Our family walks everywhere it can. It was a habit we got into living in DC and we didn’t want to kick it to the curb (see what I did there?) when we moved to Rochester.

As constant pedestrians in Rochester, we noticed something — drivers rarely stop to let you cross. Even at crosswalks. Some crosswalks in some areas (like the one between Harris Communication and the East Ave Wegmans) are lucky enough to have one of those yellow yield signs in the middle of the crosswalk to remind drivers. But most do not and it is common for drivers to not even think about yielding while someone is waiting. And we have witnessed several people on bikes and foot get hit by cars driven by people that weren’t paying attention while turning right.

Now, I am not anti-car. I drive a car. I know not everyone is lucky enough to live in a neighborhood where he or she can walk to work or other things. And I’m not saying people on foot should be allowed to willy-nilly cross the road. But yielding to pedestrians is the law. And “regardless of the right-of-way, the driver is required by law to take great care to avoid ‘hitting’ pedestrians.” Granted, it is not enforced, but it is the law.

The City of Rochester installed a new crosswalk on East Main St. in the Fall of 2012 in an area that is a natural and necessary place to cross — from the East End Garage to the YMCA. In addition to people who drive and park in the garage and walk to the YMCA and surrounding areas, many people ride the bus and are on foot (including lots of kids).

In March, over a year after the crosswalk was installed, drivers were ignoring the crosswalk so much that the RPD spent the day observing the driver-pedestrian behavior around the crosswalk. Frequent crossers said things like we “fear for our lives” when crossing this street and “Most people don’t even consider it a crosswalk.” One woman waited so long to cross that the police finally had to stop traffic. RPD handed out tickets to drivers who ignored the crosswalk that day, but ignoring pedestrians in crosswalks is common.

What Does the Law Say?

The law says pedestrians can’t dart in front of cars, but if a driver observes a pedestrian at a crosswalk waiting to cross and CAN stop, he or she is supposed to stop. Once a person steps off the curb and into the street, the “motoring public” (as the RPD calls it) is supposed to pay attention, slow down and stop. And when pedestrians are walking on the sidewalk, turning cars are supposed to give the pedestrians the right of way.

If there isn’t a crosswalk present (also known as jaywalking), pedestrians are supposed to yield to the cars.

To learn the specifics about the law, take a peek at my earlier blog post Pedestrian and Vehicle Laws & Responsibilities.

Now, there is a common sense relationship here. Drivers are supposed to pay attention, not be on their cell phones or putting mascara on and be alert for pedestrians when crosswalks are present. Pedestrians should be alert, not be on their cell phones, use traffic signals when available, make eye contact and give drivers a chance to stop before crossing.

Can Drivers Get a Ticket?

Yes. And that’s exactly what the RPD did the day back in March in front of the downtown YMCA.

Ignoring pedestrians in crosswalks and distractedly whizzing through those crosswalks can get drivers a $180 fine and 3 points on their drivers licenses. If a driver injures someone and it is the driver’s fault, the fines go up dramatically.

I will close with this — remember it takes a lot more physical effort to run, bike or walk than it does to drive a car. It will slow you down by maybe 30 seconds to stop for pedestrians. And it’s the law.

Written by: Renee
Tags: walkability, walkability rochester ny, rochester ny walkability, pedestrian friendly neighborhoods rochester ny, walkable rochester, walkable neighborhoods rochester, cross walk east main st., cross walk rochester ymca, pedestrian safety downtown ymca,

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  Renee

  Thanks for your comment, Claire. The next time you are at the Mount Hope/Robinson Drive crosswalk, snap a pic and send it to me. I’d love to highlight intersections (both easy and difficult to cross) as we dive into making it safer for people to walk more. –Renee–

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  Adam

  Yeah – It is a problem. I cross East Ave every day on my walk to work and I’ve seen some really bad stuff. I watched a bike rider get hit, while in the cross-walk… I think it’s a cultural thing here in Rochester. Sure would like to see it change.

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  Renee

  I don’t think drivers are doing it on purpose. I think there is a lack of awareness that people walk or that they are even supposed to yield to pedestrians. And if you look at how infrequently crosswalks are placed (and often how inconspicuously), it isn’t helping the situation.

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  Claire Marziotti

  I think that some of it, probably most of it, is lack of awareness. But I have had encounters with really hostile people who seem to be really angry that I would dare take advantage of the crosswalk.

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  Claire Marziotti

  Have you seen this? http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2014/05/08/battling-traffic-pittsford-pedestrians-now-wield-flags/8863147/

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  Renee

  Yes, I did! In fact, this flag waving is happening a lot in cities across the country, because people are tired of the battle. It’s my next blog post!