Share the space

To begin, I get myself to work Monday to Friday, just like a great many of the people in Victoria. Some days I drive my car. Some days I ride my bike. Some days I walk. Every day I see more and more examples of people who don't have a clue of how to control their vehicle.

Motorist - that red dot in front of you, it means stop. It  doesn't mean slow down and creep into the intersection, it means put your foot on the brake and press until your car stops moving forward. While you are stopping, you will notice a thick white line crossing the lane in front of you. That line is to show you where you are supposed to stop, your entire car is to be behind the line.

Cyclist - You are small, quick and sometimes very hard to see. If you are on the road, act like a car. Give proper and signals. Stop at the Red light, see above re stopping. And above all, pay attention to where you are and where everyone else is. Remember, if you hit a car, it will hurt you. I guarantee that the car will not cry out in pain. Further to that, if you suddenly pull out in front of someone who doesn't know you are there, there is a good chance they will hit you. Even if you are legally in the right, it is going to hurt.
When you are on trails, like the Galloping Goose, there will be people walking there. They have all the rights to be there that you do. Yes, they are moving slower, that is a function of two wheels vs to feet. Give them room, pull over a bit. Give a little warning - ring a bell or call out "passing on left". Do your due diligence so that when you are passing they will  know you are there.

Pedestrians. Two feet, slowest users of the street, side walks and paths. You are also the most vulnerable. If a car or a bike hits you it will hurt, a lot. Be aware of where you are and where other things around you are. The cyclists and cars are out there, look for them. Keep to the right of the path so that cyclists can get around you, keep control of your dog, and for that matter your child. A small form that darts out suddenly may not be seen until after the pain has begun. A stop lights, the things that cars and bikes are supposed to stop for, they apply to you as well.

Our streets and side walks and paths are getting busier everyday and there is room for us all if  we all learn to share the space

Parking Fail

So really, I am not into measuring the distance you park your car from the line. Quite frankly I don't really care, as long as you are able to get into and out of your car without slamming your door into me.

However, this is just rude beyond all measures. There were no cars behind this vehicle, no car parked on the right and yet the person who was driving was still unable to manoeuvre this car into an appropriate parking spot.

I know people who need the extra space to park to allow for wheel chair access. The person who owns this PT Cruiser was either; lazy, stupid, or just plain ignorant. The owner of this car needs to be confined to a chair for a week and see just how painful it is to see someone do something like this.

Give a Little Bit

My trip back to work after lunch was delayed somewhat due to someone not giving a little bit.

Along Tillicum road in the left hand lane was a fire truck 2 cops and a tow truck. All 4 of these vehicles were hovering around a SUV that had rear ended a small van. The van had some buckling across the back and I am sure that the air bags went off. The SUV was wrecked, its hood in the air, its front end smashed in and fluids leaking all over the place.

I have to wonder, what was going through the drivers head?

Mini Van - Oh damn, look how close that SUV, Oh SHIT, HANG ON EVERYONE!

SUV - Oh damn oh damn I am late, what, my phone is ringing, Yes, Hello? OH SHIT!

Was the SUV going a proper speed? Probably not.

Was the SUV not paying proper attention? Probably not.

Would another 20' of separation have been enough to avoid this mess? Probably

I was not there to judge what happened, no one was but the drivers of those vehicles.

One car length more

     the time difference to get to the next light would have been negligible. 

One car length less

     that SUV will not get to where it was going.

Give a little, it might just give you back a lot.