Unsanctioned roadway barriers installed in the dark of night on Gabriola Island, B.C.

It’s a vision that wouldn’t be come out of localise in to the highest degree neighbourhoods - a dozen or so reflective delineators, cordoning away a pedestrian path next to a busy road. 

But on Gabriola Island, it’s a sign of vigilante traffic justice.

Steven Earle is a long-time resident of Gabriola and a representative for the  Gabriola Transportation Society. He has been outspoken about what he describes as ‘traffic chaos’ at the Descanso Bay ferry terminal on Gabriola.  

He says that after months of working with the Regional District of Nanaimo, the Island Trust, and Ministry of Transportation to improve the chaos around the ferry, he was surprised to see the delineators one morning, and more surprised to find out it wasn’t the government who took action. 

“It was done in the middle of the night by somebody here on the island,” said Earle. 

Delineators are reflective posts typically installed to slow road traffic and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists, typically by separating the road from the shoulder when there's no curb or visible line.

And while he says he’s happy to see the delineators, he’s still pushing for a better solution. 

Every 40 minutes or so a ferry arrives on Gabriola Island, and with it, comes a quick injection of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. It’s why Earle, along with many Gabriola residents, are lobbying for a new 650-metre trail to help users share the road. 

But Earle says they’ve been met with challenges along the way - as a part of the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN), their infrastructure needs fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, who have been slow to act. 

Jan Moore has lived on Gabriola for over 20 years, and says she moved to the small island to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. But now, she says the hustle and bustle has found her on the Island - and that the infrastructure isn’t in place to make her feel safe. 

“There are no crosswalks, no lights, and often people don't even bother to stop at the stop signs,” she says. 

“Ferry Hill isn’t even our only issue.” 

RDN Electoral Area B director Vanessa Craig agrees with Earle and Moore that something needs to be done. 

She says that the RDN is working on a feasibility study that is set to take place in 2026, but there’s still a long way to go before any major upgrades start to happen. 

“I wouldn't encourage people to take things into our own hands,” she said. 

“But as I said, I understand the frustration.”

In an email, the Ministry says it is working to confirm who installed the delineators and that removal is not currently planned, but will be considered if safety or operational issues arise. Staff will continue to monitor in the meantime.

As for the vigilante who took action into their own hands? It’s going to remain an open secret. 

“We're thankful, and we're not ratting anyone out,” said Moore. 

---

---