Reply to What is the appropriate action when you unintentionally block a crosswalk?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Cyclist should not be riding on the sidewalk, or in the crosswalk. He’s an ass. [/quote]

How would you ride across this? (Note to ride one of Arlington's most popular trails you need to cross this)

https://www.google.com/maps/@38.8436538,-77.0856714,3a,75y,188.46h,70.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szNiD1hsAntnf1IhhPUnmEQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
[/quote]

The proper way is to dismount and walk you bike across the crosswalk. Otherwise, you are a vehicle in the crosswalk.

"Walk your bike on pedestrian crosswalks and overpasses. This gives you the right-of-way as a pedestrian. If you ride your bike across crosswalks and overpasses, you may not have the legal right-of-way."

https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/bicycle-safety/on-the-road/#.XK4vQGN7lEY[/quote]

That is not the law in Virginia and despite it being a crossing heavily used by cyclists, on Arlington's famed "Arlington Loop", there is no signage suggesting cyclists dismount.    Triple AAA's opinion does not set the law.

I would also add, its quite as unsafe there for pedestrians or dismounted cyclists when someone is blocking the crosswalk.

[/quote]

I was not citing law nor commenting on the OP's specific situation. The PP asked how one would ride across a certain crosswalk. My answer was to follow common bike etiquette as expressed by AAA.[/quote]

AAA did not mention etiquette. They suggested dismounting at a crosswalk because you MIGHT not have right of way other wise.   AFAICT a person on a bike in a crosswalk in Virginia has the same right of way riding or dismounted.

The standard approach, legal in Virginia and done by 99% of cyclists there, is to cross that location riding.  It does not interfere with pedestrians any more than riding on the trails it connects to do.

Note it is also legal to ride a bike on the sidewalk everywhere in Arlington.  But this crosswalk connects trails, so the notion that someone is "an ass" for riding there is particularly absurd.    Even more so that its being used to defend an actual illegal action, blocking a crosswalk.[/quote]

I wasn't the one that posted that the person was an ass. I was the person who posted about the bicycle etiquette I learned. I still dismount at crosswalks like that and sure as heck make sure the drivers see me. I may be right to zip across on a bike, but being right and dead does me no good.[/quote]

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