How to use a crosswalk (in Virginia)—While talking to a man from The Netherlands, I mentioned how little respect cyclists in this country get. He agreed, saying that in his country, if there is an accident between a motorist and a cyclist or pedestrian, the motorist is thought to be at fault. Guilty unless proven innocent. As a consequence, motorists are generally very careful in the presence of cyclists and pedestrians. I've heard the same is true in Germany.

In Virginia, motorists aren't even required to stop for someone in a crosswalk. They must “yield”, which means they should slow down, swerve to avoid, and if all else fails, yield (or, as is often the case, hit them). Here are my tips for getting across the street at a crosswalk:

• Stop at the street edge
• Step into the crosswalk without being directly in the path of the motorist. This lets them know that yes, I'm here and I want to get across the street. In Virginia, they don't even have to yield unless you're in the crosswalk
• Inch forward, being careful not to get so close that a speeding motorist can't stop. I keep inching until it is obvious that unless the motorist stops, they're going to hit me. I can always step back at the last minute if necessary.
• Once oncoming traffic is stopped, step into the first lane. If there are two oncoming lanes, repeat above. If the next lane is coming from the other direction, repeat above.

See also “How to Not Get Hit by Cars” at Bicyclesafe.com.
posted by Bruce Wright at 2:50 PM #