§ 4-04 — Pedestrians

§ 4-04 Pedestrians.

(a) Pedestrians subject to traffic rules, except as otherwise provided herein. Pedestrians are advised to abide by traffic control signals and pedestrian control signals as provided in 34 RCNY § 4-03(a) and (c) and to the lawful orders and directions of any law enforcement officer, but at all other places pedestrians shall be accorded the privileges and shall be subject to the restrictions stated in this section. (b) Right-of-way in crosswalks. (1) Operators must stop for pedestrians in marked or unmarked crosswalk. When traffic control signals or pedestrian control signals are not in place or not in operation, any operator of a vehicle or operator of a bicycle must stop for a pedestrian crossing a roadway within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Such operators of vehicles and operators of bicycles in any lane of travel must stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian in such crosswalk until such pedestrian crosses a roadway. (2) Pedestrians are cautioned not to cross in front of oncoming vehicles. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subdivision (b), pedestrians are cautioned not to suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it is impossible for the operator to yield. (3) Vehicles stopped for pedestrians. Whenever any vehicle is stopped to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the operator of any other vehicle approaching from the rear in the same or adjacent lanes shall not overtake and pass such stopped vehicle. (c) Right-of-way outside of crosswalks. Pedestrians crossing at points outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk do not have the right of way. Pedestrians may cross any roadway, other than a limited access highway, at any point, including points outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, but must yield to other traffic that has the right of way, provided that a failure to yield shall not be a violation of these rules. (d) Restrictions on crossings. (1) Pedestrians are cautioned against entering or crossing a roadway at any point where signs, fences, barriers, or other devices are erected to prohibit or restrict such crossing or entry. (2) Pedestrians are cautioned against crossing any roadway at an intersection except within a crosswalk. (3) Pedestrians are cautioned against crossing a roadway except at a crosswalk on any block in which traffic control signals are in operation at both intersections bordering the block. (e) Operators to exercise due care. Notwithstanding other provisions of these rules, the operator of a vehicle must exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. (f) Pedestrians to exercise due care. Notwithstanding other provisions of these rules, pedestrians must yield to other traffic that has the right-of-way, provided that a failure to yield shall not be a violation of these rules. (g) Hitch-hiking and soliciting prohibited. (1) Talking or selling. No person shall stand in the roadway to talk with or sell or offer to sell anything to an occupant of any vehicle. (2) Soliciting rides. No person shall solicit a ride from the occupant of a vehicle by word or gesture. (3) Washing, polishing, cleaning and assisting parking. No person shall approach an operator or other occupant of a passenger vehicle on any street, while the vehicle has stopped temporarily, is about so to stop, is parked or is about to be parked, for the purpose of washing, polishing, or cleaning such vehicle or any part of it, or offering to do so. Nor shall any person approach an operator or other occupant of a passenger vehicle for the purpose of directing it to a place for parking on any street or assisting in such parking, or offering any other service in relation to such vehicle, or soliciting a gratuity, except services rendered in connection with emergency repairs at the request of the operator of the vehicle. (4) Opening or closing doors. No person, other than an occupant or prospective occupant of a passenger vehicle on a street, shall open, hold open, or close, or offer to open, hold open, or close any door of the vehicle. This provision shall not apply to such acts when intended purely as a social amenity without expectation or acceptance of a gratuity, nor to doormen or other persons employed by owners, occupants, or managers of abutting premises to render such service, nor when such service is incidental to other legitimate service being rendered to such an occupant or prospective occupant of a passenger vehicle. (5) Hailing taxis. Unless asked to do so without advance solicitation (direct or implied), no person shall hail or procure for another, not in his or her social company, a taxi or other passenger vehicle. (Amended City Record 1/20/2017, eff. 2/19/2017; amended City Record 12/20/2021, eff. 1/19/2022; amended City Record 5/27/2025, eff. 6/26/2025)