Given some of the incidents reported on the CCA FB post recently the Ministry of Transportation was contacted re: overtaking cyclists and pedestrians on roadways.

Below is the response from the Ministry of Transportation:

The safety of all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, is of paramount importance to the Ministry of Transportation. All road users are encouraged to share the road.

A one-metre passing rule for cyclists was one of the recommendations made by the Office of the Chief Coroner in its Cycling Death Review: A Review of All Accidental Cycling Deaths in Ontario from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2010, released in 2012. The ministry has also consulted with cycling and road safety stakeholders on Ontario’s Cycling Strategy, and this initiative was raised as a priority for the strategy working group and at an in-person stakeholder consultation.

The ministry is not currently considering a one-metre passing rule for pedestrians. However, as part of the ministry’s commitment to improve road safety and compliance, we regularly review our policies and practices to see if they are in keeping with current research findings and best practices worldwide.

There are no specific rules for overtaking pedestrians. However, all drivers are required by law to drive with due care, attention and reasonable consideration for other persons using the highway, including pedestrians. Failing to do so is an offence and drivers may be charged with careless driving. In addition, subsection 130(6) of the Highway Traffic Act stipulates that courts may use the evidence that a pedestrian was harmed or killed by a careless driver as an aggravating factor for more severe penalties when sentencing.

Please note that pedestrians are required to the obey the rules as described below when walking along the highway:

Duties of pedestrian when walking along highway

179 (1) Where sidewalks are not provided on a highway, a pedestrian walking along the highway shall walk on the left side thereof facing oncoming traffic and, when walking along the roadway, shall walk as close to the left edge thereof as possible. R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 179 (1).

It is also important to understand that road safety is a responsibility that is shared between pedestrians and drivers. The official MTO driver’s handbook provides advice to ensure that all drivers obey the rules and share the road with pedestrians responsibly (https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/sharing-road-other-road-users ).

A meeting is scheduled with the councillor’s office in August 2019 to discuss options for implementing additional traffic calming measures. I will also be requesting additional data from speed boards in our community including the speed board located on Old Almonte, Corkery, and Howie Road.

The traffic calming measures are helping however as mentioned and reported on the CCA community Facebook there are still many vehicles speeding excessively, especially near the community park.

Thanks to everyone who are observing the speed limits and helping to keep our roads safe. Please be courteous to your neighbours, slow down and move over when safe to do so!