Q&A - Parking Too Close to a Crosswalk

Q&A ImageHow do you figure out exactly where to park at an unmarked intersection where the curb provides access to a wheelchair. What is the 'approach side' of such? What is a fail proof that you are in a safe distance? People here are getting ticketed from right to left every day.

The rule is:

When vehicle stopping prohibited

189  (1) Except when necessary to avoid conflict with traffic or to comply with the law or the directions of a peace officer or traffic control device, a person must not stop, stand or park a vehicle as follows:

(f) within 6 m of the approach side of a crosswalk;

"crosswalk" means

(a) a portion of the roadway at an intersection or elsewhere distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by signs or by lines or other markings on the surface, or

(b) the portion of a highway at an intersection that is included within the connection of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on the opposite sides of the highway, or within the extension of the lateral lines of the sidewalk on one side of the highway, measured from the curbs, or in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway;

In this case, we need to look at (b) for the definition of crosswalk. Extend the lines of the sidewalk and stay back from the approach (the first side you come to) side.

It gets tricky when there is no sidewalk built. In a case like that, I would stay back from the property line (fence, hedge), start of the curve of the curb or perhaps 8 m back of the edge of the cross road.