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Letters Aug. 15: divisive views, 1950s scramble crosswalk, vexing bike lanes

Those views are regressive and divisive Re: “Conflict of interest amid North Cowichan trees,” comment, Aug. 8.
A10 08152019-douglas-yates.jpg
A scramble intersection for pedestrians was at Douglas Street and Yates Street in the late 1950s and early 1960s. At scramble crosswalks, motor vehicles periodically get a red light in all directions, allowing pedestrians to cross all streets at the same time, including diagonally.

Those views are regressive and divisive

Re: “Conflict of interest amid North Cowichan trees,” comment, Aug. 8.

Cowichan Tribes is disappointed that the Times Colonist chose to run an opinion piece with the kind of outdated and divisive tropes contained in the Larry Pynn commentary. Far from a call for a principled discussion of membership on North Cowichan’s Forestry Advisory Committee, Pynn cloaks himself as the only one with the fortitude to not “turn a blind eye when Aboriginals do something that would subject non-natives to criticism.”

By asserting there is some double standard as opposed to exploring the unique considerations and circumstances related to reconciliation on the land base, Pynn reveals a fundamental lack of understanding of Cowichan Tribes’ interests in the municipal forest, which is entirely contained within our unceded traditional territories.

That a retired environmental reporter is out of date in his knowledge on the need for and process of reconciliation and governments’ work toward implementing the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples is not a surprise. That the Times Colonist would give platform to these regressive views, however, is troubling.

Margaret Symon, RPF
Duncan

Yates-Douglas scramble crosswalk, 1957-1963

Re: “Verdict on bike lane, scramble crosswalk: we feel safer,” Aug. 4.

The scramble crosswalk at the intersection of Government Street, Humboldt Street and Wharf Street is not a first for Victoria. There was also a scramble crosswalk at the major intersection of Yates Street and Douglas Street in operation from June 1957 until March 1963. (Thanks to local historian Lotus Johnson for confirming these dates.)

Patrick Dunae
Victoria

Remembering another scramble, and a tantrum

I remember seeing the “scramble” crosswalk at Yates and Douglas, as well as hearing a family story involving me throwing a tantrum as a toddler, at the centre of it, where my mother left me and walked away. Obviously, I survived.

Delia Todd
Victoria

This cyclist won’t use new bike lanes

I have been cycling for five decades, two decades in Victoria, and have stopped using the bike lanes. After two recent close calls, I dismounted and walked my bike because I felt unsafe.

Along Wharf Street, two tourists tried to cross the bike lane. They had to quickly step back, because a cyclist just kept going. While cyclists are required to stop for pedestrians, what happens if they don’t? With the crowds on Wharf Street, isn’t it just a matter of time before a bad accident occurs?

There are no licences or registration plates on bicycles, also no ICBC coverage, making an accident in the lanes a possible lifelong injury with no insurance coverage.

Aren’t cyclists supposed to follow the rules of the road?

These lanes are narrow, and without enforcement of speed, weaving in and out, passing another cyclist with no warning, passing on the right, and other potentially deadly behaviours by cyclists, including lack of helmets and proper footwear. I have witnessed all these driving infractions and more.

While I agree with the idea of having extra space for cyclists and pedestrians, this particular design of separated lanes has awkward curves, no escape route and confines a cyclist.

I will not use the cycle lanes because of concern for my safety and the safety of others. I have seen too many close calls. Why is convenience for cyclists a priority over public safety?

Mike Campbell
Victoria

Another view of ice cream and ‘war’ on cars

Re: “Ice cream and the ‘war’ on cars,” letter, Aug. 11.

The writer’s use of an analogy of ice cream availability to describe what is happening with bike lanes is fallacious. Here is a more realistic one:

The ice cream vendor, ignoring the fact the people visit her establishment to eat chocolate ice cream, decides that her favourite flavour is now vanilla. She spends millions of our tax dollars to rush the availability of vanilla onto the menu in a haphazard and poorly executed fashion, ignores marketing and productivity experts, makes the menu very difficult to read, and fails to acknowledge that only a small portion of the population will eat the new flavour.

She insists that vanilla is far better than any other flavour, and declares that she will do everything she can to ensure the days of chocolate are numbered, even though that flavour is far more popular and is the lifeblood of her establishment.

The vendor ensures that the availability of chocolate is restricted. She raises the price of chocolate, makes it more difficult to get, causing confusion, anger and chaos in her store, and long waits in line. She changes the recipe so chocolate is less palatable. Pretty soon, the customers get fed up with the vendor, and abandon the ice cream shop altogether, along with the surrounding stores. There are other ice cream shops not too far away that are more convenient and still have lots of chocolate.

The ice cream vendor wonders what went wrong, yet continues to insist vanilla is better for everyone.

Ian Skinner
Victoria

Street changes make Victoria unwelcoming

I live in Esquimalt and my grandson lives in James Bay. Last year it took me 10 to 12 minutes to reach his home. It now takes me 20 to 25 minutes to reach his home.

The elimination of the second traffic lane on Government Street between Belleville and Wharf streets is particularly bad so I will:

a. wait in traffic and burn more fuel idling, or

b. find an alternate route and burn more fuel going around this problematic area

I feel badly for the businesses in Victoria and citizens of the Capital Regional District as they are finding out quite quickly how unwelcoming the city of Victoria actually is. If the goal is to prevent or slow persons down from commuting through Victoria, mission accomplished.

Dave Bates
Victoria

Quamichan Lake also troubled by algae

Re: “Algae warning issued for Beaver Lake,” Aug. 13.

Welcome aboard the toxic-algae boat, Beaver and Elk lakes. This largely manmade menace has also ruined Quamichan Lake here in North Cowichan where several dogs sadly died after entering our deadly drink.

Swimming was banned years ago. Incredibly, Rowing Canada has announced plans to locate a training facility on Quamichan.

Studies by all levels of government, plus involvement by our committed Quamichan stewardship group, have posed various solutions, yet no action has been taken.

Again, plenty of talk by government, including North Cowichan council, has failed to stop various algae-feeding nutrients, including farm manure and septic run-off, from entering our dying lake.

Nutrient loading and government inaction are the main problems afflicting Quamichan.

Hopefully the Capital Regional District can find ways to save Elk and Beaver. If they do, please share those solutions with North Cowichan council and the feds so we can start rescuing Quamichan.

Peter W. Rusland
North Cowichan

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• Email: letters@timescolonist.com

• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4M2.

Letters should be no longer than 250 words and may be edited for length, legality or clarity. Include your full name, address and telephone number.