(PHOTO: The City will be adding even more signage to roundabouts as part of their new PXO or “Pedestrian Crossover” program. The signs are up at Huntmar-Rosehill, waiting to be unveiled later this month.)
Ottawa drivers are just too polite for roundabouts.
In most jurisdictions, cars have the right of way over pedestrians at a roundabout. But City of Ottawa studies suggest that 50-70% of vehicles are currently yielding to pedestrians as a courtesy, even though they’re not supposed to.
By the end of this month, the city will soon be lifting the veil at the Huntmar-Rosehill roundabout on what they’re calling “PXOs” or “pedestrian crossovers”. It’s part of a bid to make roundabouts and other road crossings safer for pedestrians. (UPDATE: The roundabout at Fernbank and Shea, as well as Robert Grant Ave. will also be converted to include PXOs.)
“Drivers behind a car that is stopping may not expect this to occur which causes them to have to brake suddenly. Once the appropriate signage and pavement markings are installed at the roundabout crossings, it will be clear to all drivers that if a pedestrian is present, they must stop if it is safe to do so. This should eliminate any uncertainty for drivers behind a vehicle approaching an intersection if they will or will not stop,” wrote Councillor Shad Qadri in a recent email to residents.
“Since pedestrian crossings are very short (about five metres) the delay to motorists when pedestrians are present will be minimal (as we see today when vehicles do stop for pedestrians),” he wrote.
Besides the roundabouts, there are two other locations planned for PXO’s in Stittsville:
- Trailway at Mosshill
- West Ridge at Delamere
Crossings will be identified by signs and pavement markings, and some will even have flashing beacons.
Drivers and cyclists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in the crossover. Once pedestrians have cleared the entire roadway, drivers may proceed. Screw up, and you could be facing a $500 along with three demerit points on your license.
The change comes after changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act came into effect earlier this year. The law was revised to allow municipalities to install pedestrian crossovers on low-speed, low- to medium-volume roads. In Ottawa, 60 crossovers will be installed each year for the next three years starting this summer.
Most PXO’s in the city will be activated between June 13-30. Some, such as the West Ridge at Delemere location, will be activated by the end of August.
For more info, you can visit the City’s PXO page.
We’d like to hear from our readers: What do you think of the plan? Add your comments below or email feedback@stittsvillecentral.ca
https://twitter.com/RyanMcGarry/status/738178509936447488
I can see traffic flow problems at roundabouts which were built to resolve 4 way stop congestion.
— Brad Clarke 🇨🇦 (@BlackRose67) June 2, 2016
I used PXO's to cross St. Laurent, alone, in grade 6 for piano lessons. I welcome their cheap and efficient return. https://t.co/q2PJElPyMh
— Kevin (@kevinodotnet) June 2, 2016
Are you sure Stittsville can handle “WTF”?
The annoying part will be the cars behind you that will get anxious and honk their horn, when you wait for the pedestrian to cross “all the way”.
Looks like there is also one at the roundabout at Fernbank and Shea.
Thanks for the heads up Debi!
That one is showing up on the list of PXOs for Rideau-Goulbourn so we missed it the first tiem.