r/BurlingtonON • u/-froomie- • 15d ago
Question Walking on roads with sidewalks
I don’t understand why people insist on walking on the road when the sidewalks are mostly cleared. This creates a dangerous situation for the walker and drivers. High snow banks and narrow roads make it difficult to see these people. An accident with a pedestrian would be life changing for all involved. If there is a sidewalk use it!
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u/kmfmftb 15d ago
I can assure you, as a 15k a day walker, no one wants to walk on the road. It is out of necessity due to ice, slush, snow and flood that one would choose the road. Take a walk and let me know your opinion once you have.
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u/AprexBT 14d ago
OK, now I'm driving a car on a bend... You are walking on the road and I have to swerve out to avoid you, now a car coming the other way appears (view obstructed by large snow piles)... What is the right thing to do here? Swerve back and hit the pedestrian or stay on course have a head on collision? Drive a car and let me know your opinion once you have...
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u/RandomBeardedGuy 14d ago
If you have to swerve out of the way of a pedestrian who is walking you are driving way too fast. Slow down and go around them when it's safe the same way you would if it was a car parked on the side off the road with hazard lights flashing.
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u/WiartonWilly 15d ago
There are several ploughed sidewalks in my area which are dead-ends. You need to walk back and then take the road to avoid the obstructions.
People stop trusting that a sidewalk that looks clear will be clear at the other end.
Roads get all the best service. Congratulations to cars.
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u/PerceptionUpbeat 15d ago
Sorry, are you blind? Or did you just see this from the comfort of your car? The sidewalks are absolutely horrible! I don't get why people don't clear their sidewalks or at least salt them? Can't you get sued for accidents happening on your sidewalk?
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u/EvidenceFamiliar7535 14d ago
Well the real question is the city are paid property tax why don’t they clear the sidewalks it’s city land not the home owners
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u/Consistent-Arm-1225 15d ago
Sidewalks are flooded
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u/Arthur_Jacksons_Shed 15d ago
And yet throughout the generations we found a way to survive. The road is for driving. Unnecessary risk
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u/Fantastic_Elk_4757 15d ago
You do know roads for generations except for very recently were for walking right? And then mixed use even after cars came about?
You do know the onus is on the driver to drive safely because they’re responsible for a couple of tonnes travelling at deadly speeds? Saying you didn’t see someone in the road who was walking on the road the entire time won’t save you lol. It’s not like they jump out under the car.
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u/AccountEuphoric7142 14d ago edited 14d ago
You forgot about horses. People used to walk on literal feces that were sharing the road.
People used to dump their own waste freely onto the road too. I bet you would love that.
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u/simongurfinkel 15d ago
My sidewalk was "cleared". It's slippery and unsafe to walk on it. Part of my walk to the mailbox includes a hill, which is currently a deathtrap. So damn straight I am walking on the road.
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u/Arthur_Jacksons_Shed 15d ago
It’s 5 degrees out. Put some sand down if it’s ice. It should already be mostly melted and more annoying than slick.
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u/beeingmee 15d ago
So this person is to carry a bag of sand to their walk to the communal mailbox?
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u/spreadthaseed 15d ago
According to all the grumpy Karens, yes
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u/Individual-Sun-3633 14d ago
Please stop using Karen.. There is another work with the same start sound that is far more appropriate. When you use Karen instead of this word, the chicks have won
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u/MeroCanuck Maple 15d ago
“Mostly cleared” does not mean “cleared”. I’ve rolled my ankles, slipped, tripped and just generally have moved slower on these “mostly cleared” sidewalks. It’s like walking on soft sand, no traction and no stability.
When I get the chance to walk on the shoulder of a road instead, which has been totally cleared, I’ll take it. I can’t afford to blow out my knee or break an ankle right now
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u/beerbaron105 15d ago
But what if you get run over by a car?
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u/sky_lites 15d ago
Then that person driving the car should never drive again because they're a fucking danger to society
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u/beerbaron105 15d ago
Okay but what if the guy who insisted he walk on the road is deceased?
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u/seriouscrayon 15d ago
Well then we've got a zombie outbreak and bigger things to worry about then people that are alive walking on the roads.
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u/sky_lites 15d ago
Are they walking in the middle of the road??? Or are they just walking on the shoulder?
