Hwy 7 in Richmond Hill - No Right Turn on Red

[fywdyl]

My friend just told me that his family friend got a $120 ticket at 2 demerit points for making a right turn on a red light on the newly modified stretch of Hwy 7. They recently put in a bus lane in the middle of Hwy 7 and put in "bike boxes" on either side of Hwy 7 for all those bikers that use Hwy 7. So now, it is illegal to turn right on a red light because you might endanger the bikers that frequently use Hwy 7.

tl dr: Don't turn right on a red on Hwy 7 to avoid getting a ticket.

[Mr Wilson]

Pesky public transit projects.......always getting in the way.

[Johns 08 3 GT]

Is there a sign that indicates no right on red?

Oh and %^*$ Hwy 7 and these useless bus lanes!

[miako]

I live near there and I don't remember seeing any "no right turn" signage. And speaking of bikers, I never seen a biker riding on hwy 7..usually on Leslie going up and down though

[S.F.W.]

I think they also changed the speed limit on that stretch of road to 60. No longer "highway" 7, now just "slow moving local road" 7.

[cwp_sedan]

It's only 60 after 8pm. Before that it's just a crawl....:P

[SilentJay]

It was a parking lot long before the stupid viva lane... Enjoy the gridlock :D

[eqlso]

Is this from hwy 7 or onto hwy 7? For some reason, I remember a few of the streets turning onto hwy 7 saying no right turn on red.

[aZuMi]

This is onto Hwy 7. I've seen these signs from Leslie to Hunter's Point (near Bathurst).

Not sure what they're trying to do here, but I think they're trying to keep the flow of the traffic going smoothly.

[CloudPump]

If there's a "no right on red" sign then... duh.

When making a right on a red, you must be in the rightmost lane and turn into the rightmost lane, you may not make a right on a red from a centre turning lane.

-Geoff

[fywdyl]

Le quote:

Right turns on red are generally permitted under the Highway Traffic Act in the province of Ontario. In some very specific situations right turns on red are legally restricted using the no right turn on red sign. This sign is used at a relatively small number of signalized intersections across the Region.

Generally, right turns on red are only restricted in circumstances where allowing a driver to make this maneuver would result in that driver (or another user of the intersection) being placed in an unsafe situation. The most common scenario for restricting right turns on red occurs when more vehicle lanes of traffic would be simultaneously turning into a smaller number of receiving lanes. For example … we will sometimes restrict right turns on red at locations where we have double left turn lanes and a right turn lane (3 lanes) entering into 2 receiving lanes.

The recently opened transit way consists of 6 signalized intersections with 24 possible right turn movements to consider. Of the 24 opportunities for right turns, right turns on red are restricted and signed at the following 5 locations:

Southbound at Highway 7 and Chalmers

Northbound at Highway 7 and Saddlecreek

Southbound at Highway 7 and Saddlecreek

Southbound at Highway 7 and Valleymede

Southbound at Highway 7 and East Beaver Creek

The right turns on red at these locations were restricted because of the presence of the new two-stage left turn bicycle boxes installed in front of the right turn lane at these locations. The two-stage left turn bike boxes are a temporary measure that will be in place until a bicycle turn area can be constructed on the curbside. When this construction is complete, the temporary bike boxes will be removed and right turns on red will once again be permitted. We expect that the permanent curb side bike boxes will be constructed by the end of this year.

The purpose of the bike box, is to allow any cyclist that may be turning left off of Highway 7 to avoid having to cross all lanes of Highway 7 to make this turn. To make a left turn, a cyclist would proceed through the intersection during the east-west green and wait in the bike box until the signal turned green in the north-south direction before once again proceeding through.

Our safety team reviewed the proposed bike box design and determined that allowing a vehicle to make a right turn on red and also simultaneously advising cyclists that the bike box is a safe refuge area for them to complete their turn – would place the cyclist at undue risk. Therefore, the decision was made to restrict the right turn on reds at these locations.

This is only an issue at these 5 locations because there is no dedicated right turn lane on the sidestreet at locations with right turn lanes, the bike box was located in front of the through lane and right turning vehicles are still able to proceed through on red when adequate gaps are available behind any cyclists that may be waiting.

We recognize that the number of cyclists using the Highway 7 facility is currently very low and therefore the frequency of conflicts between right turning vehicles and cyclists is minimal. However, we have an obligation to ensure that any facility constructed provides the safest design possible – particularly for road users that are the most vulnerable such as cyclists and pedestrians.

Curb-inset bike boxes are being constructed at all six signalized intersections in the coming months. As previously mentioned, this work will negate the need for the right turn on red restrictions. We have prioritized the bike box construction at these 5 locations so that the right turn on red restrictions can be removed safely as soon as possible.

