Readers pass test
Two weeks ago, my column promoted the need for heightened seasonal driver awareness of pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. Therein, I included a hidden pop quiz to test reader awareness of traffic laws. A few of you wrote in, passing the test.
Within the previous column, published remarks of reader A.P. included, “I spend a lot of time in the street moving in the direction of traffic as a runner and cyclist.” That “moving in the direction of traffic as a runner” part was the test.
The first two readers to note, respond and pass the test included “students” from both Idaho and Washington.
Traffic aficionado L.S. cited a portion of Idaho Code 49-708, stating, “Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway, and, if on a two-way highway, shall walk only on the left side of the highway.”
Washington’s entry, from reader A.R., included, “He [A.P.] states that he runs with the traffic which is an absolute no-no. As a runner, he is a pedestrian and must obey the rules for pedestrians, including using the sidewalk if available.”
Next, she paraphrased the applicable Revised Code of Washington (46.61.250), which specifies, in part, “Where sidewalks are provided it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk or otherwise move along and upon an adjacent roadway. Where sidewalks are not provided any pedestrian walking or otherwise moving along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk or move only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction and upon meeting an oncoming vehicle shall move clear of the roadway.”
Congratulations to you two for leading the class responding to the pop quiz. It shows that you are thinking about your driving and the corresponding rules of the road.
Nevertheless, I wish to remind everyone that A.P.’s use of the right hand side of the roadway for bicycling IS rightful. Also, his complaint of drivers nearly striking him aside the roadway has merit regardless of which side of the roadway he occupies or whether he is on a bike or afoot.
I’m sure many drivers come too close to pedestrians who are properly facing traffic as well. Also, my initial response to A.P. included text from a Washington law that instructs drivers to give pedestrians proper clearance irrespective of which way they may be facing. That law, RCW 46.61.110, reads: The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian or bicycle that is on the roadway or on the right-hand shoulder or bicycle lane of the roadway shall pass to the left at a safe distance to clearly avoid coming into contact with the pedestrian or bicyclist, and shall not again drive to the right side of the roadway until safely clear of the overtaken pedestrian or bicyclist.
Drivers of cars and trucks, operating “weapons” of much greater mass than motorcycles, bicycles or human bodies, should strive to avoid contact regardless of the position or legal standing of the lesser entities. Washington even has a “catch-all” law, RCW 46.61.245, intended to protect pedestrians, reading: Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this chapter every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway.
A.R. self-admittedly professes having “a thing about pedestrians and runners inappropriately using the streets.” Resultantly, she took exception to another portion of A.P’s declaration that he must “run in the road in the winter” as “there is no where else to go.”
She doesn’t let such casual statements pass, and responded, “No, he does NOT have to run in the street which is extremely dangerous in the winter. He can go to the Y, join a gym, or get something set up in his house.”
A.R.’s critique is noteworthy, but A.P.’s plea to allow room for pedestrians and bicycles is still valid.
Readers may contact Bill Love via email at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.
