Pedestrian Crossovers

The City of Peterborough’s first Pedestrian Crossover is located on Douro Street at the Rotary Trail. This new pedestrian device makes it easy for pedestrians to cross the road. By law, drivers and cyclists must stop and yield to pedestrians intending to cross the road.

What is a pedestrian crossover?

Pedestrian crossovers are identified by signs, pavement markings and some have pedestrian-activated warning lights. Pedestrian crossovers are road crossings installed on streets with low to medium vehicular traffic and are a new way for pedestrians to easily and safely cross the road. By law, drivers and cyclists must stop and yield to pedestrians intending to cross the road, and wait for them to completely reach the other side before proceeding.

Rules around pedestrian crossovers:

For pedestrians

• Use caution, indicate that you want to cross and ensure drivers see you before you enter the road.
• Cross only when traffic has come to a complete stop and it is safe.
• If there is a push button at the crossing, press it to activate the flashing lights.
• Cyclists must dismount and walk your bike across the road.

Drivers and cyclists riding with traffic:

• Watch for and prepare to stop at pedestrian crossovers at the marked yield bar.
• Wait until the pedestrian has completely crossed the road before proceeding.
• Drive with caution when the road is clear.

Cyclists using the trail:

• Cyclists using the Pedestrian Crossover with “ladder” style stripes must dismount and walk your bike across the road.
• Cyclists who do not wish to dismount their bike may use the Cross-Ride adjacent to the Pedestrian Crossover.
• Use caution, indicate that you want to cross and ensure drivers see you before you enter the road.
• Cross only when traffic has come to a complete stop and it is safe.

New traffic law at pedestrian crossovers:

Effective January 1, 2016, drivers and cyclists must stop and yield the entire roadway at:

• pedestrian crossovers; and,
• school crossings and all intersections where there is a crossing guard.

Only when pedestrians and school crossing guards are safely on the sidewalk, can drivers and cyclists proceed. Cyclists must follow the same rules as drivers and may face the same fines as drivers.

This new law, part of Making Ontario’s Roads Safer Act, is intended to make roads safer for school children, pedestrians and school crossing guards. Pedestrians, school children and school crossing guards are among the most vulnerable road users. The new law responds to recommendations related to pedestrian safety in the Chief Coroner’s Report on Pedestrian Deaths released in 2012 and also to numerous requests from municipalities and safety organizations.

What are the penalties?

Under the Highway Traffic Act, drivers and cyclists failing to obey this new law could result in a fine in the range of $150-$500 and the loss of 3 demerit points.

Cyclists could be fined $85 for failing to dismount and walk their bicycle when crossing within the marked pedestrian crossover. Cyclists on the trail should use the “cross-ride” painted crossing beside the pedestrian crossover.

Pedestrians could be fined $35 for leaving the curb or other place of safety at a pedestrian crossover and walking, running or moving into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impracticable for the driver of the vehicle to stop safely.

For more information on this and other new traffic laws within the province of Ontario please visit the Ontario Ministry of Transportation website.