An Iowa DOT coordinator explains the Pedestrian Conveyance Law.
Milly Ortiz, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Iowa DOT, talks about the updated traffic law. The Pedestrian Conveyance Law, House File 2568, was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on May 3 and took effect on July 1, 2024. Ortiz says the previous law protected pedestrians, but there was no law protecting any human-powered devices.
“There was no clear definition of a pedestrian. the intent of this law is to protect more people in the cross walk.” Milly Ortiz, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Iowa DOT
Section 321.327 of the Iowa Code, states, “where traffic-control signals are not in place or in operation the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping if need be to so yield, to a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”
Ortiz says bicyclists are now protected as pedestrians under this code.
“Motorists have given the right away to people on scooters or people with wheel chairs, it’s always been that way, but it was not clear in the code itself. the definition also includes bicyclists. Bicyclists now have the same rights within the crosswalk as pedestrians.” Milly Ortiz, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Iowa DOT
Ortiz says organizations in the state of Iowa are finding ways to keep everyone updated on the current traffic laws.
“We (Iowa dot) have started looking into more education. The Iowa Governors Traffic Safety Bureau has been creating social media posts. The University of Iowa has been creating flyers. As for the DOT, we are working on making that clear in the driver’s manual.” Milly Ortiz, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Iowa DOT
Ortiz says this clarification in the code will benefit everyone using crosswalks and roads.
