Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety

No Blocking or Impeding Street and Sidewalk Access Ordinance

• No-Blocking-or-Impeding-Street-and-Sidewalk-Access-Ordinance.pdf(PDF, 135KB)

To enhance public safety and keep our city accessible for everyone, a new City of Fayetteville ordinance goes into effect on Monday, May 26, 2025. This ordinance makes it unlawful to block or impede public sidewalks, streets, or building entrances/exits within city limits.

Why This Matters

Sidewalks and streets are vital for safe travel—whether you're walking, driving, biking, or using mobility devices. When public passageways are blocked, it creates hazards and limits accessibility for residents, especially children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

Under G.S. 160A-296, the City is responsible for maintaining public ways that are open and free from unnecessary obstructions. This ordinance supports that duty by ensuring sidewalks and streets are safe, passable, and available for all. 

What the Ordinance Prohibits

Effective May 26, it is unlawful to:

• Block sidewalks or streets with objects or by standing in a way that prevents safe passage.
• Impede movement by making sidewalks or roads unreasonably difficult or dangerous to use.
• Obstruct entrances or exits of buildings without permission from the property owner or tenant.

What This Means for You

• Leave sidewalks clear of items like signs, furniture, or merchandise unless you have a permit.
• Do not stand or gather in a way that blocks public passage.
• Make sure entrances to buildings remain accessible.

Law enforcement officers may remove objects blocking sidewalks or passageways when needed. 

Exceptions

This ordinance does not apply to:

• First responders or emergency actions
• Lawful sidewalk activities that do not block or impede access
• Individuals or businesses with a valid city-issued permit 

Penalties

Violations may result in a Class 3 misdemeanor and a fine of up to $50.

Here in the City of Fayetteville, we all share the responsibility to make sure our roads are safe, to include pedestrians, individuals with disabilities, and bicyclists. Having safe places to walk and bike is important for our community to be vibrant. The City of Fayetteville has launched a Pedestrian Safety program which seeks to reduce pedestrian and bicycle accidents by improving community engagement, public education, infrastructure, and visible law enforcement.

Transportation networks must be accessible to and usable by people of all ages and abilities. This includes pedestrians using wheelchairs, pedestrians with vision loss, individuals with cognitive disabilities, and older adults with limited mobility and/or limited vision or hearing.

The City of Fayetteville hired Stantec Consulting Services to develop a comprehensive pedestrian plan to make Fayetteville a more walkable place to live. A goal of City Council is to improve mobility and connectivity by investing in sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes, thereby improving pedestrian safety. The Pedestrian plan provided recommendations and projects to help accomplish this goal.

• Fayetteville-Comprehensive-Pedestrian-Plan-Final_Part-1.pdf(PDF, 11MB)
• Fayetteville-Comprehensive-Pedestrian-Plan-Final_Part-2.pdf(PDF, 17MB)

Pedestrian Safety

• Look for cars in all directions – including those turning left or right – before crossing the street; never assume a driver will stop
• Be careful crossing multiple lanes of traffic. Make sure each lane of traffic is clear before you cross
• Enhance your visibility at night. Walk in well-lit areas, carry a flashlight or wear something reflective, such as stickers or armbands, to be more visible
• Avoid distraction. More and more we see people texting or talking on cell phones when crossing streets; this diminishes the ability of your two key senses – hearing and seeing – that are used to detect and avoid cars. Especially when crossing streets, put down the phone for a few seconds
• Be predictable to drivers and follow the rules of the road; obey signs and signals
• Obey all pedestrian traffic signals
• Watch for cars backing up in parking lots; brake lights can mean that a car is about to back up
• Cross the street where you have the best view of traffic. At bus stops, cross behind the bus or at the nearest crosswalk
• Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from the roadway as you can

Bicyclist Safety

• Wear a helmet. It could save your life
• Use a light and reflex mirrors or reflective clothing when bicycling at night, and be as visible as possible
• Ride in the direction of traffic. Drivers may not be looking for you if you are riding the wrong way
• Obey all signs and signals. This includes stopping at stop signs and red lights
• Use all of your senses – watch and listen for cars, particularly at intersections and driveways
• Avoid distractions such as listening to headphones or answering phones when riding

Fayetteville-Bicycle-Plan-2020.pdf(PDF, 16MB)

Motorist Safety

• Safety is a shared responsibility. Motorists need to be watchful for pedestrians and bicyclists, drive at slower speeds, avoid distraction, and know the laws regarding when pedestrians or bicyclists have the right-of-way
• Be prepared to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
• Give a bicyclist at least four feet of space when passing, or you may completely enter the left lane if conditions are safe to do so
• Never pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians
• Before making a turn, be sure the path is clear of any pedestrians or bicyclists
• Slow down in areas where you are likely to find pedestrians, such as near bus stops, schools, and playgrounds
• Look carefully behind your vehicle for approaching pedestrians before backing up
• Keep an eye out for pedestrians at night that may be walking near or across the road
• Avoid distractions such as food, passengers and using mobile devices. Talking and texting while driving is both dangerous and illegal in many places

Current Intersection Improvements

• Contractor: Sellers and Sons Concrete (Concrete and Brick); Alamance Striping and Equipment (Paint Striping)
• Budget: Varies
• Funding: State Grant Funded
• NTP: April 25, 2023

Locations

Hay St at Hillsboro St/Winslow St

• Budget: $15,000
• Estimated Construction Time: December 2023

Hay St at Ray Ave/Old St

• Budget: $26,000
• Estimated Construction Time: December 2023

Person St at Bow St/Otis F. Jones Pkwy

• Budget: $33,000
• Estimated Construction Time: December 2023