Pedestrians

When a pedestrian is waiting beside a crosswalk, does a driver have to anticipate that the person may step onto the road? What if the pedestrian does not have the right of way, or the crosswalk's flashing lights have not been activated?

A sidewalk may be present, but that does not necessarily mean everyone can use it easily or safely. Uneven pavement, loose gravel, narrow passages, poles, overgrown vegetation and difficult road crossings can make an ordinary walk challenging for someone using a walker, wheelchair, cane or mobility scooter.

I was asked two interesting questions by email: “Is it law or simply a rule in B.C. that pedestrians should walk facing traffic when there are no sidewalks along the roads? What happens when the highway maintenance company leaves no shoulder to walk on?”

Short answer: Yes. Under BC's Motor Vehicle Act, an intersection doesn't need painted lines to legally have a crosswalk. If sidewalks exist on either side of the road at that intersection, an "unmarked crosswalk" exists between them — and a pedestrian crossing there has the same protection as someone crossing at painted lines and a sign.

BC Safe Routes Now is a project of the BC Cycling Coalition that provides a map-based inventory of active transportation plans across British Columbia. It can help you find out what your community has planned for walking and cycling, and where active transportation planning may still be needed.

When you are driving behind a cyclist or another vulnerable road user, giving them enough space is about more than courtesy. British Columbia law now sets minimum distances that drivers must maintain when following and passing vulnerable road users.

Is hitchhiking illegal in British Columbia? The short answer is not everywhere. However, the law is more complicated than simply saying that hitchhiking is either legal or illegal.

A pedestrian who crosses the road illegally in British Columbia may commit an offence under the Motor Vehicle Act, but that does not remove a driver's duty to take reasonable steps to avoid a collision. Drivers must still exercise due care, warn pedestrians of danger when necessary, and yield where required by law.

I received a detailed email recently from a local resident describing a terrifying experience on her morning walk. Before dawn, she was walking southbound beside Willingdon Road in North Saanich. Reaching the intersection where Canora Road diverges to the northeast, she did exactly what any cautious pedestrian would do: she paused, checked for traffic, and utilized a small concrete traffic island as a refuge to cross the single lane of traffic.

Few people leave their homes without paying some attention to how they are dressed. When we choose our clothing to suit our personality, are we thinking about how we will appear to other road users when we are pedestrians after dark? The right choice of clothing for your next walk at night could be critical!