The first section of Highway 7 transitway has been in operation since Sunday August 18th and we have been working since then to fine tune the operation. Our initial data collection shows that transit passengers are benefitting by as much as a 30% reduction in travel time through the corridor. We are very pleased with the final product, and look forward to completion of the remaining sections.

Regards,

Nelson Costa, Manager, Traffic Safety

The Regional Municipality of York | Transportation and Community Planning | Traffic Management & ITS Branch

Phone: 905-830-4444 905-830-4444 end_of_the_skype_highlighting Ext. 5251| Fax: 905-895-7735 | nelson.costa@york.ca

[greyseason]

If there's a "no right on red" sign then... duh.

When making a right on a red, you must be in the rightmost lane and turn into the rightmost lane, you may not make a right on a red from a centre turning lane.

-Geoff

what about getting off the 404 at highway 7 near seneca?
Your allowed to turn right on a red, but their is TWO left turning lanes, which i always though was dangerous

[Wisecraker]

The stretch of HWY 7 in Richmond Hill was already messed up and known as something to avoid. Now I think the only thing that can get me to tackle that mess is Korean BBQ lol

[Fobio]

It's funny because all the Chinese ppl know about this...and sharing this, to save money.

Yet, it's all the Chinese ppl who are getting nailed...then sharing it, to help others save money.

LOL...York Region CHINESE FTW & FTL...

I'm Chinese...and got an email from my family a couple of weeks ago.

[tweak_s]

I live right there and didn't know about this lol. Thanks for bringing it up.

Mind you, even after they're "done" the construction, I've grown to being used to taking 16th.

[gotak]

So this is for cyclists? I haven't seen a cyclist on hwy 7 in forever. It's almost like having a death wish to ride a bicycle on a road where people drive regularly at 90...

[Johns 08 3 GT]

So this is for cyclists? I haven't seen a cyclist on hwy 7 in forever. It's almost like having a death wish to ride a bicycle on a road where people drive regularly at 90...

It's a death wish just driving your car on Hwy 7. :P

[Wisecraker]

It's a death wish just driving your car on Hwy 7. :P

+1

[Tahna Los]

They are DESTROYING a road that was good to motorists..... I can understand the VIVA lanes, but the bike lanes?

[peterm15]

They are DESTROYING a road that was good to motorists..... I can understand the VIVA lanes, but the bike lanes?

It's the same old tree hugging hippie stuff that we as car owners have to pay for.

[SirWanker]

They are DESTROYING a road that was good to motorists..... I can understand the VIVA lanes, but the bike lanes?


It's the same old tree hugging hippie stuff that we as car owners have to pay for.

Really, is a bike lane going to make that much of an inconvenience to your commute?
Do explain how a bike is correlated to tree hugging hippie sh*t?

[peterm15]

Really, is a bike lane going to make that much of an inconvenience to your commute?
Do explain how a bike is correlated to tree hugging hippie sh*t?

Not the bikes or the people who ride them. ( at least some people)

The tree hugging hippie shit I was referring to what this constant push to go "green" in everything we do.

Electric cars - the hazards the batteries cause and disposability of them actually have a larger carbon footprint then a small gas car like the 3

Wind mills - cost more per year to maintain then energy they produce. They create huge environmental impact with little return

I can continue but I won't clog this thread.

Dedicated bus lanes, sure. That just helps everyone out. But they really need to slow down on these bike lanes and either think them out better, or start policing them.

Everyone is so concerned with going "green" they don't stop to take a look at the everyday disadvantages of it (in some cases) Like the increasing number of bike fatalities, or the amount of carbon emissions it creates to first build them, the increase when traffic jams up, and then to eventually tear them down.

( all this is based off the general idea that they would like more people to leave their cars at home and bike to work or take transit. "go green, bike to work")


The fact that the people utilizing bike lanes not contributing (more) to their cost is another issue and doesn't need to be discussed here.

[Wisecraker]

Not the bikes or the people who ride them. ( at least some people)

The tree hugging hippie shit I was referring to what this constant push to go "green" in everything we do.

Electric cars - the hazards the batteries cause and disposability of them actually have a larger carbon footprint then a small gas car like the 3

Wind mills - cost more per year to maintain then energy they produce. They create huge environmental impact with little return

I can continue but I won't clog this thread.

Dedicated bus lanes, sure. That just helps everyone out. But they really need to slow down on these bike lanes and either think them out better, or start policing them.

Everyone is so concerned with going "green" they don't stop to take a look at the everyday disadvantages of it (in some cases) Like the increasing number of bike fatalities, or the amount of carbon emissions it creates to first build them, the increase when traffic jams up, and then to eventually tear them down.

