January 28, 2008

Pedestrians on Roadway

CHAPTER 265, RULES OF THE ROAD, Pedestrians' Rights and Duties, Section 265:39, Pedestrians on Roadway. –
I. Where sidewalks are provided it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.
II. Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a way shall walk only on a shoulder, as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a way shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway, and if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway.
III. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

• It is always safer to walk facing traffic so as to see what drivers are doing as they approach you. The left side of the roadway reflects the path of the pedestrian.  This will always place the pedestrian facing traffic on a two-way roadway.