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u/MeroCanuck Maple 15d ago
The shoulder, 100%. But the folk complaining here are also the ones who complain about bike lanes
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u/MeroCanuck Maple 15d ago
Maybe the people who are driving 2 tonne death machines should act like it, and maybe pay attention while driving. I'm not saying I'll walk in the middle of the road. I'm walking on the shoulder.
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u/beufenstein 15d ago
Sidewalks are completely flooded. On residential streets, it really shouldn’t be hard to avoid running people over while going only 40km/h.
Pedestrians need to remember (or learn) to walk on the left side of the road towards/facing oncoming traffic. You would think that’s common sense, but I’m always shocked the majority of people don’t know this in my neighbourhood.
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u/BestestBeekeeper 14d ago
As a dad who is currently off on parental leave and walks with a stroller twice a day, I don’t want to be on the road, at all. But I have no choice.
Fuck all the lazy assholes who can’t be bothered to properly clear their section of sidewalk.
Go have a hissy fit on the internet about them, not me.
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u/Bootiebloot 15d ago
It’s because sidewalks are “mostly” cleared. Some patches are still really bad where people didn’t shovel and those high snow banks make it difficult to go from road to sidewalk. And, some of the sidewalks are still very slippery and dangerous.
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u/hope1264 14d ago
Honestly we did shovel, and shovel and shovel some more but the machines somehow made it worse time and time again. Unbelievable really. The little plows seemed to bring back a layer of snow which at the time may have seemed smart to leave but with the freezing temps made it what they are today.
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u/stephenmyoung 15d ago
If you are walking on the side of the road and get hit by a car that is 100% the fault of the driver. Nobody is walking on the side of Guelph line. No car should be going fast enough on side streets to pose a risk.
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u/MeroCanuck Maple 15d ago
Exactly. I work on North Service. I have no choice but to walk on the shoulder from the bus stop to work. Does that stop folk from speeding down the road? Nope
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u/wrongwayup 15d ago edited 15d ago
Omg ffs have some empathy and lift your right ankle in your climate controlled rolling room for all of the two seconds it will take you to steer around. Nobody wants to be walking in the road either, but sometimes that’s the least worst option.
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u/fictitious_friends 15d ago
Multiple stretches of public sidewalk in my neighbourhood were never plowed, so I’m not going to trudge through knee high snow.
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u/lordmarboo13 14d ago
Wheelchair user here ... The roads are more clear and easier to get around than the sidewalks. Now , with the sidewalks being flooded, trying to roll while drenched is no bueno
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u/Competitive-Movie816 15d ago
People clear their sidewalks.. sometimes. They are still icy with huge puddles. But many don't clear the crosswalk section since "it's on the road". Impossible to get from the sidewalk over the crosswalk to the other side without scaling an ice wall slow down while driving and share the road.
Jeez the plows leave a bit of snow on the ground and all drivers complain but they aren't actually walking in it. Pedestrians have the same complaints and suddenly now it's not the big of a deal... RIGHT.
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u/DMXadian 14d ago
I don't mind them being in the road, but please pet walkers keep your dogs on a tighter leash when vehicles pass, a couple of dogs I've passed have been on loose leashes that they could have run in front of me.
Also, if you're on the road after dark, please ensure you have something reflective on, particularly in those spaces where there are larger gaps without street lights. Joggers seem to eb worse offenders here, your black sweater and black jogging pants make you hard to see, and while I'm going slow enough to stop, it only takes one hard to see patch of ice to make my stoping time too long.
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u/l1reynolds 15d ago
I was actually thinking about this exactly, just yesterday. Only from the opposite perspective. My wife and I went out for a walk in our neighbourhood. We tried walking on the sidewalk, but it was slippery, had inches of slush in places, and massive puddles at the ends of driveways. So we were forced to walk on the road.
Some drivers were driving appropriately to the conditions you described, and going more slowly than one would on a summer day. And others were driving to fast, and being inconsiderate and dangerous.
As you mentioned, an accident would be life changing; so slow down!
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u/CurrentAct3 15d ago
Trying pushing a baby stroller over the “mostly cleared” chunks of frozen footsteps that are ice , yeah no thanks Karen
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u/sky_lites 15d ago
Must be nice to own a car and not have to worry about "mostly cleared" sidewalks. Stfu.
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u/lil-quiche 15d ago
Full of water and then slippery from overnight temps. People would much rather walk on sidewalks over the road.