( all this is based off the general idea that they would like more people to leave their cars at home and bike to work or take transit. )

+1 to this info. Also lets not get into the whole cars and bike debate. But in my opinion no were in a suburban area like Richmond Hill are bike lanes needed. Urban areas like Toronto, sure. But I have lived in RHill for around 12 years and know for a fact that bikes have been ridden around without the help of dedicated lanes until now.

[peterm15]

I'd like to add one more thing.

Last year they built a bus lane and bike lanes on dufferin between steeles and center st, as well as a fancy center median.

They could have used that center area and had a CURBED bike land that would be safe for everyone. Instead they push the bikes to the far right having to constantly contend with turning traffic, busses ect.

There has got to be ways to keep these people away from traffic for their own safety

[geobur]

I'd like to add one more thing.

Last year they built a bus lane and bike lanes on dufferin between steeles and center st, as well as a fancy center median.

They could have used that center area and had a CURBED bike land that would be safe for everyone. Instead they push the bikes to the far right having to constantly contend with turning traffic, busses ect.

There has got to be ways to keep these people away from traffic for their own safety

Agreed...coming from someone who is...was a regular cyclist I rode to and from school on Steeles for about a month before I finally gave up. Granted even without bike lanes it isn't too bad in terms of spacing there is lots of room for an experienced cyclist on a proper road bike, who knows how to ride in traffic...

The problem is the other idiots on the road, taking corners far too quickly trying to get to the corner before me, or not even noticing me being there (with my reflective cycling gear and reflectors, and bright red helmet)

I finally gave up one day when I literally had to bail and dive onto the sidewalk because some person didn't know the dimensions of their own fricken vehicle and just randomly started drifting into where I was right to the curb...I didn't have time to slam on brakes and I didn't have the acceleration to speed past them so I dove onto the sidewalk and bailed...

luckily my road bike was undamaged but after that I drove ever frickin day because ultimately my life is way more valuable to me than the gas I was saving.

[Tahna Los]

Highway 7 is perhaps THE major artery in South York Region. Lots of traffic. Lots of cars. Who in their right mind would want to ride a bike in such a high capacity roadway? Let alone a bike lane not segregated from traffic? Bus lanes yes, if you want more people to take transit. But the transitway as it exists is WAAAY TOO SHORT.....

Look, I'm all into bike lanes and stuff like that but a Suburban roadway that sees more cars than anything is a bad place to put it. I can understand bike lanes on 16th, Major Mac, and other streets, but not Highway 7. I was even in favour of the bike lanes on Jarvis in Toronto before they tore that out and reinstated that reversible lane. My beef about bike lanes on Highway 7 is more to do with safety than road capacity (like the fight about Jarvis was). Highway 7 still has its 3 lanes in each direction and people will still do 80 on 60 stretches. Believe me, that happens.

If they put in dedicated bike lanes on highway 7 then maybe I'll stop complaining. But they are not and I don't see that happening soon.

[CloudPump]

what about getting off the 404 at highway 7 near seneca?
Your allowed to turn right on a red, but their is TWO left turning lanes, which i always though was dangerous

I get off of the 404 at this exit every morning.

There are two left turn lanes and two right turn lanes. Obviously the two left turn lanes must wait for a green light before they may proceed. The rightmost lane may turn right on the red light providing that the flow of traffic safely allows it. The "other" right turn lane (second in from the right) must wait for a green light before turning right.

Unfortunately I see many people turning right on red from the second right lane every day... I'm just waiting for an accident to happen.

-Geoff

[gotak]

I have a solution. Make/let the cyclist ride on the bus lane on hwy7 problem solved for car drivers. It's not like there will be that many bus on that bus lane anyhow...

[greyseason]

I get off of the 404 at this exit every morning.

There are two left turn lanes and two right turn lanes. Obviously the two left turn lanes must wait for a green light before they may proceed. The rightmost lane may turn right on the red light providing that the flow of traffic safely allows it. The "other" right turn lane (second in from the right) must wait for a green light before turning right.

Unfortunately I see many people turning right on red from the second right lane every day... I'm just waiting for an accident to happen.

-Geoff
My fault, i did mean the two RIGHT turning lanes onto 7. And yeah ive seen many cars turn on the inside lane, directly into oncoming traffic. Plus that part of the road( not sure what the rest of it looks like) is always stop and go with the construction going on. Driving in toronto is a love/hate kinda thing, but mostly hate

[ZeroChalk]

Interesting idea to have bike lanes on Highway 7... I'm all for it. I would never ride on highway 7 otherwise - too dangerous. Cycling in suburbia is a lot more different than downtown where it's more expected. Uptown, cars on occasion have come very close which forces me to protect my lane.