City of Fitchburg, MA Pedestrian Control Regulations

§ 169-86 Obedience to regulations; crosswalks.

Pedestrians shall obey the directions of police officers directing traffic or a marked crosswalk or a traffic control signal within 300 feet of a pedestrian; no such pedestrian shall cross a way or roadway except within the limits of the marked crosswalk or at the signalized location and as hereinafter provided in these regulations. For the purpose of this article, a marked crosswalk shall only be construed to be that area of a roadway reserved for pedestrian crossing located between two solid white reflectorized twelve-inch pavement markings in rural areas or markings not less than six inches wide in urban areas, such markings or lines being no less than six feet apart.

§ 169-87 Actuation of traffic control signals.

At a traffic control signal location where pedestrian indications are provided but which are shown only upon actuation by means of a pedestrian push button, no pedestrian shall cross a roadway unless or until the pedestrian control signal push button has been actuated and then shall cross only on the proper pedestrian signal indication. At traffic control signal locations where no pedestrian indication is provided, pedestrians shall cross only on the green indication. If necessary, the green indication shall be actuated by the pedestrian by means of a push button.

At a traffic control signal location, pedestrians shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles of a funeral or other procession or authorized emergency vehicle while in performance of emergency duties, regardless of the signal indication given, and they shall not attempt to cross the roadway until such vehicles or procession has passed, at which time pedestrians shall then cross the roadway only as provided in these regulations.

§ 169-88 Explanation of signals.

Traffic control signal color indications and legends shall have the commands ascribed to them in this section and no other meanings, and every pedestrian shall comply therewith, except when otherwise directed by an officer.

Red and yellow or the word "walk". Whenever the red and yellow lenses are illuminated together or the single word "walk" is illuminated, pedestrians facing such indication may proceed across the roadway and in the direction of such signal only.

Red alone or "don't walk". Whenever the words "don't walk" or any indication other than red and yellow shown together are illuminated in a traffic control signal where pedestrian indications are provided, pedestrians approaching or facing such indication shall wait on the sidewalk, edge of roadway or in the pedestrian refuge area of a traffic island and shall not enter upon or cross a roadway until the proper indication is illuminated in the traffic control signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his or her crossing the walk indication shall proceed or return to the nearest sidewalk or safety island on the yellow indication, the red indication or when the words "don't walk" are illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes.

[Amended 6-3-2014 by Ord. No. 100-2014]

Green alone. At traffic control signal locations where no pedestrian indication is given or provided, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked crosswalk in the direction of the green indication.

Yellow along, red along or flashing "don't walk". Pedestrians approaching or facing a yellow, red or flashing "don't walk" illuminated indication shall not start to cross a roadway.

Flashing red, yellow or green. At any traffic control signal location where a flashing red, flashing yellow or flashing green indication is being given facing a crosswalk, pedestrians shall actuate, where provided, the pedestrian signal indication and cross the roadway only on the red-yellow or "walk" indication when such indication is in operation. If no pedestrian signal is provided, pedestrians shall cross within crosswalks with due care.

§ 169-89 Unlawful actuation of traffic control signals.

It shall be unlawful for any person to actuate a pedestrian control signal unless a crossing of the roadway is intended.

§ 169-90 Responsibilities of drivers.

The provisions of these regulations shall in no way abrogate the provisions of MGL c. 90, §§ 14 and 14a which provide precautions for safety of other travelers and for the protection of blind persons crossing ways. Furthermore, notwithstanding the provisions of these regulations, every operator of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon the roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precautions which may become necessary for safe operation.

§ 169-91 Enforcement.

These pedestrian control regulations shall be enforced by all officers of the City on and after October 15, 1968.

§ 169-92 Exemptions.

The provisions of these rules and regulations governing the use of ways by pedestrians shall not apply to pedestrians actually engaged in work upon a roadway closed to travel or under construction or repair, to municipal, state, federal or public service corporation employees while in the performance of their duties, to officers engaged in the performance of their public duties or to pedestrians acting in an emergency when such emergency necessitates departure from any part of these rules and regulations.

§ 169-93 Violations and penalties.

Any person who violates the provisions of this article which deal with the proper use of ways by pedestrians shall be punished as provided in MGL c. 90, § 18A.