Traffic usually flows at聽reasonable speed
Re: 鈥淎void traffic tickets: Just don鈥檛 speed,鈥� letter, May 10.
The letter advising us just not to speed is absolutely true, but there are other factors. Many studies show that traffic generally flows at a safe and reasonable speed, notwithstanding the limits posted. The limits are often imposed arbitrarily without any scientific basis.
If the speed cameras are set up to follow the posted limit exactly, they become cash cows for the jurisdiction using them, as most vehicles will be exceeding the limits.
They have a place in dangerous areas such as school zones, but before they are placed in other areas, a survey should be completed to determine what speed is reasonable.
This way, the public will more readily accept such devices.
Barry Lurges
Colwood
Downtown Victoria is聽looking grubby
While Victoria city council is busily spending money on something that will benefit a minority of Victoria鈥檚 citizens and visitors (the 鈥渂icycle mayor鈥�), could it please invest in something that will make the downtown area better for all of us 鈥� cleaning the streets and sidewalks?
It isn鈥檛 even summer and already the impact of gum, seagull poop and the detritus of overnight activity is making our beautiful city look grubby and uncared-for. Another reason for those of us who do not live downtown to look for other areas to shop.
Cathy Stephenson
Victoria
Region鈥檚 bus routes must聽be聽simplified
Victoria鈥檚 transit routes must be redesigned by looking at transit in large city centres.
Having successfully managed travel using the Toronto (I purchased a monthly pass), New York City and London, England, transit systems, I was confident when setting out to use Victoria鈥檚 system to get to Cook Street Village.
I live at Cook Street and Caledonia Avenue and boarded a bus on Cook Street. The bus turned off Cook Street, heading downtown. I had to transfer onto another bus, which I just missed. It took 50 minutes to get to the village.
Another time, I took a taxi to a garden centre and wanted to take the bus back. I was on Douglas Street. Seven buses zoomed right past me. I had to catch the bus that goes down Douglas Street around the corner off Douglas. I have trouble walking and can鈥檛 get to the ocean or anywhere easily.
Due to the inconvenience of this confusing transit system, I bought a cheap car instead of a monthly transit pass. Victoria鈥檚 transit routes need to be simplified using north/south and east/west lines. Free or not, I鈥檓 not riding it until they straighten out their routes.
Monica Babic
Victoria
Climate comments were patronizing
Re: 鈥淏yelection could be wake-up call,鈥� letter, May 10.
In my opinion, the letter on the topic of climate change is patronizing with respect to the leader of the federal Green Party. I wonder why the writer did not challenge the many scientific arguments on the dangers of climate change rather than making disparaging personal comments. He could start with NASA鈥檚 website for its conclusions, if he disbelieves Elizabeth May鈥檚 comments.
Penny Patterson
Victoria
Audiences ignore dyspeptic review
Re: 鈥淟ove, mortality, absurdity explored in Best of Friends,鈥� review, May 4.
It is not usual for writers to respond to critics, but at my age I can do as I like 鈥� within reason.
First, I am flattered that in Adrian Chamberlain鈥檚 somewhat dyspeptic review of my play, The Best of Friends, he ends with: 鈥渘ot Wyatt鈥檚 best work.鈥� In order to make this statement, he has presumably read my novels, and seen my plays at the Tarragon Theatre in Toronto and at ATP in Calgary, to name a few.
He did see my last play at the Belfry, Knock, Knock, and wrote what should have been a truly damaging critique. But audiences are contrary; they came, they saw, they liked and it was sold out for most of its run.
I鈥檓 happy to say that audiences at Theatre Inconnu also seem to have a different view from his and are enjoying the current production.
Rachel Wyatt
Victoria
Banishing bad apples from Garden of Eden?
Re: 鈥淭enancy branch to target bad landlords, tenants,鈥� May 9.
The sa国际传媒 government announced its plan to banish bad apples from the profitable purpose-built rental housing barrel. How?
Hire more call-centre operators to answer Residential Tenancy Branch complaints. Educate tenants/landlords about maintaining their units. Engage a new government official to liaise with municipalities and the tenancy branch about sticky issues such as renovictions/demovictions.
Employ a new compliance and enforcement team in the tenancy branch to investigate and punish evil-doers with the full force of the law. Those repeat offenders such as tenants causing damage or skipping out on rent, or serious offenders 鈥� landlords refusing to repair their properties.
Where are the data on the number of complaints received and processed by the branch annually? How many cases are currently resolved in favour of tenants and landlords? Not necessary. There鈥檚 only one solution: Open the public purse and create more non-profit jobs in partisan organizations.
In a society bending over backward to enhance and protect property-ownership rights, facilitating billions of dollars鈥� worth of illegal money in the real-estate market resulting in rampant tax evasion, it鈥檚 not surprising the sa国际传媒 government is slow to implement real protection for renters. Forget about that promised $400聽rental rebate, it鈥檚 long gone on another pet partisan project.
Victoria Adams
Victoria
