The first time my wife and I (inveterate walkers) strolled down Main Street in Orono, shortly after moving here from Syracuse, N.Y., we had a stunning encounter with Maine’s pedestrian laws. The moment we turned to cross the street, expecting to bob and weave our way to the other side like Ratso Rizzo in “Midnight Cowboy,” the cars coming from both directions stopped, allowing us to cross. It seemed mighty civilized to us, coming from an urban setting where we sometimes suspected motorists had cross hairs painted on their windshield so they could aim right for us.
Our experience with cyclists was less inspiring. We were alarmed to see people pedaling toward us on the highway, running traffic lights and stop signs, zipping along in the dark without lights or reflectors and crowding us into the street while they sped by on the sidewalk.
Nine years later, we’re still dodging the cyclists, but we’ve grown increasingly apprehensive about the motorists. On a recent evening, when we stepped into a duly-marked crosswalk, at least eight oncoming cars roared by before one kind driver finally yielded to our frantic attempts to signal our intention to cross the street. As we pondered this disappointing decline in decorum, it seemed like a good time to see what the laws in Maine say should happen when walkers and riders and cars encounter each other. In the interests of public safety and self-preservation, I offer this brief list of legal reminders:
1. When traffic-control devices are not in operation, an operator must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk.
2. A pedestrian may not cross between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control devices operate, except in a marked crosswalk.
3. When a vehicle is stopped at an intersection or a marked crosswalk to permit a pedestrian to cross, the operator of another vehicle approaching from the rear may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.
4. Pedestrians should stay out of a driver’s blind spot at all times, make eye contact with motorists when crossing the street and carry a flashlight at night.
5. If no sidewalk is available, pedestrians should walk against the flow of traffic.
6. Bicyclists may use public roads, and they must obey traffic laws such as stopping at red lights and stop signs, yielding to pedestrians at crosswalks and yielding to traffic when entering a road from a driveway.
7. Bicyclists must ride with traffic, not against it.
8. Bicyclists must have and use headlights at night, as well as rear reflectors and foot, ankle or pedal reflectors.
9. Sidewalk riding is not prohibited by the state, only by local ordinance if it exists.
10. Motorists must give at least three feet of clearance when passing bicyclists.
11. Motorists may open car doors only after checking to see that it can be done safely, without interfering with traffic.
To encourage us all to enjoy our walking, riding and driving safely, state officials offer these sobering statistics: On average, a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle in Maine once a day. In the past five years, there have been 1,358 crashes and 51 fatalities involving pedestrians in Maine. And for those of us on foot, there’s this caution: Don’t simply assume that motorists know that by law, pedestrians have the right-of-way. Many of them don’t. Be on guard at all times as a pedestrian. That’s good advice for everyone using the public byways.
I always smile when I drive by the sign along Interstate 95 welcoming everyone to Maine: The Way Life Should Be. I’d feel even better if I knew that all of us agreed that “the way life should be” includes a commitment to courteous coexistence, whether we’re walking or riding or driving.
Mark Kelley is director of journalism at the New England School of Communications in Bangor. Kelley and his wife fantasize about walking Route 1 from Fort Kent to Key West, Fla.
An excellent editorial, especially the refresher course on pedestrian and cyclist rights and responsibilities. Police would do well to read your list, in light of recent pedestrian hits in Ellsworth, Waterville, and many other places.
Thank you.
Yes. There’s no need for “in Orono” from the headline.
Today I was stopped at the light at Main and Mill and a bicyclist flew past me on the left and just zipped through the red light. A couple of years ago on a very dark night I was turning right onto N.Maine from Main St at Webster Park and a bicyclist wearing all black and with no reflectors went by me on the wrong side of the street. I missed him by about a millimeter. It was very frightening.
A good reminder to us all.
Many drivers still like to believe that the roads are just for cars, forgetting that all of us pay for them and that all of us are entitled to use them as defined by law.
Of course, but I always read about how drivers need to pay attention and this is the first time I’ve seen anyone address the pedestrian’s responsibilities.
Good pointers from Mr. Kelley. I particularly took note of the one about pedestrians not assuming that drivers will heed that a pedestrian has the right of way. As a walker, look in front of you , in back, side to side….be a very defensive walker. It is necessary today. Many people in vehicles completely disregard when the pedestrian has the white light to cross. They are too much in a rush to get to their important place and completely inconsiderate. They would mow down the walker sometimes. I don’t think it is particularly walker-friendly in this area but I suppose that could be said for other places as well.
I always love these articles, since the inconsiderate driver’s that we all dislike, are actually us. It’s us when we’re late for a meeting or an appointment, when we’re feeling sick and should have stayed home, when we’re checking our voicemail and driving at the same time, when we’re lost in thought and not watching the road.
Instead of making lists that other people should follow, we should all resolve to be more considerate, more patient and smarter when we get behind the wheel. Otherwise it’s easy to pretend like lousy driving is about somebody else.
Maybe, but there are laws that we must also follow too, and I’d bet that many people didn’t know that there is no right of way for pedestrians in “unmarked crosswalks.” These traffic laws are meant to protect us all; it’s not just a list.
Great piece, Mark. People need to be reminded that there are laws for pedestrians, too, and that they don’t always have the right of way all the time.
I would have also included “A pedestrian may not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the operator to yield.”
Good editorial.
I would like to remind pedestrians to wear at least one article of clothing that is easily visible. Especially at night but even in the daytime. A short time ago I was at a particularly nasty intersection with very poor sight lines. Side street, stop sign only, no light. At this intersection parked vehicles often completely block the driver’s view of oncoming traffic. Drivers attention is concentrated on safely getting out into traffic without getting hit broadside. As I edged out into the intersection movement caught my eye and I came to a complete stop in the middle of the intersection. A pedestrian was legally crossing the street in a cross walk. But the mostly grey clothing they were wearing blended into the buildings on the other side of the street almost like camouflage. What had caught my eye as movement was their face. The only bright part of them.
Do NOT just walk out into the road from behind a large SUV or truck.
As a lawful, year-round cyclist, I can assure you that scofflaw cyclists are one of my biggest pet peeves.
Most of us follow the rules, but our reputation is sullied by an inconsiderate few.