Pilot Project: Pedestrian Courtesy Crossing
In response to a number of concerns from the residents of your community regarding pedestrian safety, the City has installed Courtesy Crossings on Rideau Street in front of the Rideaucrest Seniors Residence and Rideaucrest Towers and on King Street at Kingston General Hospital.
The Courtesy Crossing Project encourages motorists to be courteous and stop for pedestrians at this designated crossing. It is important to note that motorists are not required to stop for pedestrians at a Courtesy Crossing.
The
Courtesy Crossing locations have oversized florescent signs that read Courtesy
Crossing and have a large black X to indicate a crossing. Existing crossing lines on the
pavement are also enhanced to draw attention to the crossing.
- Motorists and cyclists traveling in both directions will continue to have the legal right-of-way but are encouraged to be courteous by stopping for pedestrians who are crossing at the designated Courtesy Crossing.
- PEDESTRIANS DO NOT have the right-of-way and motorists are NOT required to stop. Pedestrians should always assume they are invisible and use reasonable caution by waiting for a sufficient gap in traffic before entering the Courtesy Crossing.
Many municipalities in Ontario are struggling with pedestrian crossing safety concerns. According to the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario, pedestrians in the Province of Ontario do not have the right-of-way over vehicles at non-vehicular controlled locations. Motorists are only required to yield to pedestrians where any of the following forms of traffic control are present: traffic signal, intersection pedestrian signal (IPS), pedestrian cross-over (PXO), school crossing guard or a stop sign. As the laws within the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario take precedence over any local bylaws, the City is unable to develop a local by-law at this time that provides pedestrians with the right-of-way at locations with no vehicular traffic control.
Here is an update on work underway to make municipalities within the Province more pedestrian-friendly:
The City has been a part of the Ontario Traffic Council (OTC), "Book 15 Committee", a group of municipal and Ministry of Transportation (MTO) representatives that have developed new guidelines for the installation of pedestrian crossings and have proposed a new signed and marked pedestrian crossing to MTO. The proposed pedestrian crossing consists of white "ladder type" pavement markings and black and white "regulatory type" pedestrian signs. In order for motorists to be required by law to stop for pedestrians at these crossings, legislative and regulatory changes to the existing Highway Traffic Act of Ontario are required. It is important to note that pedestrians do not have the right-of-way over vehicles while in any of the City's Courtesy Crossings. So that pedestrians do not gain a false sense of security, signs have been posted at these crossings that state, "Caution Vehicles Not Required to Stop".
There is executive support within the Ministry to proceed with a pilot project program to test the new pedestrian crossings within municipalities across the Province. The City has indicated that we are interested in being considered within this pilot program, but will move forward with the installation of the new approved crosswalk only with the support of Council. Once the list of interested municipalities has been confirmed, the Ontario Traffic Council (OTC) will be working to secure approval from the Ministry for all pilot locations. The estimated earliest date for the approval required for the pilot project is the fall of 2011.
In the meantime, the OTC is continuing to follow up with the Ministry to ensure that the changes in Book 15 are being reviewed and are continuing to press for the legislative and regulatory changes required to install marked and signed crosswalks on a permanent basis. If the changes are approved, new crosswalk locations will be considered and the signs at all existing Courtesy Crossings in the City will be changed to meet the new regulatory requirements.
If you have any questions or comment regarding pedestrian crossings, please contact the City at 546-0000.
Remember ... Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians should be aware of and show respect for the safety needs of everyone who uses the roadway.
Safety is everyone's responsibility!
