Where should pedestrians walk when rural roads have no sidewalks or usable shoulders? If a sidewalk is available only on the opposite side of a busy highway, should a pedestrian cross to reach it rather than use the shoulder on their side?
Pedestrians have little physical protection in a collision. ICBC’s five-year provincial average ending December 31, 2025, is 3,152 pedestrian-related incidents a year, involving 2,382 injured victims and 56 deaths.
Where should pedestrians walk?
Section 182 of B.C.’s Motor Vehicle Act says that if a reasonably passable sidewalk exists on either side of a highway, pedestrians must not use the roadway.
The Act defines the roadway as the part of the highway designed or ordinarily used for vehicle traffic, excluding the shoulder. Section 182 does not expressly require pedestrians to cross a busy highway to reach a sidewalk on the opposite side when a shoulder is available on their own side.
When no sidewalk is available, pedestrians must walk on the extreme left side of the roadway or on the shoulder, facing approaching traffic. This lets them see approaching vehicles and react if a driver does not move away.
What if there is no usable shoulder?
A shoulder may be too narrow, blocked by vegetation or debris, or absent altogether. Before setting out, consider a safer route, such as another road, a separated pathway or a route with a sidewalk. A longer route may be preferable to walking beside fast-moving traffic with nowhere to go.
If you must walk close to traffic, keep as far away from moving vehicles as practicable without stepping into an unsafe ditch or onto hazardous ground. Walk single file when space is limited. Be ready to move farther away if a safe place is available. Wear reflective material and use a light in darkness or poor visibility; light-coloured clothing alone does not guarantee drivers will see you in time. Stay alert and avoid distractions.
Conditions can change along a route. A shoulder may disappear around a bend, narrow at a bridge or become obstructed by snow, vegetation or debris. Plan for these changes. If there is no safe place to walk, consider another way to reach your destination.
Drivers have responsibilities too
Section 181 of the Motor Vehicle Act requires drivers to exercise due care to avoid colliding with pedestrians on the highway. Drivers should expect people walking where sidewalks and pathways are missing, reduce speed when necessary and leave as much room as practicable when passing.
A pedestrian beside a ditch, barrier or guardrail may have nowhere to move. Drivers should adjust their driving rather than assume the pedestrian can get out of the way. Pedestrians, in turn, should not assume a driver has seen them or will react correctly.
Crossing the road is different
Section 179 sets out when drivers must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, subject to traffic signals. A pedestrian must not step from a curb or other place of safety into the path of a vehicle too close for the driver to yield. Under section 180, a pedestrian crossing a highway somewhere other than a crosswalk must yield to vehicles.
Regardless of who has the legal right of way, never step into the path of a vehicle too close to stop safely. Watch for traffic and keep watching as you cross. At intersections, be alert for vehicles turning left or right; drivers may be concentrating on traffic gaps rather than looking for pedestrians.
Teach safe habits early
When I cross the street with my granddaughters to get the mail, we stop at the edge of the pavement and look carefully for traffic. If it is safe, we walk directly to the other side. If a vehicle is approaching, we wait for it to pass. Their mother also teaches them to walk on the left when there is no sidewalk and move aside when a vehicle approaches, if a safe place is available.
Children and adults alike need to recognize hazards and understand that drivers sometimes make mistakes. Walking is good for us, but familiarity should not make us underestimate the risks. Know the rules, plan for hazards and stay alert. When there is no safe place to walk, finding another way to reach your destination may be the wisest choice.
Canonical URL: https://www.drivesmartbc.ca/pedestrians/thoughts-being-pedestrian
-- Tim Schewe Road Safety Advocate DriveSmartBC.ca
