| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the right-of-way of pedestrians and other sidewalk |
|
|
users. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 545.256, Transportation Code, is amended |
|
|
to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 545.256. EMERGING FROM OR ENTERING AN ALLEY, DRIVEWAY, |
|
|
OR BUILDING. (a) In this section, "sidewalk user" means an |
|
|
individual lawfully operating one of the following on a sidewalk: |
|
|
(1) a bicycle; |
|
|
(2) a motor-assisted scooter, as defined by Section |
|
|
551.351; |
|
|
(3) an electric personal assistive mobility device, as |
|
|
defined by Section 551.201; |
|
|
(4) a skateboard; |
|
|
(5) roller skates; or |
|
|
(6) a similar device. |
|
|
(b) An operator emerging from an alley, driveway, or |
|
|
building in a business or residence district shall: |
|
|
(1) stop the vehicle before moving on a sidewalk or the |
|
|
sidewalk area extending across an alley or driveway; |
|
|
(2) yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian or sidewalk |
|
|
user to avoid collision; and |
|
|
(3) on entering the roadway, yield the right-of-way to |
|
|
an approaching vehicle. |
|
|
(c) An operator entering an alley, driveway, or building in |
|
|
a business or residence district from a roadway shall yield the |
|
|
right-of-way to a pedestrian or sidewalk user who is located on a |
|
|
sidewalk or within the area of a sidewalk extending across the alley |
|
|
or driveway to avoid collision. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |