Rules of the Road

Motorists

Motorist Laws
- Stop and yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks, including those that may be unmarked at intersections.
- Stopping and yielding to pedestrians means:
- Pedestrians in and approaching a crosswalk on your half of the roadway.
- Pedestrians entering the crosswalk on the other half of roadway approaching your vehicle.
It is now a criminal offense for a driver that causes bodily injury to a pedestrian (or other vulnerable road user) that is legally using a crosswalk.
- Vulnerable road users include ALL of the following:
- Pedestrians,
- Bicyclists,
- People using electric personal assistive mobility devices,
- People using motor-assisted scooters,
- People using golf carts, and
- People using neighborhood electric vehicles (defined here).
For more information please visit the Texas Transportation Code for Pedestrians.
Pedestrians

Pedestrian Laws
- Use crosswalks and follow pedestrian signals when available.
- If a pedestrian signal is not available, cross the street when the light is green in your direction of travel.
- It is illegal to cross in the middle of a block (without a crosswalk) between adjacent intersections at which traffic control signals are in operation.
- Use sidewalks if available. It is illegal to walk in the road if an adjacent sidewalk is available and useable to the pedestrian.
- If a sidewalk is not available, walk on the left side of the road facing traffic, as far away from traffic as possible.
- You may only cross an intersection diagonally if there is a traffic control device authorizing this movement.
- A pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle on the highway if crossing a roadway at a place:
- Other than in a marked crosswalk or in an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.
- Where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided.
Bicycles

Bicycle Laws
- Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicles.
- Ride as far to the right as practicable based on road conditions.
- Ride on the roadway, using bike lanes or separated bike facilities when available.
- Travel with traffic, not against it.
- Stop at all red lights and stop signs.
- Use hand signals when turning and changing lanes.
- You can ride next to another bicycle, as long as you do not block traffic.
- When riding at night, your bike must have:
- A front headlamp (white light) that can be seen from 500 feet away.
- A rear red reflector (visible from 300 ft) or red lamp (visible from 500 ft).