Basic Information about walking in and around Victoria
Victoria is a city that’s perfect for walking!
We take walking quite seriously, too! Because of that you should be aware that pedestrians have the right-of-way on most roads.
Ped X-ing
There are two kinds of crosswalks found in Victoria: controlled and un-controlled. Controlled crosswalks are activated by the pedestrian and will either be identified by a flashing yellow light above a painted crosswalk, or by a flashing green traffic signal that turns to solid green, then amber and then red. The flashing yellow signals are usually occur in the middle of roads while the pedestrian-controlled traffic signals will occur at intersections.
Uncontrolled crosswalks are just that … simply a series of white parallel lines going across the road
Crosswalk markings
where a pedestrian can simply walk across. Most pedestrians are good … they will make eye contact with you and be sure you’re stopping before they step out onto the road. Unfortunately, some pedestrians (either distracted or oblivious) will just step out in front of you and expect you to stop.
Some areas in Victoria are notorious for pedestrians ‘darting’ out into on-coming traffic … Oak Bay being one of them. You need to keep a constant lookout at all times and be prepared to stop at a moment’s notice! It makes for some very ‘interesting’ driving!
Button for crosswalk
As well, each major intersection in Victoria has buttons you can push on the lampost to trigger the ‘walk’ signal. In the downtown core you’ll also hear ‘sounds’ to help visually impaired folks to know when they can walk. These signals will have a white ‘walk’ icon and then will change to a red ‘don’t walk’ icon and will often count down so you know when the signal will change from a green light to a red light.
For a post the is supposed to be “helpful” to pedestrians in Victoria, it would appear you are really trying to help the drivers. In particular you are pedestrian blaming when you talk about people in Oak Bay, darting out in front of cars.
Thank you for your comment. In actuality I am trying to be helpful to both pedestrians AND drivers … who both share the road on occasion. There needs to be responsibility on both sides … drivers to be aware of crosswalks … and pedestrians to be aware that cars cannot always see them at the last minute. Oak Bay is especially difficult where there are crosswalks at almost every intersection and drivers are almost overwhelmed by trying to look at so many different places between cars, bikes, pedestrians etc. A newcomer to Victoria may find this helpful and take more care either walking or driving. Cheers! linda
I want to understand the following frustrating issue with crosswalk lights in the Mayfair Shopping Centre area. Several times a week I walk along Finlayson &/or Tolmie, to & from Jackson Street. I am therefore always walking east to west. Yet when I press the East/West crosswalk light, the north/south activates first, even tho not one pedestrian is there or anywhere near to have pressed that button. I have to stand there & WAIT until my light finally activates.
Hi Barbara, I agree, it does sound confusing. I suggest you contact the city of Victoria to voice your concern. I don’t know the exact department you’d need to contact but here’s at least a starting point: https://www.victoria.ca/#
Cheers!
linda