Movement of pedestrians and of persons using a mobility aid

Art. 11.

1. A pedestrian is obliged to use the footway or the shared path for pedestrians and cyclists, and where there is none - the shoulder. If there is no shoulder or it cannot temporarily be used, the pedestrian may use the carriageway, provided that he keeps as close as possible to its edge and gives way to an approaching vehicle.

2. A pedestrian walking along the shoulder or the carriageway is obliged to walk on the left side of the road.

3. Pedestrians walking along the carriageway are obliged to walk one behind the other. On a road with little traffic, in conditions of good visibility, two pedestrians may walk side by side.

4. A pedestrian may use a cycle path only where there is no footway, shared path for pedestrians and cyclists or shoulder, or where these cannot be used. A pedestrian using such a path, except for a disabled person, is obliged to give way to a person using a mobility aid and to a person riding a bicycle, an e-scooter or a personal mobility device.

4a. A pedestrian moving along a road after dusk outside a built-up area is obliged to use reflective elements in a manner visible to other road users, unless he is moving along a footway, a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists or a cycle path.

5. The provisions of paragraphs 1-4a do not apply in a residential zone. In such a zone a pedestrian uses the entire width of the road and has right of way over a vehicle and over a person using a mobility aid.

Art. 12.

1. A column of pedestrians, except for pedestrians up to 10 years of age, may move only along the right side of the carriageway.

2. The provisions of Art. 11(1) and (2) apply accordingly to a column of pedestrians up to 10 years of age.

3. The number of pedestrians walking side by side in a column along the carriageway may not exceed 4, and in a military column - 6, provided that the column does not occupy more than half the width of the carriageway.

4. Pedestrians up to 10 years of age may walk in a column only in twos, under the supervision of at least one adult.

5. The length of a column of pedestrians may not exceed 50 m. The distance between columns may not be less than 100 m.

6. If a column of pedestrians marches in conditions of insufficient visibility:

1) the first and the last of those walking on the left side are obliged to carry lamps:

a) the first one - with a white light directed forwards,

b) the last one - with a red light directed rearwards;

2) in a column exceeding 20 m in length, those walking on the left side at the front and at the rear are obliged to use reflective elements meeting the relevant technical requirements, and in addition those walking on the left side are obliged to carry additional lamps with a white light, spaced in such a way that the distance between them does not exceed 10 m;

3) the light of the lamps should be visible from a distance of at least 150 m.

7. It is prohibited to:

1) move a column of pedestrians along the carriageway in fog; this prohibition does not apply to a military or police column;

2) move a column of pedestrians up to 10 years of age along the carriageway in conditions of insufficient visibility;

3) lead a column of pedestrians along the carriageway by a person under 18 years of age.

Art. 13.

1. A pedestrian stepping onto the carriageway, a cycle path or a tram track, or crossing these parts of the road, is obliged to exercise particular care and to use a pedestrian crossing.

1a. A pedestrian who is on a pedestrian crossing has right of way over a vehicle. A pedestrian stepping onto a pedestrian crossing has right of way over a vehicle, with the exception of a tram.

2. Crossing the carriageway or a cycle path away from a pedestrian crossing is permitted at a suggested crossing, or away from a suggested crossing if the distance from a pedestrian crossing exceeds 100 m. However, if an intersection is located less than 100 m from a marked pedestrian crossing, crossing is also permitted at that intersection.

3. Crossing the carriageway or a cycle path away from a pedestrian crossing, as referred to in paragraph 2, is permitted only on condition that it does not cause a hazard to traffic safety or an obstruction to the movement of vehicles. The pedestrian is obliged to give way to vehicles and to walk to the opposite edge of the carriageway or cycle path by the shortest route, perpendicular to the axis of the carriageway or cycle path.

4. If there is a pedestrian tunnel or footbridge, or one for pedestrians and cyclists, on the road, the pedestrian is obliged to use it.

5. In a built-up area, on a dual carriageway road a pedestrian crossing the carriageway is obliged to use only a pedestrian crossing.

6. Crossing a tram track separated from the carriageway is permitted at a pedestrian crossing or at a suggested crossing. The provisions of paragraph 3 apply accordingly.

7. If a passenger island at a public transport stop adjoins a pedestrian crossing, walking to and from the stop is permitted only via that crossing.

8. If a pedestrian crossing is marked out on a dual carriageway road, the crossing on each carriageway is regarded as a separate crossing. This provision applies accordingly to a pedestrian crossing at a place where the movement of vehicles is separated by an island or by other devices on the carriageway.

Art. 14.

It is prohibited to:

1) step onto the carriageway or a cycle path:

a) directly in front of a moving vehicle, including on a pedestrian crossing,

b) from behind a vehicle or another obstacle restricting the view of the road;

2) cross the carriageway or a cycle path at a place with a restricted view of the road;

3) slow down or stop without justified need while crossing the carriageway, a cycle path or a tram track;

4) run across the carriageway or a cycle path;

5) walk along a tram track;

6) step onto a tram track when the barriers or half-barriers are lowered or their lowering has begun;

7) cross the carriageway or a cycle path at a place where a safety device or an obstacle separates the footway or the shared path for pedestrians and cyclists from the carriageway or the cycle path, irrespective of which side of the carriageway they are on;

8) use a telephone or another electronic device while stepping onto or crossing the carriageway, a cycle path or a tram track, including while stepping onto or crossing a pedestrian crossing - in a manner that restricts the ability to observe the situation on the carriageway, the cycle path, the tram track or the pedestrian crossing.

Art. 15.

The provisions of Art. 11-14 do not apply where the road is closed to the movement of vehicles.

Art. 15a.

1. A person using a mobility aid is obliged to use the footway, the shared path for pedestrians and cyclists or the cycle path. A person using a mobility aid on a cycle path is required to keep to the right.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 do not apply in a residential zone. In such a zone a person using a mobility aid uses the entire width of the road and has right of way over a vehicle.

3. A person using a mobility aid who uses the footway or the shared path for pedestrians and cyclists is obliged to move at a speed close to the speed of a pedestrian, to exercise particular care, to give way to pedestrians and not to obstruct their movement.

4. A person using a mobility aid who crosses the carriageway, a cycle path or a tram track is obliged to exercise particular care and to use a cycle crossing, and where there is none - a pedestrian crossing or a suggested crossing, under the rules laid down for the movement of pedestrians in the provisions of Art. 13.

5. (repealed)

6. A person using a mobility aid is obliged to:

1) move at a speed ensuring control over that aid, having regard to the conditions in which the traffic takes place;

2) when passing an oncoming vehicle, keep a safe distance from the vehicle or road user being passed;

3) when passing a stationary obstacle, keep a safe distance from the vehicle, road user or obstacle being passed;

4) before overtaking, make sure that there is sufficient room to overtake without obstructing anyone's movement;

5) when approaching a pedestrian crossing, exercise particular care and give way to a pedestrian who is on the crossing.

7. A person using a mobility aid is prohibited from:

1) moving while intoxicated, while under the influence of alcohol or of a substance acting similarly to alcohol;

2) carrying another person, an animal or a load;

3) towing a vehicle or a load;

4) holding on to vehicles;

5) moving backwards.