Dear Editor,
So, I try and be environmentally friendly as I can.
I recycle everything. Transit when I can.
But I still have several motorcycles and, of course, a car. I am working on getting a hybrid until my building can work out the infrastructure for an e-car.
I am also a public transit driver so have an Employee Compass Card and I transit a lot.
But most important is I almost always rollerblade, bicycle, run to work – five kilometres each way, more so because I like to be active.
So, I never really use my car that much unless I need to move something or it is hard to get to a location.
I have been living in Richmond since July 2023 and been parking long term near my place for months.
So was I surprised to receive a Notice of Bylaw Violation for parking in front of a house for over 72 hours.
I figured that a homeowner didn’t like cars parked in front as someone had put a delineator cone in their front area to stop cars from parking there.
Of course, that is not legal so I moved it out of the way and parked there regardless.
So, that rich person in their fancy house had to have called Richmond City Hall to complain about my car, because that is the only time bylaw officers come around – when people call in complaints – made obvious by my parking in the area already for days or longer seeing as I never really use my car.
So, to be clear: no matter how environmentally friendly I try and be, the City of Richmond, supported by the mayor and the councillors, requires me to use my car within every 72 hour period?
Even if I don’t need to use my car?
Wow! Way to go!
I get a bylaw ticket for being environmentally friendly while the public is endlessly speeding; using their phones while driving or at lights; travel freely in transit-only lanes (yes being a transit driver this one really pisses us bus drivers off); City of Vancouver, etc. putting bike lanes in the most ridiculous routes or allowing bikes to freely travel on major roadways instead of going two blocks in any direction so they don’t impede traffic and cause delays and pollution; pedestrians crossing the road whenever they feel like it, further impeding traffic and causing more pollution, bicyclists riding however they want.
The list goes on and on and on.
Welcome to the Lower Mainland.
I am driving my car now while I write this email.
Oops, I almost hit a pedestrian crossing on a yellow light, which I would probably get in trouble for instead of the stupid pedestrian looking at their phone.
No, just joking.
But it’s the reality here in beautiful and very broken B.C.
Red Savage
Richmond
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