What is a Crosswalk? The Answer Might Surprise You

Most people think that a crosswalk is only that area on a street marked with parallel white lines.  Unfortunately, most people are incorrect.  The B.C. Motor Vehicle Act defines a crosswalk as:

“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;

B.C. law clearly states that a crosswalk includes an unmarked area if it is at an intersection and within imaginary lines drawn from opposite sides of the highway (road), or within imaginary lines on one side of the highway (such as across the base of a “T” at a T-intersection).  An intersection is defined in the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act as:

 “intersection” means the area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of the 2 highways that join one another at or approximately at right angles, or the area within which vehicles travelling on different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict;

This means that a crosswalk exists whether the intersection is controlled by a stop sign or a stop light, and whether or not there are distinct pedestrian markings.

At LaW, we care about pedestrian rights and fight to make sure your rights are protected.  For a free consultation, call 250-888-0002.