No Pedestrian Crossing Confusion

Question: I am confused by this sign on Pandora Avenue in Victoria that seems to indicate no pedestrian crossing to vehicle traffic yet there is nothing to tell the pedestrian not to cross the street here. There is even a wheelchair ramp encouraging pedestrians to cross. I suspect that there are more examples of this in the area. Can you explain what that sign means?

No Pedestrian Crossing Sign

Here is an image of the crossing that this person is speaking of. It was captured by Google Maps in 2018 and shows the no pedestrian crossing sign next to the let down in the bus stop island.

Sign Standards

Here is what the MOTT's Manual of Standard Traffic Signs and Pavement Markings has to say about the sign:

SP- 9 NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

The SP-9 NO PEDESTRIAN CROSSING sign informs pedestrians that crossing the roadway at the signed location is prohibited.

This sign should be used at locations where pedestrians are known to cross a roadway at a point deemed unsafe or improper.

The SP-9 should be installed to face the sidewalk, with the bottom of the sign 1.0 m above the pavement. This sign should be positioned so as to be highly visible to pedestrians who may be tempted to cross where it is unsafe to do so.

It does not appear that this sign is placed according to the guidelines.

The Situation Today

The Google Maps view of this location today shows that the no pedestrian crossing sign has been removed.

Construction standards for the island require a wheelchair pad for bus users with mobility challenges. It may be seen as encouraging pedestrians to continue across Pandora but there is no crosswalk there and pedestrians would have to yield to traffic.

"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;

Learn More

• BC Transit Infrastructure Design Guidelines

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