Traffic police hope to
curb rising accident rate

IN 1988, traffic fatalities in West Vancouver were up 600
per cent over the 1987 figure, the number of pedestrians
hit increased by 25 per cent and there was a 64 per cent
rise in the number of persons injured.

West Vancouver Villager

Committee pushes
for an upgraded
WY running track

BLESSED WITH talented young athletes and a high per-
centage of fitness-minded adults, affluent. West Vancouver

maintaining pedestrians’ safety.

Chief Jenkins says a large
number of pedestrians walk
along Marine Drive between
19th and 22nd streets, where the

is the pcor sister when it comes to track and field facilities. ‘

This was one of the messages
delivered recently to West Van-
couver Council by members of the
“ad hoc committee pushing for an
extensive upgrading of the
deteriorating 30-year-old running
track at West Vancouver Secord-

ary. :
Affluent as the community may
be, student athletes have to travel

to other districts to practise and

compete on modern = synthetic
tracks.

“This is expensive to the school
district, the athletes, coaches,
parents, schools and clubs — both
in time and in money,”” committee
member Don Fletcher told council.

High-calibre athletes and
coaches have been lured away
from the area by the better facili-
ties in neighboring districts, Flet-
cher added.

Designed for all-weather use,
synthetic tracks have impact-ab-
sorbing characteristics that
minimize the stresses and strains
on joints, bones, muscles and ten-
dons associated with running and
walking.

“‘Use of the track would elimi-
nate entirely the risk of traffic ac-
cidents,"’ said Fletcher.

For a total cost of $361,600, the
committee proposes to construct a
400-metre synthetic track with a

_ high-jump fan, long-jump and
triple-jump runways, pole-vault
runway, discus and hammer circle,
shot-put circles and areas for stee-
ple chase and javelin.

New changerooms and
washrooms would replace the ex-
isting - facilities and provision

‘would be made for handicapped _

access: -
The: ‘cost: also includes a small

equipment | crest shed and a’

moderate flood. lighting system,
designed so as not to annoy nearby
homeowners. :

* The. commitee : maintains that
one-third: of the cost could be
covered through a provincial GO
B.C... government grant » while
about... $50,000. could be _ raised
within the. community.
 “*We-have promises of $15,000
to $20,006.— and we have yet to
begin campaigning, ” said Fletcher.

‘ the: track updated project

That would leave some $190,000
which the committee hopes will be
donated by the municipality and
the school district.

The committee was made up of
representatives from 11 local
organizations and groups, in-
cluding. the secondary school
parent groups, a number of
ratepayers groups, the West Van-
couver Chamber of Commerce,
School District 45, the municipal

parks and recreation department,

WVSS athletic departments,
NorWesters Track and Field Club,
Handicapped Athletes and North
Shore Optimists.

Their report was based on a
report prepared by Ron Davies, a
professional sports and recreation
consultant who has worked around
the world supervising the construc-
tion of track facilities.

The track would be available to
students and the public.

According to Don Durward of
the North Shore NorWesters Track
and Field Club, there are about 70
North Shore athletes ‘in the
organization, aged nine and up.

Some 25 per’ cent come from
West Vancouver.

Presently, club members practise .

at Pauline Johnson school, Mahon

Park in North Vancouver and in |

the Park Royal north parking lot.

“West Vancouver walkers are
well looked after in this communi-
ty — let’s give West Van runners
the opportunity to exercise their
feet,’’ said Durward .- .

West. Vancouver Mayor Don
Lanskail said council supported

‘in
principle.”’

But West Vancouver District is
facing the. worst budget situation
in ;years thanks to inequities in
provincial funding to school
districts and municipalities, Lan-
skail said.

“We also have to weigh this”

against the claims of so many
other members of the communi-
mw said Lanskail. |

Argyle Ave. aris
battle rages | on.

‘ SEVERAL LETTERS of support
for the proposed.use of municipal
homes on Argyle Avenue for the

‘arts have been received by West.

Vancouver District Council.

