Pedestrian Infrastructure

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The City is working to make Kingston's active transportation network more connected by continuing to invest in walkability, cycling and access to transit.

Pedestrian Crossings

Controlled pedestrian crossings are locations where motorists and cyclists are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians. They involve a combination of signage, pavement markings, and in some cases, signals or flashing beacons. 


Pedestrian Crossovers

Pedestrian crossovers, also known as PXOs, are marked crosswalks where vehicles must yield to pedestrians crossing the road. They are identified by specific signs and pavement markings.

Learn how pedestrian crossovers work by watching this short video.

Pedestrian crossovers rules

Pedestrians:

  • cross only when traffic has come to a complete stop;
  • make eye contact with the driver;
  • indicate you want to cross before entering the crosswalk;
  • if the crosswalk has a flashing beacon, press the button to activate the amber flasher.

Motorists:

  • watch for pedestrians at the new crosswalks and be prepared to stop
  • only proceed through the crosswalk after pedestrians have cleared the entire roadway
  • it is illegal to pass any other vehicle within 30 metres of the crosswalk

Cyclists:

  • only proceed through the crosswalk after pedestrians have cleared the entire roadway
  • it is illegal to pass any other vehicle within 30 metres of the crosswalk
  • cyclists using the crosswalk must dismount and walk the bike across the road

Pedestrian crossover - Type B

The Pedestrian crossover (PXO) Type B includes overhead and side-mounted signs, pavement markings, and a rapid rectangular flashing beacon (RRFB) and push buttons that can be activated by pedestrians. Examples of this type of PXO in Kingston include the crosswalk on Rideau Street in front of Rideaucrest Home and at King Street in front of Kingston General Hospital.

Pedestrian crossover Type D


Pedestrian crossover - Type C

The PXO Type C includes side-mounted signs, pavement markings, and a rapid rectangular flashing beacon (RRFB) and push buttons that can be activated by pedestrians. 

Pedestrian crossover Type C


Pedestrian crossover - Type D

The PXO Type D includes side-mounted signs and pavement markings, including a ladder crosswalk and a 'yield to pedestrians' marking for motorists. 

Pedestrian crossover Type D


Signalized Pedestrian Crossings

Intersection Pedestrian Signals

An intersection pedestrian signal (IPS), also known as a "half signal", provides a legal crossing for pedestrians across a major roadway. An IPS consists of traffic signal heads for vehicles on the major street only along with signalized pedestrian fixtures and crosswalks. Vehicles approaching the intersection from the side street are controlled by a stop sign. These signals have been installed at a number of locations in Kingston including on King Street at the Tett Centre, King Street at Beverly Street and on Bath Road in front of Frontenac Secondary School.

 

How do signalized pedestrian crossings work?

Pedestrians:

  • Push the button near the crossing to activate the pedestrian signal
  • Wait for the walk signal before proceeding
  • Pay extra close attention to vehicles that may be turning from side streets

Motorists and Cyclists:

  • Motorists and cyclists must yield to pedestrians crossing the main or side street before proceeding
  • Side streets are controlled by stop signs – only proceed if it’s safe to do so
  • Motorists and cyclists on the main road must follow the traffic signals

Pedestrians must push a button to activate the walk indicator, which is followed by the flashing hand display. Vehicles on the major roadway must obey the IPS signal and vehicles on the side street must obey the stop sign. After coming to a complete stop, motorists may turn onto the major roadway when it is clear and safe to do so. Vehicles must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the main or side streets and to vehicles travelling along the major street.

Intersection pedestrian signals

Mid-block pedestrian signal

A mid-block pedestrian signal (MPS) consists of traffic signal heads for vehicles on the major street along with signalized pedestrian fixtures and crosswalks. Since MPS are installed between intersections, there is no side street traffic. As with an IPS, pedestrians must push a button to activate the walk indication and vehicles on the roadway are subject to the same regulations as at any full traffic signal. 


Pedestrian Facilities 

Sidewalks

Sidewalks are paved paths (concrete or asphalt), generally installed adjacent to roadways, that allow pedestrians to walk in a dedicated area. 

Off-Road Trail

Off-road trails are separated spaces typically through a natural area or corridor that accommodates pedestrians and cyclists. The surface type can range from natural surface to asphalt depending on the location. Both portions of the Waterfront Trail and the K&P Trail are examples of off-road trails.

Off road trail
Off Road trail overhead view

 

In-Boulevard Trail

In-boulevard trails are a separated space found within the boulevard of the roadway – in place of a sidewalk, which accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists in a shared space. In-boulevard trails can be either uni- or bi-directional. The Bath Road Bikeway is an example of an in-boulevard trail in Kingston.

In boulevard trail
In boulevard trail overhead view

Scramble Crossing

Pedestrian priority crossings give priority to the crossing needs of people on foot (and those using mobility devices). They are often called scramble crossings because of the way they allow pedestrians to scramble across the intersection in any direction on the all-directions walk signal.

The scramble signal at Union and University will operate 24/7 and will stop vehicular traffic in all directions during the scramble phase.

In order to further improve pedestrian safety, vehicles will not be permitted to make a right turn on a red light at any time at this intersection.

Scramble crossing

How to use a scramble crossing

Pedestrians

When the walk signal is displayed in all directions, pedestrians can cross to any corner – even diagonally. This is indicated by the diagonal crosswalk markings and all-directions walk signals at the corners of Union Street and University Avenue.

Pedestrians may still cross in the direction of traffic when vehicles have a green light and motorists making a left turn or right turn must still yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk as usual.

Cyclists

Cyclists must dismount and walk their bicycles if they want to cross on the pedestrian priority/scramble signal. Cyclists who do not dismount their bicycles are legally considered vehicles and must obey vehicular traffic signals, including the right-turn-on-red ban.

Motorists

Motorists are not permitted to proceed in any direction during the scramble crossing – when the all-direction walk signal and all-direction red traffic signals are displayed. Motorists should expect increased delays at the intersection since the red lights will be longer in order to accommodate the pedestrian priority/scramble crossing.

When the green light is displayed, motorists can proceed as usual and travel straight through the intersection or turn left or right when safe to do so.

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