Yet another bicyclist has been hit by a motor vehicle in Center City. The crash occurred at the intersection 11th and Vine at about 5AM on October 26, 2018. The impact of the crash threw the rider off of his bike and onto the pavement. The driver of the vehicle that hit the bicyclist stopped near the scene. According to NBC Philadelphia, the cyclist was transported to Hahnemann University with serious head and neck injuries where he was determined to be in stable condition. His bicycle was described as being mangled after the crash. There is no indication yet as to whether the bicyclist was in the middle of the roadway or riding in a crosswalk. The pivotal fact is that he was riding when he was hit.
A Few Bicycling Rules of the Road
Other than the fact that they’re not allowed on highways, bicycles are vehicles that have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles under Pennsylvania law. They must be ridden in the same direction as traffic, and they’re allowed on any Philadelphia street, including those without bike lanes. Bicyclists must obey all street signs and traffic signals, stop signs, yield signs, crosswalk laws and ordinances. No bicyclist over the age of 13 is permitted to ride on a sidewalk, and like cars, they must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
Crosswalks
75 Pa. C.S. section 102 addresses both marked and unmarked crosswalks. They are “(1) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway, measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway; and in the absence of a sidewalk on one side of the roadway, that part of the roadway included within the extension of the lateral lines of the existing sidewalk. (2) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface.”
Bicycles in Crosswalks
The general rule in Pennsylvania is that when a driver encounters a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk, the motorist must yield to that pedestrian. A bicyclist isn’t a pedestrian though, so he or she doesn’t have the right-of-way. Once a pedestrian’s feet leave the ground and hit their bicycle’s pedals, they no longer have the right-of-way in a crosswalk. They obtain that right-of-way though if they walk their bicycle in the crosswalk. The added benefit of walking a bike in a crosswalk is that visibility is improved, and drivers have more time to slow down or stop.
Contact a Philadelphia Bicycle Crash Lawyer.
If you or a loved one was injured in or near a crosswalk either riding or walking, it’s important to consult with an experienced Phialdelphia bicycle accident lawyer.
After a crash, call 911 so that an accident report can be made. After that, seek immediate medical attention. Then, contact our offices by phone or email and arrange for a free consultation. We are going to listen to you carefully and answer your questions. Then, we’ll advise you of your full range of legal options.