“The waterfront houses have been e

"purchased by the municipality for

the future extension of the

seawalk.

But until ‘suffi cient properties
have been , the municipal
houses are being rented out on a
month-to-month basis.

The residents, some of whom
have waited ‘years to get into the
rental houses, have ‘protested to

council, both in writing | and in.

person.
But letters to. council also ex-
press support for the . proposed

method of providing work and
display space for local arts groups —

who presently lack facilities.

Many filled in a form letter of
“support. written by Lynn -Flipse,
president of the West Vancouver
Community Arts Council.

“The aim of this project is to
enhance awareness of. the arts in
the community,"" Flipse pointed

owt .

: Municipal staff are currently in-

"vestigating the most suitable Pro-
perties to this end. - ‘

_YouR NEIGHBORHOOD NEWSPAPER

hast Lonsdale Avenue
North vancouver, B.C.

The West Vancouver Vidaget « elvered montnty. ser
wrg aS of West Vancouver trom Caplana Arver to
Horseshoe Bay The West Vancouver Villager is a din
son of fvorth Shore Free Press Lid Cetcutation 15.480

Submissions are weicome but we can-
not accept responsibility for unsolicited
material including manuscripts and pic-
tures which should be accompunied by
a stamped, self-addressed envelope.

- Entire contents © 1988 North Shore
Free Press Lid. Al! rights reserved.

¥t is figures like these that’
prompted the West Vancouver
Police force to form a four-man
traffic division.

“*This will allow us to have a
greater degree of specializa-

commented Chief Hal
Jenkins. ‘‘We want to show
that we are serious about mak-
ing the municipality a safer
place to live."*

Jenkins noted ‘that his
department’s concern with ris-
ing accident rates is consistent
with policing priorities estab-
lished by the province, which
call for more effective traffic
enforcement.

The West Vancouver Police
Board, he says, also supports
the levying of fines for traffic
offences, an announcement
made recently by Solicitor-
General Angus Ree.

“It’s simply to have some
teeth put into the Motor Vehicle
Act,”’ Jenkins said.

The new traffic division,
headed by Sgt. Gunther Wahl,
is in the process of analyzing
the major traffic problem areas

One priority is cracking down
on speeders on Marine Drive
from Lionas Gate Bridge to
Dundarave.

The traffic’ division held a
March 7 to 10 traffic enforce-

LETTUCE

Romaine, butter
| green or

— 4g)

By PEGGY TRENDELL-WHITIAKER
Cc. Villager Reporter :

ment blitz in this area, paying
special attention not only. to
speeders but to traffic light and
pedestrian crosswalk violators.

Wahl notes that Lions Gate
Bridge traffic at rush hour can
be particularly hair-raising,
with drivers doing everything
from cutting in front of each
other to driving on the side-
walk.

“They're all in a hurry,””
Wahi says of the commuters.
“Society nowadays is under the
gun trying to achieve so much
in a little time."’ .

Wahl is also concerned with

seniors’ centre, recreation cen-
tre and library are located.

This area will be watched
closely, as he says one pedestri-
an has been killed and at least
two others injured there.

The seasonal influx of drivers
heading. for the slopes of
Whistler or Cypress mountains
also adds to the traffic stress.

Jenkins says many drivers use
the Cypress road as a ‘‘speed-
way,”’ and drivers not only
speed along the Squamish
Highway but commit other of-
fences such as passing on sec- —
tions with a double yellow line.

“On the slopes they’re very
nice people,’ Jenkins said of |
the skiers. “But on the road,
they’re maniacs.”*

The West Vancouver Police’s
jurisdiction extends along the
Squamish Highway to Sunset
Creek.

Although Wahl said ‘‘the |
overall picture doesn't look
good"’ when it comes to the in-
crease of motor vehicle acci-
dents in the municipality, he
does not think West. Vancouver
drivers are .“orse than those
anywhere cise.

“They probably drive fancier
cars, hut I don’t think their
behavior is any different,”” he
concluted,