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Sharing our Streets
The City encourages residents to walk, use micromobility (such as bikes and scooters and their electrified forms) and take transit to reduce congestion, enhance physical and mental well-being, improve air quality, and expand transportation options. As emerging transportation options continue to gain popularity, it is more important than ever to share our streets safely and respectfully.
The City of Coquitlam is regulated by the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act and the City of Coquitlam Street & Traffic Bylaw, which together help ensure safe and fair use of streets for all users.
Below are safety tips to help you stay aware of others while are using micromobility, cycling walking , or driving.
Using micromobility (bikes, scooters, both conventional and electric) is an attractive and viable transportation option for short and medium distance trips. The City is committed to the on-going expansion and improvement of the micromobility network to enhance safety and improve connections across neighbourhoods.
As part of the provincial e-scooter pilot project, people aged 16 and older are permitted to ride e-scooters on designated routes across Coquitlam, and use the e-scooter and e-bike sharing services within City Centre.
When you are using micromobility:
- Stay safe by wearing a helmet and do not use headphones.
- Obey the rules of the road, including all signs, signals and pavement markings.
- Do not ride on sidewalks, on park trails, or pathways unless permitted by signs or pavement markings.
- Maintain a safe distance of at least 1 meter from moving and parked vehicles, and watch for opening doors and vehicles entering or leaving parking spaces.
- Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and bus stops where passengers are boarding or disembarking.
- Ride with care on multi-use pathways and yield to people walking.
- Look for vehicles in all directions, including vehicles turning left or right, before crossing the street, intersection or driveway.
- Communicate clearly by ringing your bell or using your voice when passing others on multi-use pathways, making eye contact with drivers at intersections and driveways, and using hand or turn signals when turning, slowing, or stopping.
For additional safety tips, refer to the following resources:
- Coquitlam’s Cycling webpage for additional resources and maps
- Coquitlam’s Rules, Courtesy’s and Tips for Safer Cycling handout
- Coquitlam’s E-Scooter Pilot Project webpage
- Province’s Electric Kick Scooter Pilot Project webpage
- Province’sE-Bike Requirements webpage
- HUB Cycling
- BC Cycling Coalition’s How-to Guide for Cycling in BC
Provincial Motor Vehicle Act,Following the rules of the road ensures the safety of all road users. When people driving violate the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act, the consequences are most often severe for people walking or using micromobility as they do not have the safety shell of a vehicle to protect them in a crash. Staying alert, especially during fall and winter when daylight is limited and road conditions may be hazardous, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs helps keep our streets safe for everyone.
When you are driving:
- Obey the rules of the road, including all signs, signals and pavement markings.
- Leave your phone alone and do not participate in distracted driving.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Slow down and obey speed limits. Some streets have a 30km/h speed limit in school zones (8 a.m.–5 p.m. on school days) or where micromobility users are expected to share the road with the vehicular traffic.
- Maintain a minimum distance of 1 metre when passing people walking and using micromobility. That distance increases to 1.5 metres on highways with a speed limit above 50 km/h.
- Be patient and respectful of people walking and using micromobility, and yield to people on crosswalks or where cross rides are present.
- Check your mirrors and do a shoulder check for any approaching people walking and using micromobility.
- Expect higher speeds as some people using micromobility are on e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Stay Alert - check for people when opening doors, and when entering and leaving parking spots and driveways.
- Park and stop only were permitted. Do not stop or park in crosswalks or designated micromobility lanes.
For more tips for drivers, refer to ICBC Road Safety.
Everyone is a pedestrian at some point in their journey, whether they travel entirely on foot, use a mobility aid or walk to access another travel mode (e.g. car, public transit, micromobility). To further enhance the safety of walking, all street users should be mindful of one another.
When you are walking:
- Obey the rules of the road, including all signs, signals and pavement markings.
- Cross with care at signalized intersections, and only when the “Walk” signal is illuminated.
- Look for vehicles in all directions, including vehicles turning left or right, before crossing the street, intersections or driveways.
- Make eye contact with people driving and using micromobility when crossing the street, intersections or driveways.
- Be mindful of people using micromobility and walk to the right on multi-use pathways as these facilities are designed for shared use.
For more pedestrian safety tips, refer to ICBC Road Safety.