Clover Point mayhem with a stream of cars
Two weeks ago my partner and I decided to pick up a pizza to take to Clover Point. Our intention was to enjoy the view as it was a very windy day. “Couldn’t open the car door” kind of wind, with lots of activity on the water. We backed into a spot and started to eat our pizza.
What we saw, however, was a steady stream of cars passing by looking for a parking spot, or under the impression that they could complete the loop.
Included in this stream was a stretch limo and a long motorhome. Both decided to park at the turnaround causing a long line of cars to wait. Watching the motorhome try to turn around in that small space was quite entertaining, although owning a smaller one ourselves, we felt a little anxious for them.
This past weekend we decided to go again with our sushi dinner and found the same mayhem at the point.
This has turned into our weekly entertainment, though I would rather just watch the ocean.
Please return Clover Point to what it was, but add a walkway around the loop in front of the parking spaces, making it safer for all.
Judi Black
Victoria
Change Clover Point to the way it was
I agree with the letter-writer who wants Clover Point restored. I, too, live in Fairfield and often walk along Dallas Road to Clover Point. One such evening was July 20 — a mild, clear night hosting the most beautiful full moon.
As we arrived around 8:45, we decided to take advantage of one of the west-facing benches (although they were dewy-wet) to watch the end of the sunset. It was a better choice than sitting at the vacant picnic tables, as gulls had apparently made interesting art projects out of them.
By 9:30 the big, orange moon was rising on the east side and we walked over there to admire it.
What is most memorable, however, is the string of cars that kept coming down the hill, hoping to park and admire that same view. The lucky few to arrive by 9 got all the spots, as two-thirds of the point has been closed to traffic.
Car after car had to turn around and leave, and it was a steady stream, indeed. By comparison, there were very few pedestrians and no one was on the much-larger west side area. In fact, in my many walks there, I have seldom witnessed anyone enjoying the tables/benches for more than a few minutes.
How does this make sense to anyone? This is not an ideal picnic area, but it is an ideal viewing area, and one that more often than not requires a vehicle.
S.E. Weinmeyer
Victoria
Don’t judge clothing choices of others
One of my favourite internet videos features a woman flipping between photos of hikers in outfits varying from the highly practical (Gore-Tex, hiking boots) to the more unusual (blue jeans, high heels).
At the end of each description, instead of the judgmental grimace we expect, she greets each choice with the same chipper response: “You look amazing. Have a great hike.”
Recently, a letter was published here castigating women for showing bare arms and cleavage, and arguing it made working professionals appear “common.”
This opinion was so outdated that when I shared the letter with friends they asked me, confused, which decade it was published in. I had to tell them it was published this year. This month, in fact.
And so it is necessary to respond and remind us all that clothing is a personal choice and it is in fact judgment that is shamefully common.
If that letter-writer represents a cohort larger than herself in displaying such outdated sexism toward professionals in short sleeves or any variety of neckline cuts, I would like to raise my voice in opposition.
To all those current and future professionals wearing what’s comfortable, practical or otherwise suitable for themselves: You look amazing. Please continue with your job.
Megan Clark
Victoria
Who should have the power of censorship?
I have really been enjoying the lively discussions on the Comment page of late, and was particularly impressed by a couple of letters about freedom of speech.
Here is what Salman Rushdie has to say on the subject in his recent book, Languages of Truth: ”We live in a censorious age, in which many people have come to feel that limitations need to be placed on freedom of expression.
“The idea of hurting people’s feelings, offending people’s sensibilities, is going too far now has wide credence and when I hear good people saying such things, I feel that the religious world view is being reborn in the secular world — that the old religious apparatus of blasphemy, Inquisition, anathematisation, all of that, may be on the way back.”
He goes on to say that an open society must permit the expression of opinions that some members of that society might find unpleasant; otherwise, if we agree to censor unpleasant sentiments, we get into the problem of who should be given the power of censorship.
He quotes a Latin phrase to say: “Who will guard us from the guardians?”
Who, indeed.
Chuck Harris
Pender island
Maybe everyone should get off the trails
Re: “Hey, you on the e-bike, get off the trails,” letter, July 28.
And let’s add leashed dogs, joggers, runners, walkers, cell phone junkies, and cyclists to this list.
