Q&A for How to Cross the Street

If there is no crosswalk available on the street you want to cross, you must use your best judgment in crossing by proceeding when there is no traffic, making eye contact with any stopped drivers, and being on the alert for any other crossing drivers or cyclists. It is not considered jaywalking and you won't be ticketed for jaywalking if there is truly no designated pedestrian crossing available.

Yes, or else it is likely you will be hit by a car.

look the way of the oncoming traffic mainly, but also check the other direction in case of drivers who have not paid attention to where they should be driving. Also, check for cyclists, or if there is a crosswalk nearby, cross there.

No, you cannot cross the street diagonally if there is no crosswalk line. In the United States, very few cities have diagonal crossing, also known as pedestrian scramble. If it is available at an intersection, the crosswalk marks will be shown across the entire intersection, and signage will make it clear that diagonal crossing is legal when signaled. Otherwise, you should always cross on white painted crosswalks that are positioned perpendicular to the roadway, taking one crosswalk at a time to reach the opposite corner.

Pay attention and look both ways before crossing.

Be extra careful, look to the left, right and left again, and concentrate on the road..

There's no need to feel embarrassed. Wait until you have right of way and move confidently.

Wait for traffic to stop, then look both ways and walk quickly, keeping your eyes on the incoming traffic.

You should use the pedestrian light to cross. Looking at traffic lights could put you in danger of missing things like green arrows, which could cause cars to turn into the lane without you seeing them first. The pedestrian light will tell you when it's safe to cross.

Yes, you can. You can also dismount from your bike and walk it across the street.

Wait for the cars to pass through or recognize you. When they do stop, cross quickly so that you do not hold up traffic.

You should walk normally, but not too slow so that you do not take up time for those who are in their vehicles. At the same time, don't walk too fast as you risk getting yourself injured this way.

Walk in the direction of the crosswalk lines. If there are no lines, then walk perpendicular to the roadway. Make sure to check for oncoming traffic coming and to avoid blocking traffic for too long.

You are required to yield to pedestrians that are in the crosswalk. If you notice a pedestrian about to start crossing, you must give way and let them start.

You should use your best judgement to decide whether there is a problem during your crossing. If a car appears to be failing to yield the right of way, you should move out of the way quickly to avoid getting hit.

If you have determined that there are no cars coming in either direction, then you can make an attempt to cross the road. Be aware that some roads have high speeds and cars may not have the time to slow down completely before it is too late.

If there are no signals or painted crosswalks, you must exercise caution to determine where it is safe and not safe to cross. Sometimes jaywalking might be your only option, especially if the nearest intersection is a long walk away.