INSIGHTS

Jur roads have run out of courtesy |

| -IT WAS. a brilliant sunny day on the North Shore, and I
was feeling pretty chipper as I drove onto the Upper Levels
‘Highway from the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal.

”. ‘With three children in the back
of the car I was sticking to what I
.’ considered a safe speed, some-

“where between 80 and 90 km/h.
At this speed I knew I had to be
in the right lane, and, sure
enough, in no time at all cars were

whizzing by me in the Jeft lane. -

As one car was overtaking me
left, I glanced over and

passen| er: Withdut.a second’s

i he sneered and I saw
mouth form the words that

gum up the attitude of a lot of ‘our

focal drivers-today: ‘‘F-— you.”

If you’re doing. the speed limit.
in Greater. Vancouver these days,
or. (Heaven forbid!) a tad under
it, it’s extirely possible the driver
behind you will work himself or;

such a rage that they
will tailgate ow as if they’ Te pos-
sessed, then swerve out into the
passing lane and fix you with a.
hate. stare as they rocker down the

en I moved ‘here from Ed-
| 1984, I'don't remember
being especially appalled by the
drivers in this part of the country. °
‘ensuing eight years, «
something dreadful and downright
frightening has happened to the
dri in what many still regard

arn spared for a or dee lack
a mast drivers.

change lanes in whew) traffic to ©

of ‘the people ‘supported. the build-*
ing: ofta- Sean Only 17% “were

Catherine
Atyeo

JUST ADD WATER

make an exit.

My experience is that you can

have your signal on and look

hopefully at successsive drivers
and they will studiously ignore
_you. If another motorist actually
lets me in when I’m in this
predicament I’m so stunned I
wave, smile and come close to of-
fering to buy dinner.

If you’re on foot, you can also
prepare yourself for a motoring
world that doesn’t give two honks
about you.

You find yourself at a pedestri-
an crosswalk which has a sign
clearly instructing motorists to
“stop when occupied.’”

These signs are a waste of
metal. if you wait on the sidewalk
for the cars to stop so you could
cross, you'll be waiting until they

sive waterfront policy is vital if we
are to protect the millions of
dollars the district taxpayers have
already spent on community
planning, if we are to guarantee

‘the: continued livability of the.

district, if we.and our children are

People either expect you to read their
minds or try very hard to ignore you

cart you away in a cedar box sing-
ing ‘‘Amazing Grace.”

And forget about trying to
make eye contact with drivers —
they’re busy pretending you’re not.
there.

This lack of consideration for
others is regularly taken to dan-
gerous limits by many drivers on
our roads.

It is now common in these parts
for one or more cars to gun it
right through a red traffic light
(without even being in the in-
tersection).

It’s bad enough to sail right
through a red light — what makes
it mind-blowing is that apparently
many drivers feel it is their right
and privilege.

When you honk at someone to
whom a red light means ‘‘boot
it,’’ they either ignore you or, as
one man did recently, suggest you
commit an anatomically impossi-
ble act.

* Less dangerous than running ~
red lights but also hazardous is
the highly prevalent habit of not
using a vehicle's directional
signals.

Judging by how many motorists
don’t bother to signal, today’s at-
titude seems to be: “I’m not going
to let you know [’m turning right
at the next intersection. You'll

* just have to read my mind.”

Sgt. Don Miller of the North
Vancouver RCMP agrees that
there has deen a deterioration i in
driving.

64 If you wait on the sidewalk jor
the cars to stop so you could cross,
you'll be waiting until they cart you:
away in a cedar box singing...
Amazing Grace.99

He says an increase in traffic
volume on roads that can’t handle
the volume is part of the reason. .
Other reasons are impatience and
an attitude that a police officer
will use powers of discretion to let
you off.

Sgt. Miller advises drivers to _
slow down and be more con-
siderate.

In a motoring climate where
every second motorist seems
hostile enough to tailgate his own
mother off the highway, I’m
pessimistic about the ability of
most motorists to become more
considerate voluntarily.

The fact is, a iot of people out
there don’t even know what
constitutes basic consideration of
one's fellow humans (or else they
forget it all the moment they stick
a key into the ignition.)

The implication that we should
build more roads is cleary not the
answer; giving more asphalt to

T aancourT’s FIRST BIG DEAL

to have waterfront access and if -

we are to avoid costly’ conflicts
and legal hassles in the future. All

_ these issues I proposed to address

more than what we -
nthe. sewer line by”.

.,at the next municipal election who .

nV éd. against: setting. up a
-task force with the

to. consider foreshore-

, including en-

‘waterfront: is.a key conm-
po in any kind of long-term .
plaoning:. It is not. just. whether

seawall or seawalk, what kind and
‘Where. ‘There is the need to ad-

tional use designation.
Also, .adininistrative issues be-

through the task force.

But the three district councillors
and Mayor Dykeman' would have
none. Gf it. They were clearly

” frightened out of .their’ wits and -

“their, wimp souls were clearly
shaken’ by a small minority .who
“have vowed to oust any councillor

. dares to even consider setting up a
community task force, never mind
discussing the building of a
seawall.

. Council policy ‘dictates that the
cost of using district land is 7.5%
of its assessed lease value per
anum. But some property owners

adjoining district-owned foreshore’

Jands in the Cove area are charged
only $10 a year.

. The question is this: -Will the
comunity insist that the rights of
the district taxpayers. at large be
guaranteed? Or are we to ‘forgo
these vital community interests
because four “‘wimps,”’ including
the mayor, do not. have the
courage to stand up and be
counted? .
Coun. Ernie Crist

District of North Vancouver

Dear Editor:

(Re: write-up in Wed. Aug. 5,

Brunswick Beach) - .

I am- not a ‘resident of
Brunswick but have done a lot of
house-sitting and have made a lot
of friends with some beautiful

people there.

I fully agree: with the people

who live at the beach, the Bares -

are exhibitionists as well as very
disgusting.

Hey MOM, Loo AT
THESE 4 NIFTY
MAGIC BEANS

boors may actually encourag
boorish behavior. a

‘ Perhaps the only way we' ii get
courteous, thoughtful drivers i
through regular instruction by a:
smart (and polite) vehicle...

Since most motorist don’
people yelling at them, a calni,
neutral-sounding voice from, the.
car’ 's computer might just | be the

It would be programmed to
respond to inappropriate driv:
behavior with phrases fike: “Yo
are tailgating. This is rude and
dangerous,’’ or.*‘A senior citizen:
wants to use the crosswalk: Please,
allow her to cross the street.’’
Now that he’s retiring from
Masterpiece Theatre, the aut

“THAT'S NICE, MIKEY.
ER... WHERE'S Your
New BIKE ?

My own daughter at the tender
age of 14 was subjected to two

‘males exposing themselves to her

and making obscene gestures.
I arn 100% behind the people of
-Brunswich Beach. and J applaud

them for standing their ground °
and ‘fighting for so many years to.

get rid of those Bare individuals. -

To you, Barbara Thomas: yes,
beaches are public and free; why
hot try going to English Bay or

and have around bare -an
how far you’d get without being.
arrested? ©

You should all stay at: Wreck
Beach. where you belong and: |
the people of Brunswick Beach
live in peace. ©.

" Mae Morris

North Vancouver