Make pedestrians stop for bicycles
Anyone who has been to Amsterdam can attest to the fact it is Cycle City. Everyone seems to own a bike and the cycle traffic is amazingly profuse and efficient.
A big part of the reason it works so well is because everyone knows bikes have the right-of-way over pedestrians. Pedestrians stop and look both ways before crossing a cycle path.
Why is this a good idea? Because bicycles are moving faster, and are harder and slower to stop than pedestrians. These are the same reasons why bicycles give way to cars in most situations.
It is dangerous that no one seems to know who has the right-of-way on our cycle paths.
As a cyclist I do not want to be constantly stopping or slowing just in case someone on the sidewalk might step off into my lane.
Amsterdam has it made. Cyclists are certain of their safety, and so are pedestrians.
Everyone knows the rule. I feel sure that adopting their method will prevent the accidents that are sure to happen the way things are now.
Theresa Moylan
Victoria
NATO gives Ukraine a clear path forward
Ukraine will understandably be disappointed that leaders at the NATO summit did not agree a firm timeline for the country to join NATO. But there was a commitment that Ukraine will be accepted as a member in due course without the normal prerequisite of a membership action plan. That is solid support.
It is folly to think that Ukraine can join NATO while engaged in a war with Russia, even if, in fact, Ukraine is fighting a proxy war on behalf of Western powers.
It may be true that several Allied leaders are concerned that further support to Ukraine might antagonize Russia. Appeasing Russia in her bellicose mood is one thing.
But the reality is that Ukraine needs to undertake security sector reform and contain the corruption that is rife in the state before full membership in NATO can be contemplated.
Ukraine will become a member of NATO; just not quite yet.
David Collins
Victoria
Oak Bay, create some safe routes for bicycles
Victoria and Saanich, over a number of years, have made dramatic improvements to their biking infrastructure to make us one of the premier biking cities in Canada.
When looking at a biking map, it is depressing to see safe bike routes come to a dramatic halt at the Oak Bay boundary: it’s a black hole of nothingness for bicyclists in Oak Bay.
As an emergency physician who treats bicycle trauma, it brings me great sadness to regularly see preventable injury and even death as a result of a lack of protected bike lanes (read: physical barrier, not a painted line on the pavement).
As a bicyclist dad and taxpaying Oak Bay resident, who daily (with my partner) transports around his 1.5- and 4-year-old boys, I fear for my family’s safety.
We have had numerous near-collisions with motorists due to a lack of physical, protected bike infrastructure.
Oak Bay council is engaging in classic NIMBYism and death by process, claiming to care about the environment and safety, when it is really prioritizing the convenience of drivers and wealthy property owners who want to retain street parking.
It should not have to take a tragic cycling death for this council to act.
Shame on you, Oak Bay. Be like Victoria and Saanich.
Dr. Brian Wall, MD
emergency physician
Victoria
Canada should train its own medical personnel
Re: ‘“Ottawa could help health care with better international recruiting, premiers say,” July 12.
What a splendid idea! Let’s lure as many health-care workers as possible from poorer countries by offering them incentives to come and live in Canada.
After all, their training expenses have been borne by other countries and all Canada must do is remove the immigration obstacles to fast-track recruitment. Sounds like a wonderful plan.
We do need medical personnel, but surely Canada has a moral responsibility to train our own instead of taking trained people from other countries that desperately need them.
Yvonne Andre
Campbell River
A random act of helping others
It’s easy to believe that selfishness prevails — but a week ago, I realized that my driver’s licence was missing.
After searching for it everywhere pretty much in a panic, I had it replaced.
Today, an unknown person or persons travelled from Cook Street, where they had found it, and delivered it to my mail slot.
How kind! I wish I could thank you in person, but you left no name or contact information.
You have reinforced my faith in the mostly overlooked goodness in each of us, which is awaiting an opportunity to express itself.
Perhaps reading this may enrich another heart.
Beth Morris
Victoria
Many thanks for post‑COVID care
Grateful thanks to the post-COVID clinic, both in Fraser Health and here on Vancouver Island when it finally opened.
I received a tremendous amount of support from them through classes and exercise in everything from fatigue, brain fog, learning how to breathe again, etc.
I was given incredible care in these group sessions, as well as helping me realize I was not alone.
Through them I was given care as well with internal medicine specialists which took care of me through many tests within their bank of knowledge.
This carried on through to this week when I had my final care given in hospital with an amazing doctor, RNs, orderlies, intake nurse, and many others at Victoria General Hospital.
While there are always many complaints about our broken medical system, I have received nothing in the past 18 months but the best of care. I was met with smiles, and so many who made me laugh in the face of their frustrations, and they always showed absolute professionalism.
They are incredible in their care. I am so grateful to all. Thank you!
Cheryl Pardue
Victoria
No more highways, please, improve rail
Re: “An economic case for keeping the rail corridor intact,” commentary, July 6.
This is the solution to the increasing traffic issues. The solution is not widening or building more highways, but by providing alternative modes of transport such as the E&N did. I hope the negotiations that are now going on are successful.
In conclusion, as Tom Romanuk said in his commentary: “Let’s get this right.”
Ian Baird
Victoria
Call pickleball what it is: Noiseball
The “pickle” in pickleball apparently comes from the name of the inventor’s dog, which is either endearingly quirky or completely ridiculous. I propose we change the name to noiseball to reflect reality. Although it’s played on a court like tennis, to neighbours it’s more like ping pong on steroids: pockety-CRACK! pockety-CRACK! YEE-HA! on endless repeat.
I’ve played noiseball. It’s perfect for seniors like me: low on physical demands and high on sociability. I’ve felt how standing more or less in one place and swinging a paddle to smash a hard plastic ball and then exulting or despairing loudly about it could be highly addictive.
The sharp cracking sound is a big part of the appeal. Noiseball will never evolve to use quieter balls and paddles because that would change it to Nerf ball. Might as well play with marshmallows.
Before you say that I’m being no-fun or that my neighbours and I have Noiseball Derangement Syndrome, you should spend a day with our earplugs.
The only solution is to take noiseball courts out of our neighbourhood parks and build dedicated multi-court “hubs” in locations far away from residences.
Just like the one planned for Topaz Park beside Blanshard Street’s river of car noise, across from the self-storage business that used to have the sign of a huge cartoon dog. Maybe his name was Pickle, too.
Rob Harvey
Saanich
Police officers take up a huge challenge
The other night I came upon a young Saanich policeman dealing with a man with all his possessions with him.
The policeman looked so kind and calm as the poor man yelled curses at another man who had kicked his things all over the place.
I felt so grateful that there are still young people willing to take up the huge challenge of policing our city in these difficult times. And the psychologist for Victoria police is long overdue!
I hope we all do our best to support the police and the people that are suffering from our inequitable system that hugely rewards the few at the expense of the many less fortunate people in our world who can’t even get the basics for survival.
Sheila Drew
Victoria
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