Q&A - Do Cyclists Follow the Pedestrian Walk Signals?

I was stopped when riding across Georgia Street on my bike, heading north on Nicola Street, in Vancouver, by a traffic cop who said I had to wait for the pedestrian walk signal.

This intersection has traffic lights on Georgia and stop signs on Nicola.

Question - at an intersection like this, can you cross the traffic-light controlled street by obeying the stop signs (and of course when safe to do so), or do you have to wait for the pedestrian white-man-walking sign?

Cyclists do not follow pedestrian signals. They follow either the usual traffic control signals or specific cycle signals depending on what is installed. Even this could be problematic as the Motor Vehicle Act does not yet speak specifically about cycling signals, nor does the City of Vancouver's Street and Traffic Bylaw 2849.

Rights and duties of operator of cycle

183 (1) In addition to the duties imposed by this section, a person operating a cycle on a highway has the same rights and duties as a driver of a vehicle.

There is an example of a cycle signal on the City of Vancouver's Cycling Road Signs and Markings page.

So, yes, as long as you stop and yield as required for cross traffic on Georgia, you are permitted to cross, regardless of the status of the pedestrian control signal.

In reply to by DriveSmartBC

Well of course, so long as he's on his bicycle then he has to obey the Stop Sign and may then ride across Georgia Street - something like seven or eight traffic lanes wide with constant heavy traffic. Such a dodgy maneuver in fact, that motorists aren't even allowed to try and make it; they're forced to turn right from that Stop Sign for their own safety.

But unless it's in the small hours of the morning with minimal cross traffic, the only sensible choice there may be to get off yer bike, go over to the crosswalk, and push the button.

Frankly, the way the City of Vancouver design their bike lanes and bike routes is a bit lunatic at times. Plus, in many locations where a bike route crosses an arterial street like this (37th at Granville, for instance) there's no expectation that the cyclist will apply normal Stop Sign protocols - they put a push button for the adjacent pedestrian crosswalk comfortably within reach of a mounted cyclist. (Likewise, this intersection doesn't allow motorists to do anything other than turn right, for the same reasons.)

There is a button for the lights on the post for the stop sign so the cyclist doesn't need to get off her bike and go over to the crosswalk to request a red light for Georgia St traffic. It can happen and does sometimes happen (not only in the early morning hours) that there is a break in the Georgia St traffic that allows a cyclist to ride her or his bike across safely wihout pressing the button or waiting for a light after pressing the button. The traffic cop was ignorant. Do you have any information that safety was the the reason for the right-turn-only sign for motor vehicles? Safety might have been a consideration, but I suspect the main reason for the right-turn-only for motor vehicles was the same as the reason for most of the turn restrictions and barriers in the West End i.e. to minimize the number of motor vehicles in the West End seeking to filter through the local streets en-route to the bridge. 

 

Do you have any information that safety was the the reason for the right-turn-only sign for motor vehicles? Safety might have been a consideration, but I suspect the main reason for the right-turn-only for motor vehicles was the same as the reason for most of the turn restrictions and barriers in the West End i.e. to minimize the number of motor vehicles in the West End seeking to filter through the local streets en-route to the bridge. 

Thanks for pointing out the accessible pedestrian button, I'd missed that.  I follow your logic - and you're absolutely right in pointing out that numerous restrictions and barriers etc were installed around the West End just for the general purpose of traffic calming. Incidentally, I think it's worked and very well for the most part - as a neighbourhood, it's much more tranquil and livable there these days although the popiulation density is second only to Manhattan, here in north america. Trying to use the West End as some kind of shortcut just don't work no more (unless you're a cyclist ha ha).

But it's my belief that safety - and traffic flow - were the considerations there when they mandated right turns onto Georgia for regular vehicles. (The 'No Left Turn' sign facing eastbound traffic on Georgia is surely only about traffic flow on this street as it wouldn't be that dangerous of a left turn compared to others on that arterial.)  And of course, it also drains traffic out of the area (albeit maybe not in the direction they wanted to go) whereas traffic backed up from a Stop Sign can choke everything behind when cross-traffic on the main road is intense; again, I would draw an analogy to Granville & 37th.

 

As a cyclist myself, I never follow pedestrian signals. At a stop sign I will stop and proceed if safe. If there is a bike/pedestrian controlled crossing I usually wait as I can be assured once cross traffic is given a redlight i'm 100% clear to cross.

Along the Ontario Bikeway there are many pedestrian controlled intersections where most cyclists will wait for a walk sign, despite being at a stop sign and legally allowed to cross with a do not walk, when safe. This route crosses multiple major roads, Marine Drive, 49th ave, 41st ave, King Edward, 12th ave and E Broadway. If memory serves me correctly only a few of those are light controlled.