Section 9.09 - Pedestrian Regulations(1)Pedestrians Crossing Ways or Roadways. Pedestrians shall obey the directions of police officers directing traffic and whenever there is an officer directing traffic, a traffic control signal or a marked crosswalk within 300 feet of a pedestrian, no such pedestrian shall cross a way or roadway except within the limits of a marked crosswalk and as hereinafter provided in 720 CMR 9.00.(2)Pedestrian Actuation. (a) At a traffic control signal location where pedestrian indications are provided but which are shown only upon actuation by means of a pedestrian push button, no pedestrian shall cross a roadway unless or until the pedestrian control signal push button has been actuated and then cross only on the proper pedestrian signal indication. At traffic control signal locations where no pedestrian indication is provided, pedestrians shall cross only on the green indication. If necessary, the green indication shall be actuated by the pedestrian by means of a push button.(b) At a traffic control signal location, pedestrians shall yield the right of way to vehicles of a funeral or other procession or authorized emergency vehicle while in performance of emergency duties regardless of the signal indication given, and they shall not attempt to cross the roadway until such vehicles or procession has passed at which time pedestrians shall then cross the roadway only as provided in 720 CMR 9.00.(3)Pedestrian Obedience to Traffic Control Signals. Traffic control signal color indications and legends shall have the pedestrian commands ascribed to them in 720 CMR 9.09(3) and no other meanings, and every pedestrian shall comply therewith, except when otherwise directed by an officer. (a)The Walking Person symbol or the Word "Walk". Whenever the Walking Person symbol or the single word "walk" is illuminated, pedestrians facing such indication may proceed across the roadway and in the direction of such signal only. The walking person symbol or "WALK" indication means that there may or may not be possible conflict of pedestrians with turning vehicles.(b)Red Alone or "Don't Walk". Whenever the words "Don't Walk" or the Up-raised Hand symbol are illuminated in a traffic control signal where pedestrian indications are provided, pedestrians approaching or facing such indication shall wait on the sidewalk, edge of roadway or in the pedestrian refuge area of a traffic island and shall not enter upon or cross aroadway until the proper indication is illuminated in the traffic control signal, but any pedestrian who has partially completed his crossing on the walk indication shall proceed or return to the nearest sidewalk or safety island on the yellow indication, the red indication, the Up-raised Hand symbol or when the words "Don't Walk" are illuminated by rapid intermittent flashes.(c)Green Alone. At traffic control signal locations where no pedestrian indication is given or provided, pedestrians facing the signal may proceed across the roadway within any marked crosswalk in the direction of the green indication.(d)Yellow Alone, Red Alone, Flashing Up-raised Hand symbol or Flashing "Don't Walk". Pedestrians approaching or facing a yellow, red or flashing "Don't Walk" illuminated indication shall not start to cross a roadway.(e)Flashing Red or Yellow. At any traffic control signal location where a flashing red, or flashing yellow indication is being given facing a crosswalk, pedestrians shall actuate, where provided, the pedestrian signal indication and cross the roadway only on the Up-raised Hand symbol or "Walk" indication when such indication is in operation. If no pedestrian signal is provided, pedestrians shall cross within crosswalks with due care.(4)Pedestrian Crossings and Use of Roadways.(a) No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a sidewalk or safety island and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield the right of way.(b) Pedestrians shall at all times attempt to cross a roadway using the right half of crosswalks.(c) Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway whenever the sidewalk is open to pedestrian use.(d) Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along and upon an undivided highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway on its unfinished shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. On any divided highway pedestrians not in violation of 720 CMR 9.08(2)(c) shall walk only on the right side of the roadway on the unfinished shoulder.(e) Persons alighting from the roadway side of any vehicle parked at the curb or edge of roadway in urban areas within 300 feet of a marked crosswalk shall proceed immediately to the sidewalk or edge of roadway adjacent to vehicle, and shall cross the roadway only as authorized by 720 CMR 9.00.(f) It shall be unlawful for any person to actuate a pedestrian control signal or to enter a marked crosswalk unless a crossing of the roadway is intended.(5)Crossing at Non-Signalized Locations. Every pedestrian crossing a roadway in an urban area at any point other than within a marked crosswalk shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway. At a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overpass has been provided, pedestrians shall cross the roadway only by the proper use of the tunnel or overpass.(6)Pedestrians Soliciting Rides or Business. No person shall stand in a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride, employment or business from the operator or occupant of any vehicle without the written permission of the board or officer having control of such roadway or highway.(7)Obedience of Bridge Signals. No pedestrian shall enter or remain upon any bridge or approach thereto beyond the bridge signal, gate or barrier after a bridge operation signal indication has been given.(8)Exemptions. The provisions of 720 CMR 9.09 governing the use of State highways by pedestrians shall not apply to pedestrians actually engaged in work upon a roadway closed to travel or under construction or repair, to municipal, state, federal or public service corporation employees while in the performance of their duties, to officers engaged in the performance of their public duties or to pedestrians acting in an emergency when such emergency necessitates departure from any part of 720 CMR 9.00. Effect of 720 CMR 9.00. The provisions of 720 CMR 9.00 for driving so far as they are the same in effect as those of any existing rules and regulations heretofore made by the Commissioners of the Department shall be construed as a continuation there of, but all other existing rules and regulations for driving are hereby expressly repealed. This repeal shall not, however, affect any punishment or penalty imposed or any complaint or prosecution pending at the time of passage hereof for any offense committed under any of the said rules and regulations hereby repealed.
If any section, sub-section, sentence, clause or phrase of 720 CMR 9.00 is for any reason unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of 720 CMR 9.00. The Commissioners of the Department hereby declare that they would have passed 720 CMR 9.00 and each section, sub-section, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that anyone or more sections, sub-sections, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared unconstitutional.
REGULATORY AUTHORITY
720 C MR 9.00: M.G.L. c. 85, §§ 2 and 2E.