When I was young, I was taught that when there is no sidewalk, I should always walk on the left side of the road to face oncoming traffic. Is that still the case? What about on trails shared with bicycles? I still maintain that it is safest to walk on the left, but I’ve had cyclists tell me that I’m on the wrong side. – Margaret, Pickering, Ont.
A pedestrian walks through a Toronto neighbourhood with no sidewalks on Aug. 1, 2025. It is the law everywhere in Canada that when there is no sidewalk pedestrians must walk facing oncoming traffic and stay as close to the left edge of the road as possible.Chittley, Jordan/The Globe and Mail
When there’s no sidewalk, walking on the left is the right thing to do.
It’s not just a good idea – it’s required by law everywhere in Canada.
For instance, in Ontario, Section 179 of the Highway Traffic Act says pedestrians must walk facing oncoming traffic and stay as close to the left edge of the road as possible. If they don’t, they could face a $35 fine.
Quebec’s law is similar – it says to keep to the left if you can do it safely. But it has an exception that says you can walk on the right if it’s the only side with lights or if the shoulder is wider.
So why does the law say to walk facing traffic?
“It’s about seeing and being seen,” Lewis Smith, manager of national projects with the Canada Safety Council (CSC), an Ottawa-based not-for-profit, said in an e-mail. “A pedestrian facing oncoming traffic is more likely to see a vehicle approaching, which gives them more time to react or move over if needed.”
A few provinces, including Manitoba, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador, also ban walking more than two abreast on a road.
Plus, there are certain roads where pedestrians aren’t allowed at all, including most parts of 400-series highways in Ontario, expressways in Quebec and parts of several highways in British Columbia.
Sidewalk not optional?
While most provinces, including Alberta, Quebec and B.C., ban you from walking or running on the road if there’s a usable sidewalk, Ontario doesn’t, said Sean Shapiro, a road safety consultant and former Toronto traffic cop.
“There’s no explicit provincial law [in Ontario] that says pedestrians must use a sidewalk when one is present,” Shapiro said. “Some municipalities go a step further with local by-laws that outright prohibit pedestrians from walking on the road when a sidewalk is available.”
But, even if you’re staying on the left, walking or running on roads, especially when there’s a sidewalk, is risky, he said. “Preferring the softer feel of asphalt over concrete might make sense for your joints, but it doesn’t make it safer,” Shapiro said. “And, unfortunately, too many people dress in dark, non-reflective clothing, making them nearly invisible to drivers – especially at night.”
Wearing bright, reflective clothing can “improve your odds” of being seen by drivers, but it doesn’t guarantee it, he said.
“Just because drivers should see you doesn’t mean they will,” he said.
If a pedestrian is hit by a car and is injured or killed, insurance companies and courts could look at where the pedestrian was and whether they were obeying the law, Shapiro said.
“They could be found [partly] or entirely at fault, which affects their ability to be compensated,” he said.
Happy trails?
While provincial traffic laws generally don’t apply on paths and trails, municipalities have their own bylaws around multi-use paths.
Pickering, for instance, does not have a specific by-law requiring pedestrians or cyclists to use a particular side of the trail, city spokesman Mark Guinto said in an e-mail.
But Guinto said both pedestrians and cyclists typically keep to the right on trails.
“When passing slower users, whether pedestrians or cyclists, it’s considered courteous and safe for cyclists to provide a warning (using a bell, horn or verbal cue) and to pass on the left, even if that means briefly entering the lane used by oncoming traffic,” Guinto said. ” While this practice is not mandated by law, it’s regarded as good cycling etiquette and contributes to safer trail use for everyone.”
Generally, the convention on trails across Canada is to keep to the right and pass on the left, CSC’s Smith said.
“[Walking on the right] limits the number of collisions and injuries by allowing… cyclists and e-bike users to be able to see that the path is clear before moving to pass,” he said.
So, it’s generally safest to keep to the right on a trail when you can – and when you hear a cyclist’s bell, stay there so they can safely pass, he said.
Have a driving question? Send it to globedrive@globeandmail.com and put ‘Driving Concerns’ in your subject line. Emails without the correct subject line may not be answered. Canada’s a big place, so let us know where you are so we can find the answer for your city and province.