Learning the rules of the road Some vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians are still trying to figure out crossovers
Hamilton has at least two new pedestrian crossovers on the Mountain that not everyone seems to know how to use yet.
Most cars driving on Limeridge Road East on Saturday afternoon cautiously continued through the crossover near Mountain Brow Boulevard if a pedestrian was not standing there, which is what they are supposed to do.
But others peered around, appearing to be trying to see the signs above the street markings. Some came to a full stop when no one was there.
A woman on a bicycle got off and walked the bike across the road correctly, while an e-bike rider going in the opposite direction on the Escarpment Rail Trail zipped across the street without dismounting.
Mary Pacenza, who was walking her boxer dog on the trail, said she thinks the crossover is a great idea and hopes it works.
She lives a couple blocks away and passes that spot on her way to work.
Before the crossover was installed, it was difficult for bikers and pedestrians to cross the road, which is often busy, she said.
“Some people still aren’t used to it,” Pacenza said.
Pedestrian crossovers differ from painted crosswalks or controlled intersections because motorists must stop and wait until all pedestrians have left the roadway, under provincial legislation that came into force in January.
Fines range from $150 to $500 and up to three demerit points for not following the new rules.
Crossovers feature special street markings and more visible signage, and some have flashing beacons.
In total, the city is expected to install 35 pedestrian crossovers by the end of 2017.
It was a similar situation at another new crossover location, at Concession and East 27th streets, across from Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre, on Saturday.
Most vehicles cautiously drove through if a pedestrian was not waiting, but a handful did stop unnecessarily.
At one point, two women waited to cross the road, and three cars drove through before one finally stopped to let them go.
Bev Plows said she was a little leery crossing at the pedestrian crossover as she and John Paige headed into Juravinski to visit a patient.
“You go first,” she said she told Paige with a laugh.
On her way back, she said cars stopped for them both on their way in and out of the hospital.
As a driver, Plows said she would know to stop for pedestrians, pointing to the signs overhead reading exactly that.
“I think it’s just a learning experience,” Paige said. “Hopefully you don’t learn the hard way.”