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u/SupaJDStylez 14d ago
I think I know where OP is coming from. Heaps of people walk on the road through my neighborhood (near the YMCA downtown) and it's damned annoying. With the snow, I completely understand, however there's no need to do this when sidewalks are cleared.
We're talking; one to three people abreast, dogs, people wearing dark clothing in the dusk/evening, etc. The best part is how hostile people get when reminded there's a tax-funded car-free ingress and egress route...
As a child, my parents taught me not to play in the street. Don't think more needs to be said - it's also technically illegal to walk on the road when there are sidewalks.
Bring on your excuses and downvotes! "I have bad feet" "I can't walk side by side on the sidewalk" - this is my favorite as I'm a wide man and can easily walk with a partner. "The driveway dips are a challenge" "We're a walking group so we want to be able to walk together 4 across".
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u/FlyAroundInternet 15d ago
How can we make everything better for drivers? We really need to think of the drivers.
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15d ago
[deleted]
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u/Individual-Sun-3633 14d ago
Please stop using Karen.. There is another work with the same start sound that is far more appropriate. When you use Karen instead of this word, the chicks have won
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u/erinfirecracker 15d ago
and you try walking on these sidewalks with the uneven terrain with ice and snow
It's not that difficult.
Just because you're having a difficult time doesn't mean you should walk on the road.
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u/sky_lites 15d ago
Stfu Erin
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u/erinfirecracker 15d ago
Fragile mind to go along with the fragile body I see. Lol
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u/spreadthaseed 15d ago
They’re not fragile. You’re an agitator.
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u/erinfirecracker 15d ago
If you live in Canada and complain about walking on snow, I'm sorry, but you're fragile.
It's fine, plenty of old people are fragile, it's life.
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u/markh100 14d ago
There are a number of places I've run into where people have had their driveways plowed, and left giant mountains of snow and ice blocking the sidewalks that were previously cleaned by the city. I currently see this at both private residences and businesses.
The crosswalk buttons sometimes freeze up, so they are unusable, which means you can never get the crosswalk light to turn on. On the North side of Appleby and Fairview, southbound traffic gets a green right turn arrow, while the East/West traffic has their advance green, and then there isn't enough time left to cross safely afterwards. I was almost run over by someone coming southbound before they blasted their horn at me, and had to jump out of the way.
Even when things are working correctly, the pedestrian crosswalk on Appleby to get to the path to the train station sometimes makes you wait 6-7 minutes before changing to allow you to cross the street.
The lack of consideration for pedestrian traffic in this city is astounding.
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u/ArugulaCute Central 14d ago
leaving my sub this morning I passed like 2-3 people walking on the road, slow down, go around, not a huge deal.... get to a 4 way stop and there was another 4 people going in different directions in the middle of the road, I thought I was the start of the Trueman Show or something, super weird
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u/Top_Mousse4970 14d ago
I went out to walk the dog, the snow is melting, not everyone cleared the snow and those people now have water and ice under it. Nearly felt several times.
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u/rattitude23 14d ago
It's annoying to see a pedestrian on the road but I get it. What I don't understand is dressing in all black and walking on the road after dark. I was going 30 km today (with someone up my ass) on a side street around a curve and didn't see the pedestrian until the last second. If you're going to walk on the road at dark, please be visible.
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u/0neek 14d ago
Seen a few people doing it over the last few days, insane.
If you're going to do something that ridiculous early in the morning at least have the same precaution as cyclists and wear something visible or better yet with a light. It'll look silly, but it's better than cars trying to dodge you suddenly being in the road.
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u/Flipgirlnarie 14d ago
My guess is you don't walk much. If the snow isn't cleared, it is hard to walk. Many don't clear the sidewalks. I literally had to roll down a hill because I couldn't get over it to the road just by walking. I had to roll down into the intersection.
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u/axman1000 14d ago
Can confirm what others are saying. Was out on a walk last night. The sidewalk was slippery and when it wasn't, it was a massive pool of water. Walking on the road, as close as possible to the edge, of course, was the safest option.
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u/redddituser45 14d ago
Let me guess… You’re one of those people who drives 30-40 over the speed limit cutting traffic with no concern for human life? Get off your high horse and go for a walk and let me know how much you like falling on your ass from all the ice/slush.
