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. Any person convicted of a violation of any other provision of this article relative to the operation of vehicles shall be punished as provided in §
1-15 of the City Code.
Pedestrians shall obey the directions of police officers directing
traffic. 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 provided in this article. 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.
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 the 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
this article.
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.
A. 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.
B. Whenever the words "Don't Walk" or any indication other than red
and yellow shown together is illuminated in a traffic control signal
where pedestrian indications are provided, pedestrians approaching
or facing such indication shall wait on the sidewalk or edge of the
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
or the red indication or when the words "Don't Walk" are illuminated
by rapid intermittent flashes.
C. 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. Pedestrians approaching or facing a yellow, red or flashing "Don't
Walk" illuminated indication shall not start to cross a roadway.
E. 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 a 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 this article shall in no way abrogate the
provisions of MGL c. 90, §§ 14 and 14A, regarding precautions
for safety of other travelers and protection of blind persons crossing
ways. Furthermore, notwithstanding the provisions of this article,
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.
The provisions of this article 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 this article.