Pedestrians

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!

Question: My father wants to know about the rules for mobility scooters in B.C. The one that he is considering is completely covered so he can drive it in Comox and Courtenay all winter long.

Our driving centred culture and the recent decision to end the spring and fall time change have raised an important issue. It's going to be dark while children walk to school and the province and municipalities have failed to create safe pedestrian infrastructure to protect them. Forming a Walking School Bus group may be a quickly implemented short term answer until complete street upgrades are made.

Question: As a pedestrian in Vancouver I am feeling increasingly at risk says a visitor to this web site. Drivers want to maneuver behind pedestrians as soon as they can. What is the law about proceeding when the pedestrian is still on the street?

This case examines the duty of care that drivers and pedestrians have when the pedestrian is crossing the street outside of a crosswalk. Even when one has the right of way, there is still a requirement to keep a proper lookout and take reasonable precautions in response to apparent potential hazards.