LISTS V2

5 things you get wrong about crosswalks

Sep 23, 2014, 12:05 PM | Updated: 12:28 pm

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We know, either because we remember, or because there are signs posted to remind us, that you can't park within 30 feet of a stop sign. But what about how close you can park to a crosswalk?

It's illegal to park within 20 feet of a marked, or unmarked crosswalk. 

And since we've already determined that you can find an unmarked crosswalk at any intersection ... you better go move your car.

No flashing walk signal, no white stripes across the road, no guiding lines to keep pedestrians in their own, "crossing-the-street-lane." But despite not having all of the markers crosswalks typically bare, it's still a crosswalk.

According to SDOT, most people are unaware that every intersection contains a crosswalk, whether it's marked or not. 

Pedestrians have the right of way even if there aren't crosswalk stripes on the pavement. Just because that car in front of you breezed by the pedestrian patiently waiting to cross the road doesn't mean you should. It goes back to the right-of-way rule. But it also means you need to keep your eye out for pedestrians ready to step out into the street. Then, as we've already learned, wait for them to cross the street before putting your pedal back to the metal.

It's a fairly straightforward rule according to SDOT. When a pedestrian is waiting at the curb to cross, you must come to a complete stop and let them cross the street. "At traffic signals state law says drivers can turn into the crosswalk only after pedestrians are one lane past the drivers half of the roadway," SDOT reminds us. 

The good news is you don't have to wait for pedestrians to completely cross the street, but you don't want them to feel the cool breeze of you driving away as soon they're an inch past your car. Wait for them to cross a full lane. Give them some room. "Give them plenty of time to cross the street," says SDOT. "Just remember that pedestrians and bicyclists have the right-of-way at crosswalks and intersections."

Drivers often think they have the right-of-way, after all, your car is bigger, faster, and cooler than those folks who opt to hoof it. But you don't, not when they're trying to cross the street. It's the simplest rule about crosswalks, so let's keep that in mind as we continue.

Q: Why did the Seattleite cross the road?

OK angry drivers – lay off your horns and listen for a second. Pedestrians have the right-of-way almost all the time. When one steps out into the crosswalk, not only should you let them get safely cross the street, (which of course you do), you also shouldn’t get mad at them for making you late.

Thanks to the Seattle Department of Transportation, we’re getting a refresher course on the kind and legal way to treat street-crossing pedestrians.

A: It doesn’t matter. Drivers need to let them get to the other side.

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