I cycle the trails routinely and all of the above individuals also contribute to problems!
Dog owners who don’t pull their dogs off the path of oncoming traffic, joggers/runners moving along at three or four abreast, others who stumble along, head down, texting, and finally cyclists, electric or otherwise, treating the trails like the Tour de France!
All of the preceding demonstrate hazardous behaviours on our multi-use trails.
To single out e-bike users as a primary problem pales by comparison to the aggregate bad behaviours exhibited by too many in the aforementioned categories.
Let’s face it, inconsiderate activities by any of these folks, including e-bike users, are a problem.
Most, but not all, e-bikes require active pedalling to engage the e-help. There are others that, like motorized scooters, require no pedalling whatsoever. They are “motorized,” and as the trail signs state: “No motorized vehicles on this trail.”
John Stevenson
Victoria
Don’t whiz by the other drivers
I believe the majority of drivers are trying to do the right thing. One of those is that if you’re on the highway and you know you’re going to make (for example) a right turn coming up, you get into the right lane as soon as convenient and safely possible.
That may be sometime in advance. So yes, I resent drivers who whiz by in the open lane after I’ve dutifully changed lanes way back there where the obstruction sign was first up.
One only has to enter the Lions Gate Bridge from the north end to know that people know just fine how to zipper merge, but with highways, the obstruction and merge signs need to be close to the obstruction and not five kilometres back.
Karen Wilson
Nanaimo
Bring back tougher restrictions
As of July 26, B.C. had a new COVID-19 case seven-day average of 89. This works out to 18.2 new cases per million.
The rest of Canada has 10.6 new cases per million (average 311 new cases, population 33.1 million).
This means that B.C. has 70 per cent more daily COVID cases than the rest of Canada. This is a cause of concern.
Why wait? Bring back the effective COVID-fighting, very low economic impact, mandatory mask-wearing rule now.
Mike Wilmut
Oak Bay
Vaccination proof for all of us, please
We have all been through the most life-changing 18 months we could imagine and it is obviously not over — nor may it ever be!
We now need political/medical leadership to provide some form of personal proof of vaccination to assist us to travel safely here and throughout the world. Where is it?
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t take the lead as he should (this is a national issue), so the opportunity for leadership in this critical matter lies with Premier John Horgan.
What are these “leaders” afraid of? You may offend a handful of the usual dissenters at the risk of jeopardizing the lives of the vast majority by not acting.
More than 65 per cent of B.C. residents want a vaccination passport of some form. This is a political issue — you are the ultimate politician as our premier and leader, please answer our request for physical vaccination proof so we can get out of this darkness and move on safely with our lives.
Jim Laing
Saanich
American tourists might bring the virus
Each day, as I scan the letters column, I continue to be surprised and concerned that more people aren’t speaking up about the foolishness of opening the border to American tourists.
If each of the 50 states has a vaccine record card, that’s 50 different documents border security agents will need to be very familiar with, in order to spot fake cards created by unvaccinated people who want to come visit us.
You think I’m kidding? Google “Man boards plane disguised as wife” — it happened July 18 in Indonesia; he dressed in his wife’s clothing and used her vaccination record. Fortunately, he was spotted leaving the lavatory in his own clothing and was arrested when the plane landed.
Vaccination rates in parts of the U.S. are dangerously low; only four states in the northeast have rates of 70 per cent or higher. I have no problem believing that some of our southern neighbours, rationalizing that while they have the “right” and the “freedom” to go about unvaccinated, know they still have to “play the game” in order to cross our border, might resort to creating their own documents.
Nationally, we’re only at 55 per cent full vaccination; as of July 5, only 36 per cent of eligible British Columbians. What if U.S. tourists leave behind more than their money?
Lorraine Lindsay
Saanich
Lock up the pot to protect children
It was sad to read about the five children who accidently consumed cannabis-laced gummies. We have rules that require firearms to be in locked storage, to avoid them getting into the hands of children.
Why not require locked storage for pot items as well? Leaving cannabis accessible to children is irresponsible, and it’s not like the danger is obvious to the kids.
Does somebody have to die before we take meaningful action?
S.I. Petersen
Nanaimo
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.
