315.01 DUTIES OF PEDESTRIANS AND DRIVERS AT CROSSWALKS.

   (a)   When traffic-control signals are not in place, not in operation, or are not clearly assigning the right-of-way, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, or if required by Ohio R.C. 4511.132 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

   (b)   No pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.

   (c)   Division (a) of this section does not apply under the conditions stated in Ohio R.C. 4511.48(B), or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.

   (d)   Whenever any vehicle is stopped at a marked crosswalk or at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross the roadway, the driver of any other vehicle approaching from the rear shall not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle.

(ORC 4511.46)

Penalty - see Sections 307.01 and 307.02

315.02 RIGHT-OF-WAY OF BLIND PERSON.

   (a)   As used in this section “blind person” or “blind pedestrian” means a person having not more than 20/200 visual acuity in the better eye with correcting lenses, or visual acuity greater than 20/200, but with a limitation in the fields of vision such that the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle no greater than 20°.

   (b)   The driver of every vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to every blind pedestrian guided by a guide dog, or carrying a cane which is predominantly white or metallic in color, with or without a red tip.

   (c)   No person, other than a blind person, while on any public highway, street, alley, or other public thoroughfare, shall carry a white or metallic cane, with or without a red tip.

(ORC 4511.47)

Penalty - see Sections 307.01 and 307.02

315.03 RIGHT-OF-WAY YIELDED BY PEDESTRIAN; CROSSING ROADWAYS.

   (a)   Every pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

   (b)   Any pedestrian crossing a roadway at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided shall yield the right-of-way to all traffic upon the roadway.

   (c)   Between adjacent intersections at which traffic-control signals are in operation, pedestrians shall not cross at any place except in a marked crosswalk.

   (d)   No pedestrian shall cross a roadway intersection diagonally unless authorized by official traffic-control devices; and when authorized to cross diagonally, pedestrians shall cross only in accordance with the official traffic-control devices pertaining to such crossing movements.

   (e)   This section does not relieve the operator of a vehicle from exercising due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway.

(ORC 4511.48)

Penalty - see Sections 307.01 and 307.02

315.04 MOVING IN CROSSWALKS.

   Pedestrians shall move, whenever practicable, upon the right half of crosswalks.

(ORC 4511.49)

Penalty - see Sections 307.01 and 307.02

315.05 WALKING ON SIDEWALKS, STREETS AND EXPRESSWAYS.

   (a)   Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.

   (b)   Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder, as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway.

   (c)   Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway 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.

   (d)   Except as otherwise provided in Ohio R.C. 4511.13 and 4511.46, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinances, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

(ORC 4511.50)

   (e)   No pedestrian shall walk in, along or upon a controlled access highway, expressway, freeway or throughway within the City, except for the purpose of obtaining emergency help to assist with a disabled vehicle upon such roadway.

Penalty - see Sections 307.01 and 307.02 

315.06 SOLICITING RIDES OR BUSINESS; RIDING ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE OR IN CARGO STORAGE AREA.

   (a)   No person while on a roadway outside a safety zone shall solicit a ride from the driver of any vehicle.

(Adopting Ordinance)

   (b)   Except as provided herein, no person shall stand on a highway for the purpose of soliciting employment, business or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle. The Mayor is hereby authorized to issue a permit, after application, authorizing the solicitation of charitable contributions on a highway, subject to the following restrictions:

      (1)   Said permit shall only be issued to a charitable organization. For purposes of this section, "charitable organization" refers to an organization which the Internal Revenue Service has determined to be tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(C)(3).

      (2)   Said permit shall be valid only for a single, stated period of time.

      (3)   Said permit shall contain the location at which such solicitation is authorized, and such location shall conform to the following parameters:

         A.   It shall be within 200 feet of a functioning traffic signal, but not within any intersection.

         B.   The highway shall be at least thirty feet wide.

         C.   The location shall be one at which all solicitors will be clearly visible to oncoming traffic. In making this determination, consideration shall be taken of the general topography of the area and the existence of vegetation, buildings or other structures which would obscure a motor vehicle operator's line of sight.

      (4)   Such solicitation shall be authorized only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and sunset.

      (5)   Any organization applying for a permit shall provide proof of insurance against any liability which may arise as a result of its solicitation activities.

      (6)   No more than four persons shall be authorized to be on the highway soliciting at any one time.

      (7)   Said permit shall be subject to immediate revocation if it is determined, by the Chief of Police, that the authorized organization is conducting its solicitation activities in a manner which jeopardizes the safety, health or welfare of any individual.

(Ord. 141-1993. Passed 8-6-93.)

   (c)   No person shall hang onto or ride on the outside of any motor vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway, except mechanics or test engineers making repairs or adjustments, or workers performing specialized highway or street maintenance or construction under authority of a public agency.

   (d)   No operator shall knowingly permit any person to hang onto or ride on the outside of any motor vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway, except mechanics or test engineers making repairs or adjustments, or workers performing specialized highway or street maintenance or construction under authority of a public agency.

   (e)   No driver of a truck, trailer, or semitrailer shall knowingly permit any person who has not attained the age of 16 years to ride in the unenclosed or unroofed cargo storage area of his or her vehicle if the vehicle is traveling faster than 25 miles per hour, unless either of the following applies:

      (1)   The cargo storage area of the vehicle is equipped with a properly secured seat to which is attached a seat safety belt that is in compliance with Federal standards for an occupant restraining device as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.263(A)(2), the seat and seat safety belt were installed at the time the vehicle was originally assembled, and the person riding in the cargo storage area is in the seat and is wearing the seat safety belt; or

      (2)   An emergency exists that threatens the life of the driver or the person being transported in the cargo storage area of the truck, trailer, or semitrailer.

   (f)   No driver of a truck, trailer, or semitrailer shall permit any person, except for those workers performing specialized highway or street maintenance or construction under authority of a public agency, to ride in the cargo storage area or on a tailgate of his or her vehicle while the tailgate is unlatched.

   (g)   Whoever violates divisions (e) or (f) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(ORC 4511.51)

315.07 PASSING THROUGH BRIDGE SIGNALS OR RAILROAD BARRIERS.

   (a)   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.

   (b)   No pedestrian shall pass through, around, over, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing or bridge while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.

(ORC 4511.511)

Penalty - see Sections 307.01 and 307.02

315.08 RIGHT-OF-WAY OF PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES.

   (a)   Upon the immediate approach of a public safety vehicle, as stated in Ohio R.C. 4511.45 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, every pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to the public safety vehicle.

   (b)   This section shall not relieve the driver of a public safety vehicle from the duty to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.

(ORC 4511.452)

Penalty - see Sections 307.01 and 307.02