Driving is a privilege, not a right
Re: “The folly of Victoria’s war on the car,” column, July 26.
Shame on Steve Wallace and anyone else who complains — especially in an oblique way — about bike lanes or free bus passes for youths.
We are a city that purports to be all about being “green,” yet are collectively so hung up on whether the alternatives to cars are fitting into our vehicle-centric lifestyle.
So what if you have to be more alert at the wheel because you are sharing the road with cyclists, or you actually have to plan your trip around parking?
This sort of myopic “off my lawn” sentiment just shatters any credibility that we have as a city. And credibility matters, at this point, as those very youth who suck up your tax dollars are looking to us to secure their future, and Alberta jeers about how we are “all talk.”
Our lifestyle is not compatible with the necessary reductions to avoid catastrophic warming, and cars are a part of this — especially in a city like Victoria that is well suited to alternative forms of transportation such as bikes.
I understand that not all seniors can hop on a bike (although I would be delighted to pay more tax to subsidize free bus passes for them), but we need to start looking at driving as a privilege, not a right. An indulgence, even.
I know I’m treading on a few lawns by writing this as a bike-boosting millennial, but good grief, we need to stop fussing and start changing the way we live.
Becky Radermacher
Victoria
Use common sense, not social engineering
Re: “Victoria’s traffic continues to raise controversy,” photo, July 30.
Eleven cars and one motorcycle in the single vehicle lane and a sole bicycle in the bike lane.
Brilliant, well done, council!
Victoria needs some new councillors to serve with common sense to replace the current social engineers, who are imposing their “solutions” whether the majority supports their radical ideas or not.
Oops, “radical” is a complimentary word to the social engineer.
Wayne Cox
Saanichton
Traffic reduction an attempt at sanity
Re: “The folly of Victoria’s war on the car,” July 26.
It is not a war, but an attempt at some sanity in movement. Traffic in Victoria and Greater Victoria is becoming intolerable.
We all agree that most vehicles, and often very large ones, transport only one individual. Internal combustion engines are very noisy and smelly as well.
If you ever have been in a city where parts are off-limits to these vehicles, you know how pleasant and welcoming they are (and the number of such cities is growing).
I would like to see a large fleet of small, preferably electric, buses serving the area, especially the single-family-home suburbs. I believe this would greatly reduce congestion, noise and pollution in our very lovely city, making it more habitable.
Furthermore, I have read that most privately owned vehicles spend most of their time parked, taking up valuable land in parking spots and lots.
There will come a time, in the not-too-distant future, when this era will be looked upon as a time of irrationality.
Deborah Crawford
Saanich
Petrochemical plant a move in wrong direction
Re: “$5.6B petrochemical plant for northern B.C.,” July 27.
I can’t believe that this is even on anyone’s radar.
To propose building a facility to make raw plastics to export to Asia — come on, you’ve got to be kidding.
Money is obviously the motivator. We have more than enough cheap plastic junk coming in from Asia already and what about the need to decrease plastics in our environment?
The article states that five more plants will be built over the next 20 years — really! B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office and the public-consultation process had better be on the ball on this one.
It’s great to create jobs, but we’re going in the wrong direction on this one.
Shirley Edwards
Victoria
How about a plant for recycling instead?
Re: “$5.6B petrochemical plant for Northern B.C.,” July 27.
At a time when most sources know that plastics are killing the world and its creatures, creating more plastic and sending it to China, where it will turn into more useless toys and dangerous bottles, seems a pity.
Wouldn’t it be better to build a huge recycling plant to remove plastics from anywhere in the world? This could equally well employ 1,000 skilled workers.
Steve Slavik
Victoria
Political parties can be more accountable
Re: “Partisan ‘civic political parties’ bad for taxpayers,” column, July 28.
While I don’t hold an opinion on Together Victoria, the Grumpy Taxpayer$ do overlook a big upside of political parties: accountability. It’s much easier to endorse or toss out politicians when you know what they stand for. Those who disagree can offer credible alternatives and, if elected, be held accountable for their decisions while in office.
If the only answer to any municipal issue is for the province to step in, why bother having local elections at all?
Simon Rasmussen
Brentwood Bay
If you rear-end another vehicle, it’s your fault
Re: “Expect more crashes as people stop at lights,” July 31.
I write in response to a recent letter-writer asserting that installing red-light cameras at intersections will lead to more accidents where drivers “pile into” motorists stopping in a panic to avoid a ticket for running a red light. Well then. We had better install additional cameras to catch the tailgaters.
The writer implies that people who adhere strictly to traffic-light rules see the world in “black and white,” whereas more enlightened individuals understand there is a certain grey area in making decisions around intersections.
There is nothing black, white or grey about green, amber or red. If the light turns amber, you stop. Period.
There can be no excuse for running a red, and adopting a self-indulgent mindset in this regard is extremely dangerous. It is every motorist’s responsibility to understand this, just as it is every motorist’s responsibility to be prepared to stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision.
If you rear-end someone who has suddenly stopped, it is your fault. Full stop.
David Masini
Victoria
Never relied on taxpayers? Congratulations
Re: “Free drugs for them? Not with my money,” letter, July 30.
As a mother with an adult child struggling with serious mental-health and addictions issues, I have this to say.
Congratulations to you, I’m assuming, on having no family members or friends struggling with these diseases, which often co-exist. If you did, imagine denying them whatever help and intervention necessary to try and bring them back to health.
Also congratulations, I’m assuming, on having excellent health and a perfect lifestyle — healthy diet, regular exercise, being a non-smoker and non-drinker — that ensures you will never need medical treatment and care, including pharmaceuticals and/or hospitalization, and therefore that the rest of us won’t be caring for you with our tax dollars, due to the neglect with which you may have treated your body.
Georgina Tweed
Victoria
A poem for Victoria city council
Pull down the old statues and cut down the old trees
Bring all the nasty motorists screaming to their knees
Tell the folks in uniform that they must go without
And when people disagree with you, don’t listen to them, shout
But do it all in secret, while acting like a thief
The only thing that is for sure is that your time is brief.
C. Scott Stofer
Victoria
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