Oak Bay has temporarily removed parking and opened up two sections of Oak Bay Avenue to expand the sidewalk so that pedestrians can pass each other safely.
The sections are the north side of Oak Bay Avenue between of Mitchell Street and Wilmot Avenue and the north side of the Avenue between Clive Drive to Prospect Place.
READ ALSO: Oak Bay to consider additional road closures for social distancing
Street parking is still available on the south side of the street. The change started May 1.
“The changes appear to be working well so far,” said Mayor Kevin Murdoch. “There’s plenty of parking for people wanting to shop in the village, while the walk into the village has lots of room for pedestrians to pass each other safely.”
The removal of Oak Bay Avenue parking spots is the latest initiatives by Oak Bay to support social distancing as the Esplanade is closed to traffic and parking (save for residents) and the Willows Park parking lot is also closed.
The expanded sidewalks are well marked with barricades and no-parking signs. Staff are monitoring a number of roads but not other closures are planned at the moment, Murdoch said.
May 1 is also when seasonal restrictions kick in for dogs in parks and beaches including Willows Beach.
Visit here for an up-to-date map on areas with dog regulations in Oak Bay.
READ MORE: Dogs return to Willows beach but rules could change