Letters Jan. 26: Driving in snow; protecting pedestrians and cyclists

Reflecting on whether to drive when it snows

While it’s arguably true that Victoria-area drivers are the worst winter drivers in Canada, let’s not forget, many of them “come from away” as they say in the Maritimes.

The Inuit have many different words for snow. Driving in our West Coast wet slushy snow is far different than winter driving in different parts of Canada.

When I was stationed in Prince Edrwad Island, I drove my 1962 Chevy Impala with rear wheel drive and bias-ply summer tires all winter long. I used the back of my comb to clean the windshield.

Growing up in Chemainus back in the early 1950s, all of us immature males with cars would take them out whenever it snowed and have fun skidding and sliding all over the place. It never occurred to me at the time, I was learning a skill that would save me and my passengers lives on three occasions. It would have taken all the joy out of it.

It’s been said over and over again that wisdom comes with age. I can’t attest to that. I can only say, that over the years I learned to drive defensively and stay off of the road whenever it snows.

Doug Poole
Courtenay

Improvements needed for pedestrians, cyclists

Three Saanich councillors brought a report to council that recommends increased investment in road safety. I applaud the initiative by councillors Rebecca Mersereau, Ned Taylor and Zac de Vries, and encourage council to support the recommendation to fast-track badly needed improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and all road users.

During my years on Saanich council, the most common concern I heard from residents was the need for safer walking and biking environments.

I have no doubt that upping Saanich’s investment in these vital improvements will be a great relief to those folks.

Using Saanich’s Active Transportation Plan as a roadmap ensures this investment will see improvements take place in locations where they’re most needed.

Benefits of investing in active transportation include lower vehicle emissions, less traffic congestion and more dynamic neighbourhoods as people spend more time out and about, rather than in their cars.

We also know from experiences all over the world that commuters choose to walk or bike if they feel safe and comfortable. Active transportation is the most affordable and accessible mode of travel, and leads to better health and quality of life for those who venture out on foot, bike or scooter.

Let’s invest in safer routes to school for our kids, hazard-free walking surfaces for our parents and grandparents, lower collision risk for drivers and, most importantly, fewer fatalities and serious injuries on the streets where we live, work, learn and play.

I hope you will join me in encouraging Saanich council to invest in road safety that makes life better and safer for everyone in our community — no matter how they choose to commute.

Dean Murdock
Former Saanich councillor and Capital Regional District director

No multiple voting for business owners

Re: “Paying taxes but not getting a vote,” letter, Jan. 23.

The letter-writer thinks that business owners should have more votes than commoners by getting a vote in every municipality where they operate a business.

We live in a democracy, the meaning of which comes from the Latin “demos” (people) and “kratia” (power). Democracy is the power of the people, not of the businesses.

Those who seek to vote where they do business should be prepared to relinquish their vote where they live to maintain the principle of our democracy: one person, one vote.

Ernie Gorrie
Cowichan Bay

Derelict boats an ongoing eyesore on the Gorge

I live on the Gorge Waterway and view derelict vessels and their accumulation of “junk” every day.

I have contacted the City of Victoria bylaw department on many occasions asking about the status of the injunction to have the boats removed.

The bylaws office has been very diligent in getting back to me and telling me the matter is before the courts. At one point this summer, they told me a plan was underway to have them removed. Nothing has happened and now, as I predicted, one of them has sunk.

The coast guard says there is no threat of environmental damage, but I wonder about the generator, gas cans and other articles that were floating on a platform tied to the vessel. Are they now at the bottom of the waterway?

The vessels and “junk” were an eyesore that’s now made worse by the sunken vessel, which is the responsibility of the owner to remove. I doubt that will happen.

This eyesore is viewed by residents and tourists who use Selkirk trestle, and the tour boats going up and down the waterway. This is a poor reflection of the City of Victoria. I wonder how long this situation would be allowed if it was in the Inner Harbour or other waterfront areas in the city. The unwillingness of the city to deal with situation is puzzling.

Len Bosch
Victoria