Smailer buses would be faster and more efficient Dear Editor: ft seems that we may learn a very valuable lesson in public transportation efficiency from the Old Coun- try. Following the deregulation of the bus service under the present British conservative regime, there ap- peared on the streets of Edinburgh, Oxford, Cam- bridge and many other British cities small, fast buses with a total capacity of no more than about 20 people. Where before large, sometimes double-decked, buses labored slowly and infrequently on routes in off-peak hours, collecting the few people who were willing to wait for such ineffectual service, these smaller buses provided frequent, rapid service, prof- itable for the commuter and operator alike. We can follow the British example for increasing the efficiency of our bus system by including in it smaller, faster buses. In the local Highland bus route, for example, it is common to see in anything but peak times, huge diesel buses lumbering up the hills with only a handful of passengers aboard. No doubt it is the sheer absurdity of this spectacle that has led to the successive cuts in the service we have experienced on the North Shore, with the spiral effect of diminished use of the public transportation system and the consequent effect of increased Lions Gate Bridge traffic. The solution offered by smaller, faster buses is rel- atively inexpensive and may be implemented in the short term without great modification to the long- suffering landscape of our city. In short, a great betterment in the quality of our air, the state of our roads and efficiency of our public transportation system may be had by means simple, cheap and close at hand. W.J. Spat North Vancouver Residents should save trees Dear Editor: I realize that many street trees have to be removed, such as for the Lonsdale Overpass, and i know that our district staff is vigi- lant for their protection, but it is also incumbent upon us to be vigi- lant, too, so that future genera- couver, Derek Powers: 986-9141) and ask to have the lot line verified. e Follow up that the municipal officer took appropriate action, which may even include prosecu- tion for Gamaging municipal prop- erty, if the tree was wrongfully We all jointly own the trees on road allowances. We must all care for them if we believe that forested streetscapes are important. The North Shore Citizens for Trees is a recently-formed group that believes in this philosophy. Yosky! Webb tions may be able to see at least felled. some of the secondary growth of native trees. 1 have seen trees being cut down which I believed to be on municipal property, i.e. the road allowance (which is the unpaved fringe of the road and is usually part of front fawns). What can one do to ensure that municipal trees are not felled by property owners mistakenly believ- ing that they have jurisdiction over the vegetation right to the curb- side? The following is offered as an effective strategy: © Approach the tree cutter cour- teously and inquire to whom the tree belongs. © if he or she indicates the owner of the property behind the road al- lowance, approach the property owner courteously, and ask to have the lot frontage line verified visually. © If you still think the tree is on municipal property (the road al- lowance) ask the cutter, courte- ously, to delay the felling. Note the street address of the location. eContact the municipal department which ‘cares for trees (in the District of North Van- Question of proportion Dear Editor: Here we go again. A responsible developer proposes a highrise for Lonsdale and North Vancouver City Ald. Bill Bell says that it’s - way out of proportion. Out of proportion to what? His own smail mind? Does he have professional! qualifications or does he simply believe that this indignant stance will garner him votes? Gerald F. Mascn North Vancouver Nort Vancouver DRAPERIES BY S. LAURSEN CUSTOM DRAPERIES AND VALANCES Labour $6.50 per panel unlined, $7.50 lined. CUSTOM BEDSPREADS AND COVERS Low, low prices on blinds and tracks For FREE Estimates Call 987-2966 Serving the North Shore for 18 years. do better in schooll Give your child or teenager two hours a week at Sylvan Learning Centre, and soon they'll be mastering the basic learning skills needed for success at school. Diagnostic Testing Individualized Instruction BH Personal Attention &@ State-of-the-Art Learning PROTECT YOUR LUNGS e 5) DON’T SMOKE T British Columbia Lung Association} @ Math fe Sylvan P @ou Learning gama Centre’ Materials Bi Unique Reward System Mi Convenient Scheduling Sylvan Learning Centre programmes now enrolling: Reading @ Algebra @ Study Skills MClear Writing North Shore 985-6811 Richmond 273-3266 Coquitlam 941-9166 7 - Sunday, October 8, 1989 - North Shore News RRIFs, ANNUITIES, RRSPs : ah : Bert Wickham Avis Lapham F.LLC., C.L.U., K.F.P A.T.C.1., K.P.P. RETIREMENT PLANNING WORKSHOPS Friday October 6th Friday, October 13 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 1:50 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. West Van Seniors Centre Siiver Harbour Centre 695 21st Street 144 East 22nd Street West Vancouver North Vancouver To Register call . 926-4375 980-2474 Registration Fee $1.00 BERT WICKHAM & ASSOCIATES LTD. Registered Financial Planners Call us now for free initial consultation Suite 29, 65S Clyde Ave., Park Royal 925-3101 eens THE CORPORATION SS adi OF THE DISTRICT GAN OF WEST VANCOUVER 2, OPEN HOUSE PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING ON 320 TAYLOR WAY Tuesday, October 10, 1989 7:30 to 10:00 p.m. Arbutus Gym, West Vancouver Recreation Centre, 780-22nd Street, West Vancouver West Vancouver Municipal Council invites any person in- terested in the revised proposal for development on the Municipal lands on the southeast corner of Taylor Way/Marine Drive to attend a special ‘Open House” to examine the plans and discuss them informally with the architect, developer, aldermen of the Planning, Land Use and Development Cornmittee and staff. The proposal involves two residential towers (17 and 23 storeys), ten townhouses and extensive landscaping in- cluding public walkways. It has been endorsed by Coun- cil's special panel of architects, by the Advisory Design Panel and will be the subject of a Public Hearing on Oc- tober 26, 1989. The community is urged to take advantage of this oppor- tunity to obtain details of the project from those involved in its development. For further information, contact The Department of Planning and Development, Municipal Hail 750-17th Street, 3rd Floor 922-1211 (local 204) 550,000 people work hard fo | project Canada’s endangsfed species. Beluga Whele ~ “ Deiphinapterus ieueas:: (St. Lawrence River stock) on ~- Canadian Wildlife Federation 7-4 1672 Ching Avenue Ottawa. Ontario K2A 324 (613) 725-2494