Can we take a break please?
I have a request of the City of Vancouver: Can we have one whole week-end in the West End with no festivals, parades, marathons or charity walks and runs? I have lived here for 30 years and this seems like the worst summer yet for such events. The highlight of my week is the chance to walk on the Seawall in peace and quiet on a Saturday or Sunday morning. Can't remember the last time that that was possible.
–Anthony
Cycle safety
Having travelled to many cities with bike sharing infrastructure and used them extensively, I was very pleased to hear that Vancouver was intending to emplace such a program. The ability to do quick one-way rentals between two points without worrying about bike storage is fabulous in big cities, both for locals and for tourists.
It is, however, alarming to see the recent low-quality installation of Mobi locations in the downtown and the West End, some which have just been dropped into the street. In every city I have used the bikes, the racks are on extra-wide sidewalks, not in conflict with cars (or even completely off street in their own little plaza in a park). The placement of some of the racks in Vancouver is obviously dangerous, with users needing to insert and remove bikes essentially into an active traffic lane. Someone is going to get seriously injured or killed, and the city would be guilty of gross negligence if so. Although the parked bicycles may not extend further from the curb than a parked car, a 20-bike station in a popular location will have constant in and out activity each hour, rather than the roughly hour-long typical parking stay of a vehicle with a single entry and exit. This will thus generate constant traffic conflicts between passing cars and the cyclists using this otherwise desirable service. These units need to be put in safe locations.
–Brett Gladman
Keep it on the track
There has been a lot of media hype recently about a crack down by the police on all the noisy motorcycles and suped-up cars, but they are obviously not talking about the West End. It is now 11:39pm and I've just heard the fourth inconsiderate yahoo on his loud noisy bike speeding down Nelson or Denman since 10pm. Get over your selfish selves and realize the West End is not a racetrack but is a residential community that is over 125 years old, with families with children, people needing their sleep so they can work and seniors trying to get some rest. Be quiet or stay in whatever neighborhood you live in and leave this neighborhood in peace.
–Don Allison
