Common infrastructure items to improve school safety

By City of Vancouver

See how we improve school infrastructure and support activities that promote school safety and active travel.

• New marked and raised crosswalks

  By City of Vancouver

  Crosswalks alert people driving to expect people walking. Raised crosswalks reduce vehicle speed and increases pedestrian visibility. Pictured: Thunderbird Elementary, Cassiar St at Hermon Drive.

• Curb ramps

  By City of Vancouver

  Curb ramps and bus pads improve accessibility for people using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. Pictured: Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary, Lanark St at E 47th Ave.

• New sidewalks and curbs

  By City of Vancouver

  Sidewalk segments address gaps in the walking network. Sidewalks and curbs provide a continuous walking experience separating people from traffic. Pictured: Lord Kitchener Elementary, Collingwood St between W 24th Ave and W King Edward Ave.

• Speed humps

  By City of Vancouver

  Speed humps are a traffic calming measure used to reduce vehicle volume and speed on local streets. Pictured: Lord Kitchener Elementary, W 24th Ave between Collingwood St and Blenheim St.

• Rapid rectangular flashing beacons

  By City of Vancouver

  These high intensity amber flashing beacons are installed at crosswalks and are activated by a pedestrian push-button. The beacons increase pedestrian visibility and alert drivers to yield at marked crosswalks. Pictured: Renfrew Elementary, Cassiar St at E 22nd Ave.

• Pedestrian/bike activated signals

  By City of Vancouver

  Assists pedestrians and cyclists in crossing major streets by providing signal-protected pedestrian crossing phases.

• Pedestrian signalized crossing improvement

  By City of Vancouver

  Countdown timers show how much time is left to cross the street at an intersection. This reduces the number of people crossing the intersection when the light changes. Pictured: Lord Kitchener Elementary, Blenheim St at W King Edward Ave.

• Signage

  By City of Vancouver

  Clarifies pick-up/drop-off operations, indicates various parking regulations, and improves sight-lines.

• Barriers

  By City of Vancouver

  These low-gravity concrete barriers regulate traffic flow and discourage U-turn activity. Pictured: Eric Hamber Secondary, Willow St at W 35th Ave.

• Protected bicycle lanes

  By City of Vancouver

  Protected bike lanes are on-street bike facilities physically separated from motor vehicles. These lanes can be elevated or protected from traffic by various treatments such as curbs, parked cars, concrete median and planters, and/or bollards. Pictured: Eric Hamber Secondary, Willow St between W 33rd Ave and W 35th Ave.

• Bicycle racks

  By City of Vancouver

  Installation of bike racks provide secure bike parking at schools. Pictured: L’Ecole Bilingue, W 14th Ave at Alder St.

• Bus pads

  By City of Vancouver

  Bus pads improve access for people using wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers at bus stops and waiting areas. Pictured: Carnarvon Community Elementary, W 16th Ave at Balaclava St.

• Street mural

  By City of Vancouver

  Street murals are a school or community-led initiative, supported by the City, to apply artwork to the street as a traffic-calming measure. Pictured: Kerrisdale Annex Elementary, W 43rd Ave.

• Student art

  By City of Vancouver

  Signs and artworks created by students raise awareness of travel safety around the school. Pictured: Sir Sandford Fleming Elementary.

• Curb bulges

  By City of Vancouver

  Curb bulges pull together the two sides of the streets together for pedestrians. They shorten the distance a pedestrian is actually on the asphalt, and increase the visibility of pedestrians waiting to cross by providing them a perch or a pedestal to be prominently seen by oncoming drivers.

• Pedestrian decals - Safety tips

  By City of Vancouver

  Installed above the pedestrian crossing button, this placard reminds users of the correct crossing etiquette. Remember, pedestrians should only ever enter an intersection when the white crossing silhouette is illuminated.