For the purpose of this chapter:
"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.
(Prior revision §§ 12-105 (part),
12-108 (part); C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
Pedestrians shall obey the direction of police officers directing
traffic and whenever there is an officer directing traffic, a traffic-control
signal or a marked crosswalk within three hundred 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 chapter.
(Prior revision § 12-105 (part); C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
A. 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 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.
B. 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 the regulations
set forth in this chapter.
(Prior revision § 12-106; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
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. Red
and Yellow Together or "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.
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-control
signal where pedestrian indications are provided, pedestrians approaching
or facing such indication shall wait on the walk, 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 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.
(Prior revision § 12-107; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
A. When
traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation, the
driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or
stopping if need be so to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway
within a marked crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of
the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling or when the pedestrian
approaches from the opposite half of the roadway to within five feet
of that half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling.
B. No
operator of a vehicle shall pass any other vehicle which has been
stopped at a marked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross a way,
nor shall any operator enter a marked crosswalk until there is sufficient
space on the other side of the crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle
the operator is operating, notwithstanding any traffic-control-signal
indication to proceed.
(Prior revision § 12-108 (part); C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
Pedestrians shall at all times attempt to cross a roadway using
the right half of crosswalks.
(Prior revision § 12-109; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a sidewalk or safety island
and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that
it is impossible for the driver to yield the right-of-way.
(Prior revision § 12-110; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
A. Where
sidewalks are provided, it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk
along and upon an adjacent roadway whenever the sidewalk is open to
pedestrian use.
B. Where
sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrians walking along and upon
a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the
roadway on its unfinished shoulder facing traffic which may approach
from the opposite direction.
(Prior revision § 12-111; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
Persons alighting from the roadway side of any vehicle parked
at the curb or edge of the roadway shall proceed immediately to the
sidewalk or edge of the roadway adjacent to the vehicle, and shall
cross the roadway only as authorized by this chapter.
(Prior revision § 12-112; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
It is unlawful for any person to actuate a pedestrian control
signal or to enter a marked crosswalk unless a crossing of the roadway
is intended.
(Prior revision § 12-113; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
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.
(Prior revision § 12-115; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
The pedestrian control regulations set forth in this chapter
shall be enforced by all officers of the city.
(Prior revision § 12-116; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
A. The
provisions of this chapter shall in no way abrogate the provisions
of Chapter 90, Sections 14 and 14A of the General Laws, which provide:
"Precautions for Safety of Other Travelers" and for the "Protection
of Blind Persons Crossing Ways."
B. Furthermore,
notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter 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.
(Prior revision § 12-117; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
The provisions of the rules and regulations set forth in this
chapter 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 public 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.
(Prior revision § 12-118; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part))
Any person who violates the provisions of this chapter which
deal with the proper use of ways by pedestrians shall be punished
as provided in Chapter 90, Section 18A of the General Laws. Any person
convicted of a violation of any other provisions of these regulations
relative to the operation of vehicles shall be punished by a fine
not exceeding the amount authorized by the general laws for each offense.
(Prior revision § 12-119; C.O. 83-52 § 48 (part); T.C.R. 2007-10,
§ 4, 9/27/2007; T.C.R.
2017-26, 5/18/2017; T.C.R. 2017-27, 5/18/2017; T.C.R. 2017-33, 5/18/2017; T.C.R. 2022-19, 8/18/2022)