Q&A - Crossing the Freeway on Foot

The fact that the Inland Island Highway is a freeway is what complicates matters for pedestrians.

Schedule 1 — Highways

(8) The Inland Island Highway 19 — from Craig's Crossing south of Parksville to its intersection with Highway 19A at Willow/Tamarac in Campbell River.

Pedestrians are only allowed on the freeway when they are crossing at an intersection or they are attending to a broken down vehicle.

Schedule 1 highways restrictions

19.07 (1)  Except as authorized by a permit issued by the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and except for crossing a highway at an intersection, use of any highway named in Schedule 1 by the following is prohibited at all times:

(a) vehicles drawn by animals;

(b) livestock, as defined in the Livestock Act;

(c) farm implements and farm machinery, whether self-propelled or towed;

(d) pedestrians, unless attending a disabled vehicle;

(e) vehicles incapable of maintaining a minimum speed of 60 km/h on level road, except construction or maintenance equipment owned or hired by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure while working on or travelling to or from a worksite located on a highway named in Schedule 1.

(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply to pedestrians and to operators of pedal cycles and limited speed motorcycles using footpaths constructed adjacent to the travel portion of the highway or the shoulder on the travel portion of the highway where the minister causes signs to be erected designating the footpath or shoulder for such permitted use.

Long story short, unless you are crossing at an intersection, pedestrians are prohibited from walking on this highway.