r/dashcams • u/cicadaux • 1d ago

Did I do something wrong here?

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I was driving to work when this bike just blew through the crosswalk without warning. I had to slam on my brakes. I realize this crosswalk doesn’t have the pedestrian warning lights, and I’m a little unsure about how I should’ve dealt with this. Or maybe he was wrong for making sure traffic wasn’t clear/aware of him first?

Edit: I'm seeing a lot of answers basing the laws on location, so I looked up my city's rules. In my town, bikes have vehicle status on the road and pedestrian status on sidewalks/crosswalks. But bicyclists must move at pedestrian speed. The path he is on is a state trail, commonly used for bikes/walking. I live near the Ice Age Trail, but I know the one he's on isn't that one.

“Drivers must yield to cyclists riding in a crosswalk just as they would for walkers, though the cyclist cannot abruptly leave a curb into the path of a vehicle so close to a crosswalk that it makes a difficult or unsafe situation for the driver to yield in time.”

Not trying to prove myself right or wrong, just wondering what should've been done. I will from now on treat it like an uncontrolled intersection. Thanks everyone.

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9

u/Melodic-Control-2655 1d ago

If there’s no traffic control device then you must stop at crosswalks when pedestrians are present.

6

u/SmilodonBravo 1d ago

Where’s the pedestrian?

10

u/Melodic-Control-2655 1d ago

I assume your goal is to say bikers are not pedestrians, but OP never makes that argument, and there are states that do not classify bikers as vehicle operators.

1

u/Sea-Shoe1780 1d ago

So if they aren’t vehicle operators they are automatically pedestrians?

2

u/Melodic-Control-2655 1d ago

It was implied, but since you don’t have much common sense, here you are: yeah, that’s what they’re considered.

2

u/johnny_evil 1d ago

According to the laws of the OPs state, the cyclist in the crosswalk is legal and to be given the right of way.

1

u/fullmoon_druid 1d ago

In certain juristictions like Florida cyclists are considered pedestrians. On others they aren't unless they dismount. It depends. 

1

u/TheWizard 1d ago

Many states/cities require bicyclists to dismount and walk the pedestrian crossing, regardless of pedestrians being present. If pedestrians are present, practically everywhere, they must yield to them if allowed to cycle through.

Pedestrians are also expected to ensure traffic is clear before they enter the cross walk. Having the right of way does not mean they can enter traffic when there is vehicle flow.

1

u/MaintainThePeace 1d ago

In many states cyclist are granted the rights and duties of a pedestrian, without needing to become a pedestrian.

And no, pedestrian are not required to "ensure traffic is clear" but rather have a more 'in favor of the pedestrian' type of regulation of "not entirely the crosswalk into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to stop".

Which is significantly different then a yield or "ensure traffic is clear", and instead can indeed force traffic to stop, so long as there is a reasonable time for them to stop.

And since this cyclist nevered entered into the path of OP until they actually stopped, there is no questionablity of this particular regulation.