowing, or against it. As a pedestrian, though, you need to obey signs and stick to crosswalks when crossing a street. (Not that this happens in the Boston area, where pedestrians seem to think they own the roads!)

[RedHedd]

In San Francisco bicycle riders ride on the sidewalk and pedestrians cross on a red light directly into the path of traffic - or at least it seems that those are the new rules/laws. I don't get it - doesn't seem safe to me, but everybody does it

[lizbud]

In San Francisco bicycle riders ride on the sidewalk and pedestrians cross on a red light directly into the path of traffic - or at least it seems that those are the new rules/laws. I don't get it - doesn't seem safe to me, but everybody does it

Both of those habits are unsafe.IMO. Indy has marked bike lanes in the
streets. Bikes ride with traffic. (same rules)

[RedHedd]

Both of those habits are unsafe.IMO. Indy has marked bike lanes in the
streets. Bikes ride with traffic. (same rules)

I KNOW they're unsafe, but pedestrians and bike riders in San Francisco flaunt the laws. I was being facetious, because it's SO prevalent and irks me to no end - they seem to have a death wish.

[Medusa]

There are bike trails here but people ride their bikes on the roads to get to the trails rather than put them on their cars. Whenever I see a bike coming at me rather than going w/the flow of traffic, it's frightening. They are supposed to obey the same laws as for cars. Pedestrians should always walk towards traffic so that they can see what's coming but they seem to be walking w/traffic now and that just isn't safe, especially at night. We have dark roads around here, no street lights and the pedestrians hardly ever wear reflective clothing. It scares me to death.

[K9karen]

Indy has marked bike lanes in the
streets. Bikes ride with traffic. (same rules)

Same around here.

Worse thing is cars not stopping at pedestrian crossings.

[Medusa]

Same around here.

Worse thing is cars not stopping at pedestrian crossings.

Ok, you brought up another point and I'm glad you did. What about crosswalks? We don't have them here except in strip malls or downtown in cities and I hardly if ever have the need to go there. If a car is moving (slowly, I hope) and it's already partially through a cross walk, pedestrians here think we should stop a several ton moving vehicle for them. I stop before the crosswalk but if there are no pedestrians, obviously I keep going but I have had pedestrians run to get through and I've had to slam on my brakes even though I'm driving slowly. A couple of years ago a man, holding his wife's hand, decided to walk through while I was driving. I kept going thinking that he'd realize I had to but he didn't and he stopped right in front of my car. I got out of my car and he and his wife ran inside the store so that tells me that he knew he was wrong. I see mothers doing this w/their toddlers a lot and I just wonder why they feel the necessity to take such a risk w/their childrens' precious lives. What say you?

ETA: I forgot to mention here that the reason I got out of my car is because after he stopped in front of it, he actually punched the hood of my car!

[phesina]

I learned that pedestrians walk against traffic, bicycle riders ride with traffic. Lately, though, all I see is the opposite. I've been extra vigilant because I'm afraid I'm going to hit someone!

Mary, that's the law as I've always understood it, here anyway, and in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where I've also lived. And just like where you live, that doesn't mean that people follow it all that much.

[Medusa]

I'm wondering if, God forbid, a pedestrian or biker would get hit by a car because they were on the wrong side of the road, how responsible do you think the driver would be according to the law? I pray it never happens here but w/the kids out of school, they're walking along the roads here a lot and riding their bikes, too, of course on the wrong side of the road.

[kokopup]

I have toured by bicycle in a couple of dozen states and without exception bicycles are treated and have to obey the laws just like a car.if there is a bike lane the bicycle is suppose to use it. This is an area that I have seen many violations. A lot of Municipal bike trails have a slow speed limit so the rider will use the street so he doesn't have to slow down. I have actually seen radar used in California on a bike path. These bike paths in most cases are also used by pedestrians. The rational behind the speed limit is to slow the traffic down so as to not scare the people out for a walk or run.

[phesina]

I'm wondering if, God forbid, a pedestrian or biker would get hit by a car because they were on the wrong side of the road, how responsible do you think the driver would be according to the law? I pray it never happens here but w/the kids out of school, they're walking along the roads here a lot and riding their bikes, too, of course on the wrong side of the road.

One afternoon I was about to walk across the street-- Mass. Ave. in Harvard Square, one-way and VERY busy. I looked in the direction the traffic was coming from and it was clear enough to go, so I started across... and WHAMO! I got hit and knocked right over by some idiot going the wrong way on a bike! And did this clown stop to help me up or see if I was all right? NOOOOooo... she just kept right on riding as fast as she could. GRRRRrrrr..

[Medusa]

One afternoon I was about to walk across the street-- Mass. Ave. in Harvard Square, one-way and VERY busy. I looked in the direction the traffic was coming from and it was clear enough to go, so I started across... and WHAMO! I got hit and knocked right over by some idiot going the wrong way on a bike! And did this clown stop to help me up or see if I was all right? NOOOOooo... she just kept right on riding as fast as she could. GRRRRrrrr..

Wow, I'm sorry that happened to you, Pat. This is just the type of incident that I'm afraid of.

[phesina]

Fortunately I wasn't hurt, but boy was I p*ssed!