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#RoadRights Situation 29

Published by Anna Marie on

When a pathway crosses a road without stop signs.

Play along! Did you guess correctly?

ANSWER: The cyclist arrived at the intersection first and clearly intends to cross.

Pathways crossing roads are intersections, as this is an uncontrolled intersection state law is clear that the individual who arrives at an intersection first has the right away and all other users must stop for them. Drivers need to understand that these are intersections and behave as they would at any other intersection. Being polite and allowing another user to proceed may be nice but it is not predictable for other users. Cyclist are most safe when they can expect drivers to follow the law. It is challenging for people cycling when drivers don’t understand rights of way or when they respond to them in a way that is unpredictable.