Pedestrian crossing rules?

[(RIP) Yamaha1]

I wonder if anyone can clarify the Law concerning pedestrian crossings and stopping for them.

OK - pedestrians waiting to cross - you MUST stop, agreed?

Cyclist waiting to cross - either on their bicycle or pushing it - they aren't pedestrians - even if pushing their bike - they are still a cyclist - must we also stop for them - I think not?

I have asked a couple of plod this question - but they weren't sure of the answer - and they were reluctant to state a view.

Mike

 

[Greg Masters]

If you hit someone, anyone, on a pedestrian crossing, there is only one defence which might get you off the hook - that they were trying to commit suicide.

You'd do well to get that one to stick!

 

[Steptoe]

I

Cyclist waiting to cross - either on their bicycle or pushing it - they aren't pedestrians - even if pushing their bike - they are still a cyclist - must we also stop for them - I think not?

They are a pedestrian pushing a bicycle. You can only be a cyclist while in the act of cycling.

 

[DavidHale]

OK - pedestrians waiting to cross - you MUST stop, agreed?

No, not when they're waiting. You MUST (Highway code emphasis) stop if they have started to cross.

 

[bowser]

I wonder if anyone can clarify the Law concerning pedestrian crossings and stopping for them.

OK - pedestrians waiting to cross - you MUST stop, agreed?

Cyclist waiting to cross - either on their bicycle or pushing it - they aren't pedestrians - even if pushing their bike - they are still a cyclist - must we also stop for them - I think not?

I have asked a couple of plod this question - but they weren't sure of the answer - and they were reluctant to state a view.

Mike

I take it we are talking about a normal crossing with a flashing beacon, we are not talking about a light controlled crossing, if so then there is not requirement to stop for people waiting to cross only to stop for people on the crossing, so unless they put a foot onto the crossing you dont have to stop, however yes you do have to stop regardless of who is on the crossing and regardless of if they are on a pushbike or not.
The offence is failing to accord presedence at a pedestrian crossing - it does not state it has to be a pedestrian, could be someone in a wheel chair they would not be pedestrian either, strictly speaking if someone is out walking with a dog and they step onto the crossing first then you still have to stop.
However when the lemmings a waiting on the pavement for you to stop then you dont have to, also a crossing with a central resevation is treated as two seperate crossings not one continous one.
so just because the traffic has stopped on one side and there is a person crossing it does apply to the other side until they start to cross there

 

[(RIP) Yamaha1]

OK - thanks for your thoughts so far - still not convinced a cyclist has to be actually riding it to be a cyclist - any plod on here care to comment?

Mike

 

[Greg Masters]

OK - thanks for your thoughts so far - still not convinced a cyclist has to be actually riding it to be a cyclist - any plod on here care to comment?

Mike

What's the difference between someone pushing a bike and someone pushing a wheelbarrow? Why would one be a cyclist in the eyes of the law but not the other?

 

[MikeP]

OK - thanks for your thoughts so far - still not convinced a cyclist has to be actually riding it to be a cyclist - any plod on here care to comment?

Bowser is an ex-copper (although ex-Met so maybe he just gives pedestrians a firm shove ) and Steptoe is widely accepted as an authority on everything with wheels (hostess trolleys included). Take their word for it.

What's the difference between someone pushing a bike and someone pushing a wheelbarrow? Why would one be a cyclist in the eyes of the law but not the other?

Maybe it's a Yorkshire thing?

 

[Klanky]

......Maybe it's a Yorkshire thing?

It is.

In Yorksher, a wheelbarrow is classed as a vehicle.

(and a pretty swanky one, too).


Highway Code/Driving test anomaly alert:

HC states you MUST give way to anyone who has stepped onto the crossing (thus implying that you do not have to give way to anyone waiting to cross).

The DSA driving test classes not giving way to those waiting to cross as a serious fault...which equals a fail.

 

[Jacal]

The DSA driving test classes not giving way to those waiting to cross as a serious fault...which equals a fail.

A lot of so called qualified drivers round these parts seem to use them for stopping on, treat the 'zig zag lines' as parking areas and have a brain hemorrhage if you asked them what the difference is between 'Zebra' 'Pelican' 'Toucan' 'Pegasus' etc.