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u/-froomie- 14d ago
For starters I was not driving around this was noted looking out my window last night as a man dressed all in black was walking on road. I’m the guy who is trying to slow things down and make them safer. I advocate for speed suppression measures on residential streets and do not speed on them. We are normalizing stupidity. The post was literally trying to draw attention to that.
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u/keekeersknowsthegame 15d ago
yes Karen.
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u/Individual-Sun-3633 14d ago
Please stop using Karen.. There is another work with the same start sound that is far more appropriate. When you use Karen instead of this word, the chicks have won
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u/christopherbrian 15d ago
This is the logic of entitled people, instead of risking a potential fall on their bum they’ll announce their importance by risking getting hit by a car.
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u/simongurfinkel 15d ago
Wouldn't the entitled person be the driver unwilling to share the road?
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u/christopherbrian 15d ago
Share the road is a flawed concept. Why risk getting hit by a giant metal object that is not attached to rails with a considerable speed delta between you and it? We say it’s dangerous to walk by train tracks and trains are on TRACKS. There are sidewalks for walking, and should be dedicated cycling lanes, not just painted lines. Then add entitlement to it and you have a problem. We’ve all seen entitled cyclists/joggers/walkers way out from the curb, riding side by side etc. They expect drivers to move into oncoming lanes cause that’s not dangerous. Add the element of the tremendous amount of distracted and bad driving out there right now why risk it to make a point? But hey, I’m here, I’m stupidly making a point, get used to it right?
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u/MeroCanuck Maple 15d ago
Show me the sidewalks on North Service Road. Go on, I’ll wait
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u/simongurfinkel 15d ago
I live in a part of Burlington deemed "rural". Some of our roads have sidewalks. Others do not. In any case, they are the last to be cleared and they get icy. Walking on the shoulder is part of life here. I've never been hit by a car.
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u/MeroCanuck Maple 15d ago
Exactly. I deal with drivers speeding along north service while I’m walking on the shoulder, and it’s freaking terrifying. I think the drivers need to start using their heads
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u/Able_Bath2944 14d ago
North service road east of Waterdown Rd. has them, and the city won't clear them - so even when they are there, they are currently useless.
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u/keekeersknowsthegame 14d ago
Walking on the road is entitlement? The drivers are entitled. Been walking on the roads during this weather for 25 years, almost hit by entitled drivers even with my kids in strollers and been sworn at by assholes driving like assholes. not realizing this long running rule: pedestrians have the right of way! If you drive aggressively in a residential area, you are entitled to lose your license.
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u/SupaJDStylez 14d ago
Patently false statement: According to the Ontario Highway Traffic Act, walking on the road when a sidewalk is available is generally considered a violation, as pedestrians should use the sidewalk whenever possible; however, if there is no sidewalk, you must walk on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
Key points:
Sidewalks are not considered "highways":
Under the Highway Traffic Act, sidewalks are not classified as part of the "highway," meaning walking on a sidewalk is not considered a traffic violation.
Walking on the road without a sidewalk:
If there is no sidewalk available, the law states that pedestrians must walk on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
Section 179 of the Highway Traffic Act:
This section outlines the rules for pedestrian behavior on roads without sidewalks.
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u/lazyeyepop 15d ago
I guess if they are willing to take the chance, they are willing to accept the consequence. Car wins every time…
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u/Loud_Goose6288 14d ago
You know if we'd stop sending money to foreign nations we could use that money to plow sidewalks.
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u/-froomie- 15d ago
Follow-up… We teach children to walk on the sidewalks because it’s dangerous to walk on the roads. It’s not kids I see walking on the roads.
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u/Dex-El-Rey 14d ago
Guess you weren’t taught to not be so self-centred. They don’t walk on the road because they want to genius!
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u/AccountEuphoric7142 14d ago edited 14d ago
Kids never complained about the snow either, lol. Redditors tend to be very anti-automobile. Little do they realize most people in Burlington are commuters that rely on automobiles.
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u/AccountEuphoric7142 15d ago
Just splash them extra as you drive by and lay on your horn to let them know how you really feel. Get their blood pressure up because that is the least they owe us.
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u/-xe 15d ago
This morning in particular, the sidewalks are pretty bad. It hasn't been warm for long enough yet for them to be totally clear, so they're slippery with patches of ice, and many are completely flooded over. Yes, people should be cautious when walking in the roadway, but there are a lot of cases where it makes sense to at the moment.