Forget the bikes lines, talk about cruise ships
The Comment section of Saturday’s paper tells it all with regard to the ongoing debate re bike lanes.
Mayor Lisa Helps’ commentary emphasized the importance of sharing ideas. Ironically, writers in the same edition related the need to “have a poll where people vote on the soon-to-be implemented Vancouver Street” bike lanes; another writer requested that council “slow down and consider things more carefully” while an additional person brought to our attention “that a cruise ship running its engines produces enough carbon dioxide and other compounds to be the equivalent of thousands of cars idling.”
During 2019, 265 cruise ships will dock at Ogden Point; each ship, while on our shores, releases pollutants that equates to 20 cars operating over a year.
If our city council and the Greater Victoria Harbor Authority worked together to invest in shore-based electrical power hookups, it would equate to 5,300 cars taken off our streets on a yearly basis. This initiative would also generate more revenues for B.C. Hydro which, in turn, could subsidize clean energy projects.
It’s time for city council to press the pause button, communicate with constituents via focus groups, reflect and reprioritize, then act based on sound data.
Elizabeth Kozak
Victoria
Cruise ships should use electricity
From a high point in Esquimalt we view the lights of cruise ships at Ogden Point.
The sight is lovely, until you focus on the plumes of pollution pouring into James Bay and onwards. Council and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority must supply and demand cruise ships use electricity when docked.
The health of our citizens, young and old, must be given the highest priority.
Ted Bailey
Esquimalt
Turn the bike lanes over to the horses
Alas, there is enough raging and hand-wringing over the war-torn cycling lanes to make a grown man cry. At long last, let there be peace on the streets of Victoria.
The city must act now to put the issue out to pasture once and for all by slapping the pompous cyclists with indefinite suspensions and turning the cycling lanes over to the gentle carriage horses and their pleasant natured drivers.
Wouldn’t we all rest better listening to the soothing sounds of the clip-clop of the Tally Ho star Ace’s hooves?
Gyle Konotopetz
Victoria
Bike-lane networks part of global trend
Several recent letter-writers have stated that, due to poor design, Victoria’s new protected bike lanes are less safe than cycling in traffic. They provide no proof of this; it’s strictly their personal opinion. Happily, there is lots of evidence to suggest that these opinions are incorrect.
Victoria’s protected-bike-lane network has not been designed and developed in isolation. Despite the bike lanes often being characterized as a “pet project” of Victoria’s mayor and council, the development of protected-bike-lane networks is part of a North America-wide (and worldwide) trend.
Every major city in Canada is developing protected bike lanes. In the U.S., there are currently 582 protected bike lanes in 124 cities, according to an online database. This does not include the “painted line on the road” type of bike lanes, which are even more widespread.
Roughly 40 per cent of the protected bike lanes in the U.S. database are two-way lanes, similar to Victoria’s, and many of these are on one-way roads. Victoria has been able to draw on the best practices used in all these other cities as it has developed its bike-lane network.
A recent study, looking at 13 years of data for 12 U.S. cities, found that cities with the most extensive protected-bike-lane networks had 50 per cent fewer cyclist injuries and 44 per cent fewer fatalities than the average city in the study.
The same study found that “painted line on the road” bike lanes provided much lower improvements in road safety.
New York City, which has led the development of protected-bike-lane networks in North America since its first lane opened in 2007 and now boasts 200 kilometres of protected bike lanes, saw a 76 per cent decrease in the risk of serious injury to cyclists between 2000 and 2017.
I am glad that Victoria is joining all these other cities in making cycling a safer and more attractive option for getting around.
Steven Murray
Victoria
We can’t continue to plunder Earth
It was with a heavy heart that I read about the burning of the Amazon and doubted that we’d ever be able to thwart the climate tsunami we unleashed when we first discovered fossil fuels and pulled them onto the surface of the earth.
I thought we might not be able to stop the burning in Brazil but at least we can preserve our forests. And then see us raze our forests along Humpback Road and across from the Costco and realize that we’re not really prepared to make the changes we need to make here where we live.
All the angry letters about elitist cyclists and the horrible inconveniences wrought on the disenfranchised car commuters never once mention the insanity of the Colwood crawl that takes place every day, twice a day, every day of the year.
Or the obscene cost and inconvenience of the overpass (or underpass) at McKenzie and the Trans-Canada Highway, let alone the tonnes and tonnes of carbon dumped into the atmosphere as a result.
There are reasons why the City of Victoria is building bike lanes and discouraging the use of cars. If it’s not evident by now what those reasons are, when will it be?
Cyrus Farivar
(bike commuter, car driver and pedestrian)
Victoria
What is the agenda about name changes?
Nowhere in the surprise announcement that Ogden Point will be renamed can I find an explanation for doing it.
I have never met anyone with a gripe about the place name, and everybody here knows where it is. Somebody is determined to make it an issue, but why? What game is afoot? And what’s next?
If there is an agenda, get it out in the open.
Mark Johansson
Victoria
Honour their contributions
Prominent figures of our past, just like the prominent figures of today, are flawed humans. And as such are just like you and I. Why would we think otherwise? Few could pass the Mother Teresa or Gandhi test of worthiness.
Prominent figures of our past have been rewarded for their notable contributions by having geographical features and important public buildings named after them.
Some have had statues made and placed in prominent public places in tribute to their positive contributions to one of Canada’s provinces or to the nation.
Their contributions would have been substantial to be considered for such honours, by people who knew them, or knew their reputation and contribution.
They were not given honours for their flawed thinking, beliefs or deeds. Errors in judgment and actions in either their personal or public life, and misguided beliefs are flaws of the human condition, and as such are not always immediately known.
Some are viewed negatively only after decades of hindsight. They may not have lead an exemplary life, but did something noteworthy that furthered the identity, growth, and future of Canada.
We should be able to honour such contributions that made Canada what it is today.
Counterbalance the wrongs they have done in books for those who seek the whole history, but continue to honour them for their contributions, which others before us have weighed, and felt the contributions outweighed their unworthiness.
Roberta Marshman
Victoria
Many changes made while downtown decays
I don’t know much, or anything actually about Mr. Ogden. But I do think that I know a few things about Victoria.
I grew up here, and after living away for 35 years, moved back to live out my remaining years. Being in charge of running this wonderful city is to me, a sacred trust in a way.
To me, a city council doesn’t just “get” to come in and use its short mandate to engineer all these changes, name changes, removal of a statue, intrusive bike lanes, rainbow sidewalks, etc., etc., during their temporary window of being “in power.”
Our downtown area is decaying and unsafe, yet council has crippled our police service. The list of their failures is long. Hopefully, our citizens will come to their collective senses and kick most of these folks out in the next municipal election.
Stephen Kishkan
Victoria
Raise speed limits so we pay attention
If the speed limit were to be lowered to say, 10 km/h (the speed of a horse), then moms, the walking texters, and others could wander wherever they like without having to look where they’re going.
The next step could be a return to horse travel, but then those entitled pedestrians would once again have to watch where they step.
On the other hand, what if we raise the speed limit up to 60? Might that compel these trusting foot-users to finally take responsibility for where they walk, and how much attention they give to their own safety?
David Sheppard
Mill Bay
An idea to help Transit increase ridership
Why isn’t there a park-and-ride in the Royal Oak or McKenzie areas? I would think that an easy solution if B.C. Transit wants to increase ridership.
Joanna Waterman
Brentwood Bay
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