Road signs and markings

Know what these signs and symbols mean to help keep you safe, however you're travelling.

Cycling road signs and markings

Cycling road signs and markings

By City of Vancouver

 

• Bicycle symbol and sign for designated bicycle routes

  By City of Vancouver

  This sign and pavement marking shows that you are on a designated bicycle route.

• Green-painted pavement along bicycle routes

  By City of Vancouver

  In North America, green is the standard colour for cycling facilities. Green-painted pavement identifies locations for potential conflicts with vehicles, such as street- and driveway crossings. Watch for turning, crossing, or merging motor vehicles.

• Diamond-and-bicycle symbol and sign for dedicated bicycle lanes

  By City of Vancouver

  Motor vehicles, buses, and motorcycles are not permitted to travel or stop in this lane unless making a right turn onto a cross street. Transit buses may stop at designated stops.

• Diamond symbol and sign for special vehicle lanes

  By City of Vancouver

  You may ride your bicycle in lanes reserved for special vehicles like buses and carpools.

• Bicycle-and-arrow symbol for routes changing direction

  By City of Vancouver

  Follow the arrows to stay on the bicycle route.

• Sharrow symbol for shared roadways

  By City of Vancouver

  Position yourself along this pavement symbol to safely share the road with other vehicles.

• Shared-pathway symbol and sign

  By City of Vancouver

  Yield to people walking when you're on an off-street pathway shared by people walking and cycling. Look for this symbol around the Seawall.

• Traffic-signal sensor symbol

  By City of Vancouver

  Line up your wheels with the lines on either side of this bicycle symbol to trigger a traffic signal change.

• Dedicated bicycle traffic signal

  By City of Vancouver

  Watch out for traffic signals specifically for people on bicycles so you know when it's your turn to cross the street.

• Crossbike symbol (elephants' feet)

  By City of Vancouver

  Crossbikes are crosswalks with dotted lines (or "elephants' feet") for people walking and cycling. You may ride your bicycle through the crossing. Always yield to people walking.

• Bicycle box symbol

  By City of Vancouver

  Position yourself in the green box at a stop signal so you can proceed before other vehicles when it's time to cross. Pay special attention to the green bike box when you turn left off of a protected bicycle lane.

• |

• 

  Traffic calming signs

  We install traffic calming signs only when we implement traffic calming measures, and not on request.

  Keep right sign

  We install the keep right sign to mark traffic circles and curb bulges.

  Maximum 30 km/h

  These speed limit signs are installed in school and playground zones, and on bike routes only.

  Pedestrian crosswalk

  We install pedestrian crosswalk signs when we paint zebra markings.

  Signs not installed by the City

  We do not install:

  • "No trucks" signs in residential areas because they are reserved for arterial streets and industrial-zoned areas
  • "One way" signs because they would negatively affect nearby streets and lanes
  • "Slow down", "Slow: children playing", or "Residential traffic only" signs on streets because they are not enforceable and they add to sign clutter

What's new

Learn about the updates on skateboards in protected bike lanes and Street and Traffic Bylaw amendments.

• View the Council presentation  (3 MB)

• |

• 

  Skateboards in protected bike lanes

  

  In December 2015 Council approved that skates, skateboards, and push-scooters be permitted in protected bike lanes for a trial period.

  Skateboard volumes have been low and no concerns were received from the public, VPD, or ICBC during the trial period.

  Council approved making the trial permanent in November 2017.

• 

  Jaywalking

  

  The current definition of Jaywalking restricts crossing minor streets withing a block of a signal. A review of collision data indicated there are no concerns with this common behavior. 

  In November 2017, Council approved revising the definition of Jaywalking to exempt minor streets within a block of a signal. However, pedestrians crossing mid-block in minor streets will give right-of-way to motorists.

• 

  Elephant's Feet

  

  Elephant’s feet are painted white squares and can be placed outside the painted white lines that mark pedestrian crosswalks. In this case, bike crossing is shared with pedestrians.

  Elephant’s feet can also be placed on one side of the pedestrian crossing markings, so that pedestrians and cyclists each have their own crossing.

  Bike crossing markings are a National standard but are not defined in the Motor Vehicle Act or Street and Traffic Bylaw. 

  New designs have shown the need to create separate crossings for cyclists and pedestrians by using Elephant's Feet markings.

  In November 2017, Council approved their inclusion in the Streets and Traffic Bylaw.

• 

  Crosswalks

  

  The current crosswalk definition under the Street and Traffic Bylaw includes space from curb to property line, even when there is a marked crosswalk.

  The Motor Vehicle Act defines a crosswalk as the space from the curb to property line, or if there is already a marked crosswalk, as the space from the curb to the markings.

  In November 2017, Council approved updating the definition of a crosswalk to be consistent with the Motor Vehicle Act.

• |

• 

  Rules of the road

  The BC Motor Vehicle Act sets the rules for how motor vehicles (including low-powered vehicles) operate on roads and sidewalks next to roads in BC.

  Our Street and Traffic Bylaw regulates how City streets are used by all road users. Our Parks Control Bylaw regulates how park paths and the Seawall are used.

  Read the regulations for using a bicycle and low-powered vehicle in this section.

  ICBC 

  • Rules for operating low-powered vehicles on BC roads

  BC Motor Vehicle Act

  • Bicycle safety helmets (Section 184)
  • Motor assisted cycles (Section 182.1)
  • Motor assisted cycle regulation (separate bulletin)
  • Cyclist rights and duties (Section 183) 

  City of Vancouver bylaws

  Street and Traffic Bylaw

  • Holding on to handle bars (Section 41)
  • Keeping near curbs and road edges (Section 59)
  • Sidewalks, safety bells, helmets, and arrests (Section 60 A-F)
  • Motor assisted cycles on the seawall and adjacent paths (Section 89A)

  Parks Control Bylaw