Chico Municipal Code Ch. 10.36 Pedestrians Prohibited on Medians and Other Roadway Areas

A. The purpose of this chapter is to promote the safety of pedestrians and motorists by prohibiting individuals from stopping, standing, or remaining in hazardous traffic areas such as medians, pedestrian refuges, and other roadway areas.

B. The City has observed an increase in unsafe pedestrian activity in these areas, resulting in traffic hazards, near collisions, and interference with the free flow of vehicular traffic.

C. Medians and other roadway features are installed for safety reasons to separate opposing lanes of traffic and are not intended for prolong pedestrian use. Pedestrians may cross a street in accordance with the law and do not need to stand, sit, or otherwise remain on medians and these roadway features for any purpose.

D. Nothing in this chapter shall restrict or impede the use of designated accessible pedestrian routes.

(Ord. 2618)

A. "Median" means a raised and curbed area, of variable width, which may or may not contain landscaping or hardscaping features, located in the approximate center of the street or road, parallel to the travel lanes, separating opposing lanes of motor vehicle traffic and channeling the location of the motor vehicle traffic, or located within a private ingress and egress access driveway connecting to a street or roadway.

B. "Pedestrian refuge" means any island or area designed to provide pedestrians a safe, temporary stopping place for people to cross the street or road located between lanes of traffic or within crosswalks.

C. "Person" means any individual, group, partnership, or entity.

D. "Roundabout island" means a raised or curbed circular area in the middle of a roundabout around which traffic circulates.

(Ord. 2618)

A. No person shall stop, stand, sit, lie, or otherwise remain on or within any median or roundabout island, except for the purposes set forth in Section 10.36.040. To "remain" includes, but is not limited to, walking up and down the median or roundabout island for any purpose.

B. No person shall stop, stand, sit, lie, or otherwise remain on or within any pedestrian refuge for longer than is necessary to safely cross the street, except for the purposes set forth in Section 10.36.040.

(Ord. 2618)

A. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency personnel, or other public employees acting within the scope of their official duties.

B. Persons performing maintenance, construction, or utility work authorized by the City or State.

C. Persons in a median, roundabout island, or pedestrian refuge as a direct and immediate result of an emergency situation that necessitates removal from active traffic lanes to a place of temporary safety. For purposes of this section, an emergency situation means any of the following:

1. Vehicle Disablement. When an occupant is forced to exit a disabled vehicle that is stopped or parked upon a median strip due to mechanical failure or a collision.

2. Imminent Danger. When a pedestrian is attempting to avoid immediate physical harm from an approaching vehicle or other life-threatening hazard.

3. Medical Necessity. When a medical emergency or physical distress requires an individual to stop and seek immediate shelter or aid.

4. Assisting Others. When a person is rendering immediate aid or assistance to an injured or distressed individual in an emergency situation.

(Ord. 2618)

A. Any person who violates this section shall be deemed guilty of an infraction and shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100) for the first violation, a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for a second conviction within a period of one year by, and a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for a third or any subsequent conviction within a period of one year.

B. Any person who violates this section of this code shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

C. The penalties set forth herein are cumulative and in addition to all other remedies, violations, and penalties set forth in the Chico Municipal Code, state or federal law.

D. Each day or separate incident of violation shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.

(Ord. 2618)