North Saanich is in a pickle
Re: “North Saanich to explore the use of softer ball in pickleball courts to reduce noise,” Jan. 17.
As a resident of North Saanich, I am pleased to see that the municipality is exploring options to reduce conflicts between pickleball players and nearby homeowners.
While I am not a pickleball player myself, many of my friends are, and I know how important the game is to their health and well-being. This said, as a former homeowner on Wain Road, I fully appreciate how aggravating the sound of the game is to nearby residents.
As it will ultimately be my tax dollars invested in sound remediation for existing outdoor courts and the building of new ones, I found the uncompromising refusal of the pickleball association’s spokespersons to use softer balls and rackets in outdoor courts to be offensive.
Thumbing their noses at those most affected by their play is unlikely to build support for their cause. Unfortunately, pickleball seems to have created a sense of entitlement for some players that does not align with the principles of either fair play or good citizenship.
I urge the North Saanich council to play hardball when it comes to requiring the use of quieter, and softer, pickleball equipment on outdoor courts.
Howard Brunt
North Saanich
Feeling safer with those trail bollards
As a regular recreational cyclist with both an e-bike and a hybrid bike, I feel safer having the bollards at road intersections, keeping vehicles off the paths.
It is already dangerous enough with speeding cyclists and e-scooter riders who do not acknowledge that they are going to pass.
When approaching these bollards, we should be slowing down to check for vehicle traffic at the intersection … the drivers do not always stop.
As we need to slow down anyway, does this not allow for safe passage between the bollards?
If there must be a change, what about placing the outer bollards a bit farther apart and leaving the centre one as is? Someone suggested padding them but this would only make them bulkier.
I sincerely hope that Saanich council/the Capital Regional District do not have a knee-jerk reaction to this issue and take time to assess the current pathway traffic first. Maybe hand out a few speeding or dangerous driving tickets at the same time.
Jennie Sutton
Oak Bay
Little protection with bollards and curbs
Bollards be gone! Yes, please, by all means get rid of standing impediments on bike lanes — on walking lanes, too. If the purpose is to keep vehicles off the lane, well, cars can often just go around on the outside.
Even experienced bicyclists checking for traffic at these intersections can easily miss a bollard. Splatt-o.
And all those cement curbs and posts to “protect” bicyclists? I cringe. Some bicyclist is going to nudge one of them and go flying into traffic and die. What a crazy idea this is.
If you want a barrier, paint a wide one-foot line with reflective paint along the bike lane, or pour a two-centimetre high asphalt speed hump along the lane. Much safer and accomplishes the same thing.
If a bicyclist wobbled into a speed bump along the lane, they wouldn’t go flying. When bicyclists are few and far between, a low speed bump would also offer vehicles an extra bit of space between oncoming traffic, and allow a vehicle to pull over in case of an emergency.
With a concrete barrier, when that big earthquake does hit, traffic will be snarled instantly. Emergency vehicles won’t have a chance.
Shirley McGowan
Saanich
It was a great day, but not for truancy
Regarding the Jan. 16 article outlining the joys of outdoor skating and the gentleman who took his sons out of school to experience the novelty, I am happy the youngsters enjoyed some quality dad time and no doubt had a wonderful day.
However, I am obliged to point out that truancy is considered a violation of Canadian compulsory attendance laws and as such, is perhaps not best advertised by the Times Colonist.
But I have another purpose in taking issue with this event, other than tilting at windmills or gratuitously touting the law. As an elementary school teacher, I must deal with the absence of some few of my students on an all-too-frequent basis, summarily removed from school for holidays — sometimes weeks at a time — skiing trips, sports events or simply to take the occasional day off.
While I am happy for the pleasures such outings provide for my students and their families, there are real consequences — too numerous to name here — that affect the delivery of the curricula I am responsible for teaching, and even the social equilibrium of my class.
So you’ll forgive me for being less than enthusiastic at starting my working day by reading this article. Thanks for listening. Your homework assignment is to review the truancy laws of our great nation, including the section on parental responsibilities.
David Masini
Victoria
We need to plan for future energy needs
As we are encouraged by all levels of government to switch to a clean energy source, I’m wondering when the masses are going to realize that balance might be needed in the approach to climate change.
Last summer, I removed my natural gas furnace and replaced it with a heat pump at an extra 40 per cent of the cost of a new gas furnace. I took advantage of government rebates to reduce the cost, however it was still significantly more expensive.
I added insulation and upgraded energy efficiency where I could. I installed solar panels, at a significant cost, taking advantage of a 10-year interest-free Government of Canada loan.
Doing the math, the payback begins at year 10 with my system, but I wanted to contribute where I could.
During the recent cold snap, my heat pump was not efficient below –2. My hydro bill, since installation, has increased 100 per cent.
Comparing this with natural gas consumption costs last year, my costs are up more than 40 per cent. I’m considering installing a natural gas fireplace for backup heating.
As restrictions are imposed on fossil fuel installations and auto makers’ requirements for zero emission vehicles, I question how the electrical grid will keep pace with demands, and at what cost to government and consumers.
Our system is already taxed!
I drive a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle that switches between gas and electrical power. I drive over 90 per cent using electricity, but the option is there for gas.
Green energy is not all it’s purported to be. A balanced and well-thought-out approach to future energy needs would benefit us all in the long run.
Tracy Menzies
Saanich
Diplomatic posts are for professionals
The report that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be making another patronage diplomatic appointment by naming former minister Carolyn Bennett as ambassador to Denmark does not bode well for the revitalisation of a professional foreign service.
This follows on the recent appointment of John Horgan as ambassador to Germany.
To be sure, Bennett can’t do much harm in Copenhagen. But such an appointment flies in the face of Foreign Minister Melanie Joly’s action plan to bring our diplomatic service back into being fit for service for the 21st century.
Why not just leave these posts to the professionals who are trained to fill them?
David Collins
(Retired Canadian ambassador)
Victoria
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
• Email letters to: [email protected]
• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
• Submissions should be no more than 250 words; subject to editing for length and clarity. Provide your contact information; it will not be published. Avoid sending your letter as an email attachment.