 

[ianboydsnr]

I take it we are talking about a normal crossing with a flashing beacon, we are not talking about a light controlled crossing, if so then there is not requirement to stop for people waiting to cross only to stop for people on the crossing, so unless they put a foot onto the crossing you dont have to stop, however yes you do have to stop regardless of who is on the crossing and regardless of if they are on a pushbike or not.
The offence is failing to accord presedence at a pedestrian crossing - it does not state it has to be a pedestrian, could be someone in a wheel chair they would not be pedestrian either, strictly speaking if someone is out walking with a dog and they step onto the crossing first then you still have to stop.
However when the lemmings a waiting on the pavement for you to stop then you dont have to, also a crossing with a central resevation is treated as two seperate crossings not one continous one.
so just because the traffic has stopped on one side and there is a person crossing it does apply to the other side until they start to cross there

this seems to confuse lots of people around here, even had one police officer think differently

 

[rob mac]

I wonder if anyone can clarify the Law concerning pedestrian crossings and stopping for them.
Cyclist waiting to cross - either on their bicycle or pushing it - they aren't pedestrians - even if pushing their bike - they are still a cyclist - must we also stop for them - I think not?

Anyone pushing a bicycle is a “foot-passenger” (Crank v Brooks [1980] RTR 441) and is not “riding” it (Selby). In his judgment in the Court of Appeal in Crank v Brooks, Waller LJ said: “In my judgment a person who is walking across a pedestrian crossing pushing a bicycle, having started on the pavement on one side on her feet and not on the bicycle, and going across pushing the bicycle with both feet on the ground so to speak is clearly a ‘foot passenger’. If for example she had been using it as a scooter by having one foot on the pedal and pushing herself along, she would not have been a ‘foot passenger’. But the fact that she had the bicycle in her hand and was walking does not create any difference from a case where she is walking without a bicycle in her hand.”

 

[EggChaser]

When I did my bike test the emphasis was that a pedestrian crossing with a central reservation was counted as one crossing unless it was staggered and then it counted as 2. This was emphasised in mulitple locations relating to studying to get through the Exam part of the bike license.

Edit:
However just carefully flicked through my highway code and it states:

Rule 20: When there is an island in the middle of a zebra crossing, wait on the island and follow Rule 19 before you cross the second half of the road - it is a separate crossing. (Rule 19 reminds you that until someone is in the act of crossing the traffic does not have to stop)

So now I am puzzled about where the sources I used to pass my exam got their info from.

 

[Grey Beard]

I have always been trained to treat zebra crossings with an island as two separate and distinct crossings.

Pedestrians do not have priority until they step onto the crossing. But they are legally obliged to allow a car to stop in reasonable time by making their intentions clear.

No overtaking on a zebra crossing and no stopping on or within 5m before the zebra crossing (Germany).

I think in most countries you would collect negative points in a driving test if you did not stop when pedestrians are waiting to cross, even if they had not stepped onto the crossing.

Grey Beard

 

[oblertone]

Back in the day ...

... and it was some time ago, a very bruised cyclist was most upset when he was reported for Reckless Cycling having cycled across in front of a car as it approached a pedestrian crossing; said car having promptly run him over


Mind you, we were playing 'most obscure offence' at the time

 

[Jacal]

No overtaking on a zebra crossing and no stopping on or within 5m before the zebra crossing (Germany).
Grey Beard

That poses another question I always thought that it was permitted to overtake in the zig zag lines except the lead car and acceptable to overtake on zebra when the traffic was 'grid locked' for want of a better term, obviously slowly and with caution.

 

[(RIP) Yamaha1]

Mmm - very interesting replies there, thanks lads - especially Rob Mac - it certainly demonstrates that I was wrong about cyclists - glad I brought the subject up.

Mike

 

[(RIP) Miff]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070108


Zebra crossings. Give traffic plenty of time to see you and to stop before you start to cross. Vehicles will need more time when the road is slippery. Wait until traffic has stopped from both directions or the road is clear before crossing. Remember that traffic does not have to stop until someone has moved onto the crossing. Keep looking both ways, and listening, in case a driver or rider has not seen you and attempts to overtake a vehicle that has stopped.

As for "pushing a bike makes you a cyclist"... If you're pushing a car* does it make you a driver????


*You cannot push a car if you have been banned from driving.

 

[Renatus]

Except where cycle lanes and Toucan crossings are involved, I'd have thought in most cases you couldn't legally cycle across a pedestrian crossing because you'd have had to be cycling on a pavement before and afterwards. Particularly on a zebra crossing a cyclist behaving illegally would surely have to accept at least partial blame?

 

[Deleted account W]

I only stop for classically good looking or well turned out pedestrians and bike riders. The scruffy ugly ones can wait.

I employ the same policy with beggers and buskers.

I think this policy goes a long way towards educating scummy munters and lowlife dossers to sort their act out.