Let me get this right - a Hoverboard at 15 miles an hour on a sidewalk. I hope this is in Sacramento only. Maybe it will help reduce the population of mindless legislators.
But wait a minute - 35 mph - I guess on roadways. But why make them wear helmets. If someone is doing 35 on a Hoverbaord they clearly have nothing to protect

The article is terribly written. Hoverboards are allowed in bike lanes on streets with 35mph or slower speed limits. The speed limit for hoverboards is 15mph, even when the street speed limit is 35mph.

I wish there were a law that required pedestrians to wear some reflective clothing or carry a flashlight if they are going to stride out into a cross-walk when it is dark; especially those pedestrians who step off the curb with their heads down, focussed on their Smartphones.

Pedestrians (and I am one) also need to be responsible for their own safety. Wear clothing that makes you visible at night, put away your smartphone, and be aware of your surroundings.

I was recently almost hit by a car when crossing the street in a crosswalk with a pedestrian light. I was wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and was half way across the lane when the car started to run the red light and make a right turn without stopping. If a white shirt isn't bright enough, then nothing is. The problem is that these red-light-runners don't look to the right before turning right, so no matter what you are wearing, they aren't looking in your direction and won't see you. Fortunately, I was quick enough to guess his direction and run in a different direction, but a less agile person would not have been so lucky.

@concerned

While it is important for Pedestrians to be alert and mindful when crossing the street, they have the right of way. Please do not attempt to push responsibility on pedestrians. Drivers need to be attentive, period.

In part -- For drivers to be attentive the fines for distraction should be much higher than they are currently. The present dollar amount isn't enough to dissuade people from using their phones or texting.

MPer:

Sorry, pedestrians don't have the right to just blindly step off the curb and expect everyone to come to an immediate stop. It's not the law and physics don't work that way.

21954. (a) Every pedestrian upon a roadway at any point other than
within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an
intersection shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the
roadway so near as to constitute an immediate hazard.

******
Web Link

"The law states that drivers must always yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian but if the driver can not stop in time to avoid hitting you the law will not prevent you from being hit."

From the DMV: Pedestrian Right-of-way

21950. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

@Menlo Voter
You missed the part of my comment where I state that pedestrians need to be mindful and attentive when crossing. I never said anything about cars needing to stop while peds blindly cross anywhere.
@ Peter thanks for the statues which reinforce my comment that peds have the right of way at crossings.

Please read the statute more carefully:

"No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard."

And while we're talking about pedestrians, people, can you PLEASE make sure your nannies aren't pushing your precious children in their strollers, on the side of the road? Bike lane or no, IT"S DANGEROUS.

The other week I saw an entire family---two toddler age children, Mom and Dad, all walking in the bike lane. The path was all of three feet away. It was getting dark. I don't care how careful motorists are, IT IS NOT SMART TO WALK YOUR FAMILY IN THE BIKE LANE WHEN THE PATH IS RIGHT THERE.

Use the path. Thank you.

@PULLLLEASE

Some of us don't have nannies, so we actually stroll our own kids. We sometimes are forced to walk in the street because their are either no sidewalks or the sidewalks are too narrow.