When buses stop, cyclists should also stop
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has decided that visually impaired people are discriminated against because they are put in danger when they get off a bus and have to cross the dedicated bicycle lanes, to get to the sidewalks.
An easy solution, which works well in Toronto and other cities with middle-lane in-traffic streetcars, is that vehicles in the curb lane must stop whenever a streetcar stops, allowing pedestrians to exit safely and cross to the sidewalk.
The same rule should be applied to our bike lanes: whenever a bus stops, and opens its door to let people enter and exit, bicyclists in their lane should be required to stop as well.
Visually impaired persons can then safely cross the bike lane. This safety measure would be simple and effective, and if cyclists don’t obey, a fine can be issued as for other traffic offences.
Hermann Helmuth
Victoria
Campaign sign removal was disgusting
I noticed that two large Stephen Andrew campaign signs had been taken down and stolen at the corner of Tyee and Esquimalt Road, near the Johnson Street Bridge. All that remained were the destroyed frames.
I am disgusted that someone would remove political signs in the middle of an important campaign to elect a member of Victoria city council.
Penny Patterson
Victoria
Cook Street decision defies housing reality
The vote by Victoria city council to reject the condo development on Cook Street is not only shortsighted, but reveals continued poor judgement on the part of this council.
Realities are as follows:
Rejecting housing development reduces supply, which in turn drives up housing costs.
This new supply is needed to meet the ever-changing dynamics of housing that allows that supply chain to exist.
Leaving ideal corner slots bare or under-utilized in ever rapidly growing village centres spells the ultimate death of these commercial centres.
Forcing a developer to work through multiple rounds of design, especially when the staff has essentially signed off in agreement and then only to be rejected by council is a form of hostage.
The housing issue is real, but council would be advised to continue to work with provincial and federal authorities to address this social shortfall.
Victoria council on its own will never solve the housing problem.
J. (Jack) Reimer
Victoria
Protocols ensure vaccines are safe
Re: “Ottawa must be clearer on vaccine rollout: expert,” Dec. 1.
The article quotes Kerry Bowman as stating “any delay in immunization translates to more COVID-19 cases and deaths, and mounting economic strain.” I disagree.
Health Canada’s protocol for evaluating new vaccines should not be circumvented due to political pressure.
Activist anti-vaccinators would seek media attention and legal retribution if a new vaccine were associated with a higher than expected rate of side effects.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that the COVID vaccine will be made available after it has been approved by Health Canada.
Smallpox has been eradicated due to worldwide immunization programs. Other infectious illnesses such as polio could also be eliminated.
After enough people receive the vaccine, the infection and death rates dueto Adrian Raeside cartoon: ferry deck restriction COVID-19 will decrease, and the economy will recover.
I agree with Trudeau that we should follow reasonable protocols to ensure that new vaccines are safe.
Robert Shepherd, general practitioner
Saanich
Why not rapid tests, why not use the app?
I’m at a loss to understand the delay in implementing rapid testing for COVID-19 in British Columbia. This should be seen as an additional resource that supplements our current testing, not replaces it.
Keep doing what we are with testing of symptomatic people but let’s start using the rapid tests for workers in extended care homes where the bulk of our fatalities come from.
Testing every staff member every day is sure to bring to light some asymptomatic cases, and by testing every day even if the less reliable rapid test misses a case occasionally there is the chance that it will be caught on the second or third day, and each case discovered helps protect our elderly and vulnerable.
Rapid testing should not be compared to the current gold standard testing, but to no testing at all, when deciding if it is effective and should be used or not.
Secondly why is the COVID Alert app not yet available for use in B.C.? I downloaded it weeks ago, and while it may not do everything that the provincial government wants, it is again a line of defence against the virus that is better than doing nothing.
If new features are negotiated with Ottawa then add them in later. For now I’d like to know of potential exposure, not to allow me to be riskier in my contacts, but to be safer in my home.
Douglas Anderson
Victoria
Deny anti-maskers access to health care
I would suggest that any person who chooses not to wear a mask during this time of health crisis, excluding people who for medical reasons are unable to wear one, should have to sign a waiver of their rights to the health system should they come down with COVID-19.
It only makes sense that if they are prepared to oppose the standing health orders that there should be a consequence for them, as there is for everyone around them who may come in contact with them should they be positive for COVID.
Keith Libby
Courtenay
Donate the windfall to favourite charities
Kudos to the Times Colonist for publishing the Capital Giving insert in Sunday’s paper. It is full of possible charities that need financial support.
Timely, because Premier John Horgan has promised that every B.C. resident below a certain income level will receive $500 tax free before Christmas. This is “unexpected” money, so is a windfall for us. We will donate our two cheques to charities of our choice.
Win, win.
Your favourite charities get some unexpected help and you get income tax receipts!
I would urge everyone to consider making extra donations this year with this windfall money. You will get your financial thank-you when you file your tax returns next spring.
David Hogg
Victoria
Spend your windfall at local businesses
According to the government, we should all be receiving money soon – $1,000 for families and $500 for individuals. What if we committed to spending 10 per cent of that in small, local, independent businesses – local bookstores, galleries, shops that lost a whole season of tourist dollars?
We could make a big difference to our neighbours. For those who can afford to, let’s do it!
Kathy McCartney
Courtenay
Pay no heed to pandemic complainers
Re: Adrian Raeside cartoons
Can you imagine the mess we’d be in if the people who whine, complain and take pot shots in editorial cartoons about the COVID-19 health orders were the ones in charge of making these determinations and decisions?
Before you become one of these petulant malcontents, irked because you have to spend a bit more time learning how to avoid infecting, or being infected, ask yourself how satisfactory your performance would be, especially after eight months of carrying this burden without a break.
For myself, I am eternally grateful that people like Dr. Bonnie Henry, are unwavering in doing the best that they can with what they have to work with, not for themselves, but for all of us – including the self-absorbed naysayers.
Joanne Thibault
Victoria
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