War at Willows? Time to protest
Oak Bay seems to be showing a higher regard for the deer population than our good seniors of Victoria.
Restricting the car parking along the Esplanade is discriminatory against those seniors with limited ambulatory abilities.
I have regularly seen seniors sitting in their cars facing the ocean and enjoying watching the ocean, the boats and families at play. They might manage a short walk and also enjoy a newspaper (Times Colonist of course!) and a flask of tea brought from home.
Simple, affordable outdoor activities which have been somewhat curtailed because of the new policy of restricting access and parking.
Did they follow Victoria Mayor Helps and her car parking restrictions at Clover Point? Do they not realize that seniors are not in the habit of donning Spandex and jumping on their bikes, nor can walk or run marathons?
Further away, street parking is not always possible or desirable.
I say to all seniors in Victoria: Rise up and disobey! And go and enjoy your cuppa and newspaper overlooking the ocean at Willows Beach. I say to Oak Bay council, get off your duff and reverse this policy.
Linda Romain
Saanich
Learn to ride, then tackle city traffic
Re: “As bike lanes grow, the number of cyclists will follow,” commentary, May 26.
Once again I must take issue with the tortured logic of the “bikes-over-car” groups.
It is a commonly held, yet absurd notion that one can have an “All Ages and Abilities” bicycle pathway through a busy urban environment.
“All Ages and Abilities,” by definition, means that anyone, regardless of their age or their ability to actually ride a bike, should feel comfortable coasting around these pathways dedicated to two-wheeled transport.
On the face of it, this is ludicrous and defies any kind of sensibility. When I am riding down Pandora Avenue, or across Wharf Street, I do not want to encounter a toddler on his mini-bike with training wheels! They have no business there. Yet this is what proponents of such a designation agree is the right thing to do.
Don’t feel comfortable navigating traffic on your bike? Then learn how to do it. It is not difficult. Six years old and don’t have the abilities to handle your bike on a fast-moving downtown bike lane? Practice on your home streets until you develop them. This is just common sense.
I am all for learning to ride a bike. It is a healthy, economical and fun way to move distances not available to the pedestrian.
However, bicycle riding is a learned skill of balance and awareness of the area around you that is quickly developed and fairly easily mastered. But until you have mastered the skills, stay off the bike lanes.
Sheesh!
M.D. Hansen
Victoria
Teach regulations, then license cyclists
I am for bike riding. I don’t drive a car or any other vehicle.
I do have a few questions for riders and for council members.
Riders: Do you believe regulations would add to your safety? Would you study a booklet of rules of the road?
Upon passing the test, would you pay for a licence and plate for the bike?
Did you know bikes are the only wheels on the road with no rules, no regulations, no charges?
Riders and bikes both need to fulfil requirements.
For example: Bikes must have lights attached for night driving conditions. Riders must follow rules of the road. For example, cutting through traffic to make a turn could cause a fine for unsafe driving.
Questions for council: Have the creators of the bicycle lane plan lived in the Victoria area for one year or more? Are they aware of the large population of seniors?
Is council aware of the confusion caused by No Turn signs for bikes?
Establishing this format of rules, tests and charges would be a safety measure for all wheels of the road.
I believe this structure can also lower the hostility the plan has brought to our lovely city.
Beverly Unger
Victoria
Hug Day? Let’s go for it
I think Dr. Bonnie Henry has a great idea in celebrating the end of the COVID-19 pandemic with a provincial Hug Day.
A contest should be arranged by the government department in charge of fun and games, I’m sure there is one, to set a date with the winner of the contest getting to hug Henry.
The winner would also be given the opportunity of hugging or shaking hands with Health Minister Adrian Dix and Premier John Horgan. A little levity marking the end of this sad situation may do us all a great deal of good.
Matt Hawkins
Nanaimo
There will always be something to save
Save the birds from the cats.
Save the trees from the loggers.
Save the parks from the homeless.
Save the streets from the bikers.
Save tourism from the plague.
Am I forgetting anything?
Oh right, save our knickers from the knots (or is it “nots”?).
Mark R. Fetterly
Victoria
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