Two-lines versus zebras

I wonder why some crosswalks are marked with two parallel painted lines yet others are painted in a stripe pattern, like the Lower Ganges crosswalk at the corner of Rainbow Road.

— SH, Salt Spring Island

The Ministry of Transportation of Infrastructure refers to these two types of pedestrian crosswalk markings as 1) two-line crosswalks and 2) zebra crosswalks.



The ministry uses the more highly visible zebra pattern for “added emphasis for the pedestrian crosswalk required,” according to an MoTI fact sheet.


The zebra pattern is often used at mid-block crosswalks, highway crosswalks at unsignalled areas and crosswalks near schools where a high number of children cross the road.


Municipalities can decide which style they use and may establish their own policies as to when and where they use them, but the ministry considers the two-line type crosswalks suitable only at intersections that are controlled by pedestrian or vehicular signals.


Salt Spring has chosen to use the zebra pattern on recently installed crosswalks near Country Grocer and at various locations in Ganges — a wise choice for our poorly lit roads that lack street lights in most locations.