Dear Editor: The respondents to the question by your Inquiring Reporter, “Would: you support the proposed siding-scale transit vehicle levy?" (North Shore News, Oct.20, ) show they lack a clear under- standing of transportation costs. This is not surprising when one considers that the very existence of the North Shore News depends on automobile advertising that glorifies car ownership while ignor- ing the myriad negative impacts of oar automobile. dependency. As a result, the fallacy that we motorists, by buying insur- ance and gasoline, cover all the costs our driving incurs, lives on. According to GVRD reports, by the year 2021 the number of private cars on the roads in our area during rush hour will increase by 60 per cent trom 1997, assuming an overly optimistic 40 per cent increase in public transit ridership. The fact that private automobile sub : Sidies (conservatively estimated at $2.7 billion in 1991) far exceed subsidies co _ public: trarsit, ($360. million in 1991) “must be the paramount issue addressed by any group which oversees transporta- Honesty is the best policy Dear Editor: Recently | my. teenaged son left his brand new jacket at Supercuts. When we returned for it. it was gone. Today, as I was walking past I decided to go in and check again. y dy had returned it a few days ater. Her son had been wearing it and she knew it was way, too big for Our came the truth and she returned the jacket. P would like © day. to thank this kind and honest lady tor taking the dime to do this ‘Apparently an elderly Ve were not in a position to replace it, “Thank you also to the people at Supercuts, who tried to find us through Telus: —MAIL Box———— tion. TransLink’s proposed vehicle levy would barely touch this ntassive subsidy to motorise, While public transit: fares have already increased between S108 and $204 annually, we motorists contin- uc to get an almost fice ride. As Lower Mainland motorists, the subsidy we receive is estimated at over $2,000 per car per year, While our user fees cover most highway espenses, numerous studies indicate that driving costs several hundred dotlars annually per vehicle in direct local roadway costs. Some motorists think that) buying vehicle insurance pays for our driving costs but this is as ridiculous as believ ing that buying life insurance covers the costs of living our lives! if we want to drive, that’s fine, but we must be prepared to pay more of the costs instead of foisting theny on society asa whole. How many of us would drive so much if we were required to pay an additional $2,000 up front cach year? Does the TransLink proposal of pay- ing $40 to $120 annually really seen unreasonable? In reality it would be just a tiny step in making the true costs of ’ ear Editor: place. All concerns equally valid. | Motorists are subsidized car ownership more visible. A direct pollution tax (in the gaso- fine price or distance-based) and a stiff surcharge applicd when more than one car is Owned for personal use by one person should also be considered. Insurance rates should be based on dis- tance trivelled (Why should we not be rewarded for driving less?) and sur: charges shoul be implemented when non-uel efficient vehicles (hinury cars, “sport utility” vehicles, motorhomes, ete.) are insured. More Nesible week- end-only, atter hours and specitic days per week insurance plans should also be offered as an incentive to not drive daily. We nase all realize that a profound transformation in ove society is neces: sary, We must acknowledge the true costs of the automobile (loss of the nat- ural environment, resource depletion, air, water and noise pollution, ete.) and confront them head on. Sadly, the North Shore News has tailed us completely in this regard. Ken Timewell North Vancouver Fire door concerns valid Regarding Keith Lowe's fascinating piece on the fire door rule enforcement. Everybody here is be: ween a rock and a hard from theft to vandalism to fire safety scent Mr, Burgess’ concerns for pudlic satery are to ie praised while retail theft is something we afl pay for every y. Sinee [ view the North Shore News as the pertect forum : for a discussion of such questions and a clearing house for pro- and for teaching her grandson a lesson. Thank you so very much. assed solutions here's my evo cents: | don’t know about cost : bt could the problem be solved by fitting all doors on fire exit routes with magnetic locks that release when a key is used or the sprinklers and/or fire alarms go off This shouldn’s be much more conyplicated that installing cable TV. Rex Bromfield, rexx@smartt.com mm! “ete oe, *CBC tates Open 7 nays a week oCos Trucks vans & Minwans 7 y Call tor tree pice-up ‘ 990-9931 a Call or drop by for more details. 1600 Mackay Rd., North Van Pernrpresnepenepapeenete ‘ Sp = ae ew Are You Looking for Unique Handmade Christmas Gifts? Richard & Artic invite you to visit their handcraft shop just east of Riverside Drive on Dollarton Highway. Richard has created jewelry at this location since 1970. 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