More Changes Set to Affect Drivers in Oakville
Published August 14, 2018 at 3:20 pm
Drivers and cyclists, there are a few more more reasons to pay attention when you’re on the road in Oakville in 2018.
Changes will likely be kicking in this fall or winter.
Drivers and cyclists, there are a few more more reasons to pay attention when you’re on the road in Oakville in 2018.
Changes will likely be kicking in this fall or winter.
More pedestrian crossovers are being installed across town.
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The first four were placed in early 2018.
The remaining crossovers will be introduced in late 2018 at:
- Colonel William Parkway at Stocksbridge Avenue
- Pilgrims Way at Taplow Creek Trail
- Lakeshore Road West at Bronte Athletic Park Walk
- Sixth Line at Elm Road
- Stewart Street at Maurice Drive
- Rebecca Street at Brock Street
It’s part of the town’s pedestrian safety program, approved by council in October 2017. It recommends more than 170 pedestrian crossover locations to be implemented over the next 10 to 15 years.
As of Jan. 1, 2016, all vehicles – and cyclists – must stop and yield the entire width of the road to people at pedestrian crossovers.
Drivers and cyclists can proceed only when pedestrians and school crossing guards have made it to the other side of the road. Keep in mind, new rules don’t apply to pedestrian crosswalks at intersections with stop signs or traffic signals unless there’s a school crossing guard.
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, according to the province.
A pedestrian crossover is a new type of crossing where, unlike crosswalks, motorists and cyclists are required to wait for pedestrians to cross the full width of the road before proceeding.
Also unlike crosswalks, which are located at traffic lights, stop signs, school crossings or other intersection, pedestrian crossovers can be found at any stretch of roadway, usually mid-block. They are marked by ladder-style stripes on the road and signage that says “Stop for Pedestrians”. They sometimes have overhead signage and lights.
Here’s where the first four pedestrian crossovers are located:
- Pine Glen Rd. at Millstone Park.
- North Ridge Trail at Crosstown Trail.
They look like this:
The crossover at Nautical Blvd. at Nautical Park resembles this:
The fourth installation at Central Park Dr. at Gatwick Dr. looks like this:
The town’s first pedestrian crossover was implemented in January 2017 at Navy and Church streets.
Locations and the priority of installation are determined using a list of criteria, according to the town, such as safety, public demand, and connectivity to schools, seniors’ facilities, transit stops, and parks and trails.
Rules for using and approaching crossovers, along with the town’s Pedestrian Safety report, can be viewed here.
Renderings courtesy of the Ministry of Transportation