Pedestrian Crossover 1

 

By: Nick Liard

Barry Downe Road near Woodbine Avenue is the first area of the city to get a new pedestrian crossover, with 19 more intersections coming in the next two weeks.

The crossovers which feature “stop for pedestrian,” signs and lights which will be strictly enforced with fines of 150 to 500 dollars and 3 demerit points for failing to yield.

Traffic and Asset Supervisor with the city, Joe Rocca says municipalities like Sudbury are attempting to change the practice in pedestrian safety.

Rocca says the 20 crossovers cost over 600 thousand dollars.

Ward 12 Councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann says safety comes way before the frustration of a couple extra seconds.

In addition to driver fines, pedestrians can be hit with a 35 dollar fine for not waiting for a car to stop.

Also those on a bicycle must walk their bike across the road.

 

Here is a full list of fines and where these crossovers will be built, from the City’s website.

 

What do Pedestrian Crossovers look like?

There are three new types of pedestrian crossovers in the Province of Ontario.

Type D:

Pedestrian Crossing without flashing lights

A Type D pedestrian crossover will have Stop for Pedestrian signs on both sides of the road, ladder crosswalk markings on the road and yield bars on the road to indicate where vehicles and bicycles must stop.

Pedestrians using these crossovers should point across the road to let motorists know they wish to cross.

Pedestrians must wait for traffic to come to a complete stop before crossing the road. Motorists and cyclists must wait for pedestrians to reach the opposite sidewalk or a raised median island before proceeding.

Type D pedestrian crossovers will be installed in the following locations:

  • Bond Street, east of Murray Street(week of Nov 14)

Close to: Bus Stop serving Routes 7 and 147 & Junction Creek Waterway Park

  • Elgin Street at the Nelson Street Bridge(week of Nov 14)

Close to: Bus Stop serving Routes 101, 102 and 241 & Trail system to Junction Creek Waterway Park, Bell Park and Science North

  • Elgin Street at Shaughnessy Street(week of Nov 14)

Close to: Bus Stop serving Routes 101, 102 and 241 & Elgin Street (CP Rail) Parking

  • Madison Avenue at Sagebrush Place(week of Nov 14)

Close to: Twin Forks Playground & Junction Creek Waterway Park

Type D pedestrian crossovers will also be installed in the right turn lanes of the following intersections:

  • Lasalle Boulevard at Barry Downe Road

Close to: New Sudbury Centre

  • Lasalle Boulevard at Notre Dame Avenue

Close to: Sudbury Tax Services Office

  • Paris Street at Brady Street

Close to: Tom Davies Square

  • Paris Street at Elm Street

Close to: Rainbow Centre

  • Regent Street at Paris Street/Long Lake Road

Close to: Southridge Mall

  • Regent Street at Walford Road/Martindale Road

Close to: Lockerby Composite School

Type C:

Pedestrian Crossover with Flashing Lights

A Type C pedestrian crossover will have flashing amber lights, Stop for Pedestrian signs on both sides of the road, ladder crosswalk markings on the road and yield bars on the road to indicate where vehicles and bicycles must stop.

Pedestrians using these crossovers must press the pedestrian push button to turn on the flashing amber lights and point across the road to let motorists know they wish to cross.

Pedestrians must wait for traffic to come to a complete stop before crossing the road. Motorists and cyclists must wait for pedestrians to reach the opposite sidewalk or a raised median island before proceeding.

Type C pedestrian crossovers will be installed in the following locations:

  • Brady Street at Shaughnessy Street(week of Nov 28)

Close to: Tom Davies Square & Sudbury Theatre Centre

  • Elm Street at the entrance to the Transit Centre and Rainbow Centre(week of Nov 28)

Close to: Rainbow Centre & Downtown Transit Terminal

  • Kathleen Street at Burton Avenue(week of Nov 28)

Close to: Bus Stop serving Routes 17 and 147 & Frood Hotel

  • Riverside Drive at Cross Street(week of Nov 28)

Close to: Bus Stop serving Routes 501 and 502 & Junction Creek Waterway Park

Type B:

Pedestrian Crossover with Overhead Signs

A Type B pedestrian crossover will have flashing amber lights, Stop for Pedestrian signs on both sides of the road and above the road, ladder crosswalk markings on the road and yield bars on the road to indicate where vehicles and bicycles must stop.

Pedestrians using these crossovers must press the pedestrian push button to turn on the flashing amber lights and point across the road to let motorists know they wish to cross.

Pedestrians must wait for traffic to come to a complete stop before crossing the road. Motorists and cyclists must wait for pedestrians to reach the opposite sidewalk or a raised median island before proceeding.

Type B pedestrian crossovers will be installed in the following locations:

  • Barry Downe Road at Woodbine Avenue(week of Nov 14)

Close to: Bus Stop serving Routes 300, 302, 401, 402 & Cambrian College

  • Municipal Road 24 south of Jacobson Drive in Lively(week of Nov 14)

Close to: Meadowbrook Retirement Village & 20 Hill Road

What are the rules of a pedestrian crossover?

All traffic, including bicycles, must yield to pedestrians. Traffic must remain stopped until pedestrians have stepped onto the sidewalk on the opposite side of the road or onto a raised median island on divided roads.

Pedestrians must:

  • Push a button to turn on flashing lights where available
  • Point across the road to let motorists know they wish to cross
  • Give motorists and cyclists enough time to stop, paying special attention when roads are wet, icy or snow covered
  • Try to make eye contact with motorists
  • Cross only when traffic has come to a complete stop and it is safe to do so

Cyclists can be fined $85 for failing to dismount and walk their bicycle when using a pedestrian crossover.

Pedestrians can be fined $35 for moving into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the motorist to stop safely.

Motorists and cyclists must:

  • Watch for pedestrians who would like to cross the road
  • Come to a complete stop at the yield bar
  • Remain stopped until pedestrians reach the opposite sidewalk or raised median island
  • Proceed with caution, watching for other pedestrians, when the way is clear
  • Avoid passing other vehicles within 30 metres of a pedestrian crossover

Drivers and cyclists can be fined from $150 to $500 and 3 demerit points for failing to yield to pedestrians at pedestrian crossovers.