Pedestrians shall obey the directions of police officers directing
traffic, and whenever there is an officer directing traffic, a traffic
control signal or a marked crosswalk within 300 feet of a pedestrian,
no such pedestrian shall cross a way or roadway except within the
limits of a marked crosswalk and as hereafter provided in these regulations.
For the purpose of these regulations, 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, said markings or lines being no less than six
feet apart.
Traffic control signal color indications and legends 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.
A. Red and yellow or the word "Walk." Whenever the red and yellow lenses
are illuminated together or the single work "Walk" is illuminated,
pedestrians facing such indication may proceed across the roadway
and in the direction of such signal only.
B. 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 signal where pedestrian indications are provided, pedestrians
approaching or facing such indication shall wait on the sidewalk,
edge or 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 crossing on 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.
C. 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.
D. Yellow alone, red alone 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.
E. 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.
Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than
within a marked crosswalk shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles
upon the roadway. At a point where pedestrian tunnel or overpass has
been provided, pedestrians shall cross the roadway only by the proper
use of the tunnel or overpass.
The provisions of these regulations shall in no way abrogate
the provisions of MGL c. 90, § 14, Precautions for safety
of other travelers, and § 14A, Protection of blind pedestrians
crossing or attempting to cross 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.
No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting
a ride, employment, or business from the operator or occupant of any
vehicle without the written permission of the board or officer having
control of such roadway or highway.
These pedestrian control regulations shall be enforced by all
officers of the City of Gardner on or after January 1, 1974.
The provisions of these rules and regulations governing 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.
Anyone 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. Any person convicted of a violation
of any provision of these regulations relative to the operation of
vehicles shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $20 for each offense.