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Find the right ways to increase ridership

Re: “New Saanich bus shelters don’t align with sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Transit route change,” Oct. 10.

This article touched upon a key failure of government bureaucracy: Their linear negative thinking erodes public confidence.

It’s a common failure of all public transit systems. A route has a problem and ridership falls … so you make the route worse and ridership falls again. Eventually the route gets terminated.

A smart government would ask what needs to be done to increase ridership? More frequency, additional stops, expanded range, more community exposure, eliminate drug users from the areas, improved safety, connection timings … so many things to consider but ignored.

Sad as sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ Transit can be so much more and bring far-reaching benefits. Oh well … on paper they will say they are right.

In the real world, we just shake our heads and sigh.

Kevin Egan

Victoria

Don’t let health money fall into a black hole

The federal and sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½ governments have signed an agreement in the name of health care. This $1.2 billion amount over three years is huge.

What is the guarantee that it will all go to advancing health care?

A couple of years ago, I enquired of my MLA the use and target of the carbon tax, which is also a huge amount.

I was told there was no designated placement of it. Also I asked where the funding came from for the EV subsidy and was told there was no designated fund source for this subsidy.

This is what concerns me when these huge amounts are handed to provincial governments.

Who is watching the use of these funds?

Let’s hope it all doesn’t just go into the proverbial black hole.

Lawrence Schmid

Victoria

Change density in areas that are easy to adapt

Re: “Development is needed in the right places,” commentary, Oct. 9.

It was heartening to read Victoria ­Coun. Dave Thompson’s emphasis on applying some form of focus to areas selected for densification.

Specifically his suggestion that ­density be increased in five- or 10-minute, walkable, complete communities, and near transit stops.

The city has developed a Villages and Corridors plan that certainly aligns with this thinking.

By concentrating density changes in areas that are readily adapted for use by cyclists, pedestrians, and ­transit users, council can achieve both affordability goals and relieve some of the enmity engendered by the “any building, anywhere” rhetoric that so inflamed much of the public.

Certainly this reasonable and focused approach has a much better chance of succeeding and garnering public support.

Tom Braybrook

Victoria

Let’s not ‘manage’ majestic animals

Re: “Consider all sides in grizzly ­discussion,” letter, Oct. 10.

Under the polite and socially acceptable word “stewardship,” the letter basically says grizzlies should be managed, another nice word that means “killed,” if dangerous to humans.

The phrase “trophy hunting” has been dropped in this discussion.

However, silently behind this grizzly discussion, that is what many still want to pursue. To kill a majestic bear (or elk, or whatever) so that someone can proudly stand above it, seems to me a very questionable act.

We are in the bears’ domain, due (somewhat) to our own bad habits.

They are where they want and need to be. Leave them alone.

John Vanden Heuvel

Victoria

Train them to stop chasing birds

At the beach, I saw a large group of birds doing nothing but standing around enjoying the day. A man saw them and started walking toward them, scaring them and taking flight.

People argue about dogs being the problem, not even close. Ban people!

Gerald Marantz

Parksville

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