The following was provided to FANS from the park rangers office March, 2025
Navigating right-of-way in parks like Washington Park in Denver involves understanding a combination of general traffic laws and park-specific etiquette. Here’s a informal breakdown:
General Pedestrian Right-of-Way:
Generally, pedestrians have the right-of-way, especially in designated pedestrian areas. However, this doesn’t mean they have absolute priority in all situations.
Denver’s municipal code emphasizes that pedestrians crossing roadways outside of marked crosswalks must yield to vehicles. This principle extends to shared pathways.
Shared Pathways: The loop around Washington Park is a shared pathway, meaning it’s used by both pedestrians, vehicles, and cyclists. In shared spaces, a principle of mutual respect and awareness is crucial.
In many cases cyclists should yield to pedestrians, especially slower-moving individuals, children, and those with disabilities.
Posted signs in the park. Cyclists and vehicles are required to adhere to all signage in the park. this includes pedestrian crosswalk signs. In these instances, cyclists are required to give pedestrians the right of way.
* Pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings and avoid blocking the path or venturing outside of the pedestrian lane.
Park Etiquette:
While legal codes provide a framework, park etiquette plays a significant role.
It’s common courtesy for cyclists to:
Announce their presence when passing. Slowdown in crowded areas. Give ample space to pedestrians.
Pedestrians should try to stay to one side of the path (or in the case of the Wash Park loop; pedestrians should remain in the pedestrian lane and cyclists should remain in the cyclist lane), especially when in large groups.
Here is a summary of key reasonability’s:
Pedestrians:
* Generally, have the right-of-way, especially in designated pedestrian areas.
* Must yield to vehicles when crossing roadways outside of marked crosswalks.
* Should be aware of their surroundings and avoid blocking paths.
* In shared pathways, stay to one side (or in designated lanes) and be mindful of cyclists and vehicles.
Cyclists:
* Must yield to pedestrians in most cases, especially slower individuals, children, and those with disabilities.
* Must adhere to all posted signs, including pedestrian crosswalk signs.
* Should announce their presence when passing, slow down in crowded areas, and give ample space to pedestrians.
* In shared pathways, stay in designated lanes.
* Essentially, when in a crosswalk cyclists should conduct themselves in a way that prioritizes pedestrian safety.
Vehicle Drivers:
* Must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.
* Must adhere to all posted signs in the park.
* Be aware of shared pathways and yield to pedestrians and cyclists as needed.
Issuing citations to cyclists who disregard posted signage is generally difficult and unpopular. Personally, I have never cited anyone for disregarding crosswalk signage in the park, despite its frequency at Wash. We expect park visitors to be courteous and safety-minded, and we only intervene when a situation demands our immediate attention to ensure park safety. In most cases we only issue verbal warnings.