Re: “B.C. Ferries car-deck rule makes no sense,” commentary, July 16.
The complaint is off base. Ignoring so-called “navy officers dressed in white shirts” is unacceptable behaviour.
Passengers might have no concept of B.C. Ferries’ car deck safety and the rules that govern passenger safety during the crossings. It is imperative that passengers co-operate with crew on board our ferry system.
Smoke from the smallest of fires can overtake the main car deck in a matter of minutes and ferry crews do not have the time or the resources to run around the car deck to wake sleeping passengers up and escort them top side while their priority is shutting down ventilation and fighting the fire as quick as possible.
There was a case years ago of a passenger ignoring crew and barging their way past a stair sentry to tend to their dog during a car deck fire.
All pet owners can relate to this concern, of course, but this passenger was quickly overcome by smoke and crew were forced to deal with an incapacitated passenger who refused to co-operate.
These rules are in place for passenger safety. My advice is to co-operate with all ferry staff.
Allan Scott
Retired B.C. Ferries employee
Duncan
The major problem with the Cook Street roundabout is its design. The round raised portion is shallow and its colour is almost the same as the road, so it is not very visible.
Most roundabouts have a central feature like bushes — this one is flat and has nothing to catch your eye to note the change in the road.
Driving north on Cook is confusing because there is no road entry from the east, so a roundabout is unexpected — especially after all the stopping for crosswalks through Cook Street Village, the road then looks clear to the north.
Add the problem of poor lighting at dusk and on dull days, or bright sunshine glaring off the road or in one’s eyes, and it is almost impossible to see, even if you know it is there.
The round portion needs to be elevated and painted a brighter colour, with a central feature to enhance the change in the road.
Sherrill Miller
Victoria
Re: “Raucous Saanich council meeting not true gauge of opinion,” commentary, July 14.
The July 7 Saanich council meeting for the Quadra McKenzie Plan was attended by members of Homes for Living, a registered elector organization.
It is comprised of urban planning professionals, aspiring political candidates, policy advisers, transit and data specialists, and engineering students seeking to enhance their resumes. They promote density and traffic infrastructure to foster urban growth, using letters, public hearings, and meetings with municipal councillors to discuss media strategies.
Recently, Homes for Living was invited to present to the provincial government’s finance committee, where they proposed how to finance suburban expansion while maintaining a stance against urban sprawl.
If I were to list all the ways Homes for Living has advocated to eliminate public hearings from land use decisions, I’d have run out of trees to make the paper.
Land use changes aside, public hearings should never instill feelings of insecurity, harm, or disrespect.
Those who felt uncomfortable attending this meeting due to their support for the Quadra McKenzie Plan reflect the same group who made others uncomfortable attending public hearings in Victoria. Perhaps this stems from the disparity in homeowner percentages between Saanich (69.2%) and Victoria (39.5%).
Homes for Living has made it clear; they propose to abolish all public hearings, which are the only formal process that allows people to voice their opinions on local land use matters, offering local government a direct connection to their citizens’ views.
Carollyne Yardley
Victoria
It’s mystifying, yet true, that under 100 adult males can change the temper of the world’s existence.
And in the end, when its all done and dusted, the lives lost, the damaged souls, the costs of war, the destruction of infrastructure, the pollution and damage to the environment, and the hatred; some will muse and wonder what might have happened, if all of that energy and all of that money were, instead, used to stabilize the world for “all” of its inhabitants.
Bill Carere
Oak Bay
After seeing an artist’s rendering of the new Hyatt-branded hotel, at Broad and Johnson streets, I am once again left in awe at this city council’s lack of vision and utter disregard for the architectural heritage of Victoria.
How could they approve the design after demolishing one of the most fabulous and architecturally valuable buildings in the city?
The least they could have done was to ensure that the wings of the building blended well with the rest of the facade.
Once again, shame on this council.
Brad Zembic
Victoria
I am not against safer streets, but I am wondering: With these lower speed limits across Victoria, will e-bike riders and cyclists be required to license their vehicles?
There are many types of e-bikes, scooters, wheels, and other single- person electric transports that go above 30 km/h. These are on roadways and trails across the city.
Should they not be required to subject to licensing and regulations? Will the police be giving speeding tickets to the cyclists that break these speed limits?
Even a physically fit cyclist on a manual bike can exceed the 30 km/h speed limit. When I am driving the speed limit and I have a cyclist whip past me on an unregulated vehicle at an unregulated speed I wonder why they are not held to the same regulations.
Getting hit by someone on a bike doing 30 km/h or more is still very painful and no less life-threatening.
Rhonda Sheen
Victoria
Re: “B.C. Ferries car-deck rule makes no sense,” commentary, July 16.
The commentary fails to consider the Queen of the North tragedy in 2006, as well as obvious and justifiable safety concerns such as fires.
The rule only applies to the lower truck deck, not the upper car deck.
Yes, the rule may be inconvenient for some passengers, but there are elevators for those with limited mobility.
Dave Baron
Saanich
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