For more background information, check out the staff report from November 2021: https://pub-nanaimo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=39288

Sidewalk FAQS

Why doesn’t Nanaimo have sidewalks on every road?

There are a few reasons why Nanaimo’s sidewalk network is incomplete

• Historical development – At one time, Nanaimo was a much smaller city. In the 1970s, Nanaimo amalgamated with formerly rural areas including Harewood, Hammond Bay Road area and Jingle Pot Road area, to name a few. Many of the roads in these areas were built as rural roads without sidewalks before the City acquired them, and to this day the City is playing catch up.

   

• Cost – Completing the sidewalk network is not as easy as just building the missing sidewalks. That is because one metre of sidewalk costs over $2000! If the City of Nanaimo were to build sidewalks along the all of roads that currently do not have them, it would currently cost $800 million – that is more than 26 times the typical annual budget for all transportation infrastructure, and more than the City collected in property taxes in 2022.
  
  

So how does the City get more sidewalks?

Because we cannot quickly build out the sidewalk network without breaking the bank, we have to be strategic.

• Prioritizing - We have to ensure we are putting our limited resources towards projects that will have significant benefits. City Plan: Nanaimo Reimagined identifies Primary and Secondary Active Mobility Routes, and these are considered priorities for investment.  City Plan also supports considering safety, demand, and equity when prioritizing new pedestrian infrastructure.

   

• Taking opportunities as they come up - There are times when sidewalks can be added for a smaller cost
  
  • With other infrastructure projects – when a sewer or water line is being replaced, it often requires a portion of the road to be dug up and then re-built. This can be a good opportunity to add new Complete Streets elements, including new sidewalks.
  • With private development – most larger developments are required to fund and construct “frontage works and services” along their property frontage. This includes sidewalks. Because developers are only obligated to construct works in front of the development property, this can create segments of sidewalks that end at the edge of the development property. We believe that it is better to get some sidewalk than none.
    
    
• Installing low-budget alternatives that enhance pedestrian safety – while sidewalks are the “gold standard”, they are not the only way to enhance pedestrian safety. The City has used lower-cost measures, such as delineating bollards, to improve pedestrian safety at a greatly reduced cost.
  
  

My house has a sidewalk in front of it. What are my responsibilities?

The Nanaimo Traffic and Highways Bylaw No. 5000 requires that property owners and occupants (renters) clear snow, ice, and rubbish from sidewalks and footpaths bordering the property within 24 hours. It also requires that snow, ice, or rubbish be removed from rooftops when there is a danger of this falling on people who are using the sidewalk.

Please ensure that waste collection carts do not obstruct the sidewalk or bike lanes - both while stored, and on waste collection day. Carts blocking the sidewalk can be especially disruptive for pedestrians who use mobility devices.

More info on cart placement: [LS4] https://www.nanaimo.ca/city-services/garbage-recycling/cart-placement

Are bikes, kick-scooters, skateboards, roller blades/skates etc. allowed on sidewalks?

No. According to Bylaw No 5000, bicycles must stay on the roadway or in a bike lane. Kick scooters, skateboards, and roller blades/skates are not legally permitted on public roads (including sidewalks) in Nanaimo. These devices are normally permitted on multi-use paths, but always check the signs on-site to make sure.

People who use mobility devices such as mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs are pedestrians. These devices are allowed on sidewalks and anywhere else pedestrians travel.