Bicycles & Lane Use Sign

Question: Eastbound on Point Grey Road at Alma Street in Vancouver there are two bike lanes on the north side of the street that are allowed to cross Alma Street without stopping. On the diverter is a lane use sign for eastbound traffic, "no straight ahead except for bicycles".

Cars eastbound on Point Grey must turn either right or left, and there is a curb/diverter on the far side to prevent them going straight through. Cars northbound on Alma face a stop sign, and one option is to turn right through the diverter.

My question is, can a cyclist, eastbound on Point Grey Road but not in the bike lanes, go straight across the intersection by going around the diverter on the right?

Bicycle Lane Use Bylaws

My first stop was the City of Vancouver's Street & Traffic Bylaw. It does not require that a cyclist ride in a bicycle lane when one is provided. This means that it is OK to cycle eastbound on Point Grey Road next to the south curb.

The bylaw does not define what a bicycle or cycle is.

Lane Use Sign or Pavement Marking

A lane use sign or pavement marking apply to bicycle riders the same way that they do to the drivers of motor vehicles. There are no signs that would require eastbound traffic on Point Grey Road that are not in the bicycle lanes to turn in a specific manner at the intersection.

The restriction is only that all traffic except for bicycles must not drive straight through.

The Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) defines a bicycle as:

(a) a device on which a person may ride that meets all of the following criteria:

(i) the device has wheels and is only capable of being propelled by human power;

(ii) the device is not, and is not similar to, a wheelchair, a stroller, a skateboard, a kick scooter, roller skates, in-line roller skates, skis or a sleigh;

(iii) the device is not a designated personal mobility device;

(b) a motor assisted cycle;

Strictly interpreted, this creates a bit of confusion. The intent is that motor vehicle traffic must not go straight through and that authorized cycle lane users can. Given that the bylaw does not define a cycle and the MVA does, that could limit straight through traffic to bicycles and exclude other permitted mobility devices.

The rules need to catch up to the reality.

Conclusion

If you are riding a bicycle eastbound on Point Grey Road next to the south curb, the lane use sign says that you may travel straight through crossing Alma Street.

Share This Article