Playing in the street is now permitted in several residential areas in Gatineau!
This is a way to encourage youngsters to engage in physical activity by making playing and sports even more accessible. Make the most of this opportunity to have fun as a family!
Safety is everybody's business!
The current code of conduct is a synthesis of municipal by-law 300-37-2022 concerning traffic and parking within Gatineau city limits, which sets out the penalties payable by offenders. It applies to those playing in the street as well as to those driving through the streets.
Playing is only permitted in designated streets.
When playing in the street, a person:
Parents are at all times responsible for their children. A parent or guardian must be nearby and provide constant supervision when children under 14 years of age are playing in the street.
Playing in the street is prohibited:
In case of a violation of the municipal by-law:
Players must be good neighbours and at all times remain respectful, including towards the property of other people (vehicles, property, equipment).
Anyone driving a vehicle on a street designated as a play street:
In case of a violation:
In order to ensure everyone's safety, a preliminary selection was done of all Gatineau streets based on the following criteria:
When visibility is adequate, dead-ends with 40 km/h or lower speed limits are generally considered suitable for playing in the street.
The designated streets were then submitted for public review to identify any safety issues and solicit requests for the addition to or removal of streets from the list. Following that exercise, 255 requests from residents were reviewed. In the end, more than 1,650 streets were designated as play streets.
Recognized for its quality of life, Gatineau is a city of 292,000 inhabitants. It is located on the north shore of the Ottawa River, and extends east and west of the Gatineau River.