Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Blessed Be The Pushers Of Plows And The Unpluggers Of Drains.

 

Truth be told, I normally don't drive all that much as I live close enough to where I work that I can usually ride my bike to and from most days.

But all that changes during the holiday season, what with all the visiting, etcetera.

This holiday season, of course, driving wasn't easy in greater Lotusland, at least at the front end due to the weather.

But all that has pretty much passed now after a few days of warmer temperatures and a whole lot of rain.

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This morning, as the Whackadoodle II and I were driving down to our favourite South Vancouver Island beachwalk, we were tuned in to the local talk(ish) radio station and the host was doing his best to whip up a little inter-municipal fervour over who did a good job of plowing their streets and who didn't.

As you might expect this particular host blamed one particular municipality's apparent snow removal shortcoming on wokeness, or some such thing.

All of which reminded me of the old days of the Snowmaggedon grandstanding from the Spam-A-Lot-In-A-War-Chest-Funded-Interweb-Can which, as might be expected given the corpMedia's penchant for professional forgettery, was brought back to life earlier this winter with the help of at least one now 'elected' former Spam-A-Lot-eer:

Two Metro Vancouver municipal politicians are calling for a so-called "snow summit" to try to prevent a repeat of the chaos that unfolded Tuesday where routine commutes became hours-long ordeals.

Surrey councillor Linnda Annis and New Westminister councillor Daniel Fontaine are calling for municipal leaders, the provincial government, transit operators and road contractors to come together to create a region-wide plan...


But here's the thing.

I drove through many a municipality, both on the Lower Mainland and on the South Isle, in the days both before and after Christmas and I was pleasantly surprised to see just how well they all did at keeping the great majority of their major, and a good many of their minor, routes passable through one of the biggest snowfalls in recent memory.

Now, I realize that there are probably all kinds of examples where things did not go so smoothly, especially when the white stuff was falling fastest and/or when the drains were at their most overflowing, but, still, it seems to me that all those folks out there sanding and plowing and drain clearing did a pretty darned good job at a time of year when most of them would usually be taking a little time off like most of the rest of us.

OK?

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11 comments:

NVG said...

Today, this Afternoon, Tonight, (probably the rush hours tomorrow too) is NOT a good place to be right now. If you haven't heard, the Second Narrows Bridge is having a few issues with chunks of the concrete decking, on STEEL, missing. The previous use of Instant Patch has finally failed.

Suggestion: New bridge over to Belcarra Park to Coquitlam

https://blogborgcollective.blogspot.com/2015/04/jordan-batemans-removal-of-lions-gate.html

Bruce Mitchell said...

In relation to “corpMedia penchant for professional forgettery” I happened to catch a morning teevee news show where they interviewed two lucky young men who survived the coquihala connector bus crash. One lucky victim had a bandaged finger and the other a minor scrape to the side of his head and thank dog that was the extent of their physical injuries. TV interviewers managed to coax out of the lads that it was extremely slippery and perhaps the highway should have been shut down by the highways ministry sorta, kinda making this appear like a government failing. One of the lads, the one with the bandaged finger also said the bus was going way too fast which would make this bus roll over a driver failing. However, later in the show that comment about going too fast was edited out making this just a story about wether or not the road should have been shut down. Furthermore minister Rob Fleming was, as the story went on, unavailable for comment at the time perhaps indicating more questions about ministerial culpability…or at least giving that impression…which seemed like the object of much of the tv story’s gist the first place.

Bruce Mitchell said...

In relation to “corpMedia penchant for professional forgettery” I happened to catch a morning teevee news show where they interviewed two lucky young men who survived the coquihala connector bus crash. One lucky victim had a bandaged finger and the other a minor scrape to the side of his head and thank dog that was the extent of their physical injuries. TV interviewers managed to coax out of the lads that it was extremely slippery and perhaps the highway should have been shut down by the highways ministry sorta, kinda making this appear like a government failing. One of the lads, the one with the bandaged finger also said the bus was going way too fast which would make this bus roll over a driver failing. However, later in the show that comment about going too fast was edited out making this just a story about wether or not the road should have been shut down. Furthermore minister Rob Fleming was, as the story went on, unavailable for comment at the time perhaps indicating more questions about ministerial culpability…or at least giving that impression…which seemed like the object of much of the tv story’s gist the first place.

Anonymous said...

The two biggest problems about driving in snow that grandstanding politicians ignore and fail to point out are 1) Lower Mainland drivers are lousy drivers in snowy conditions and 2) too many vehicles in BC are not equipped with snow tires.
Having snow tires on your car makes a huge difference in being able to control your car in snow - wet or dry.

RossK said...

NVG--

Perhaps the extreme temp changes had something to do with the patch failing?...Over here in Victoria I've seen a few deep potholes that remind me of something you see regularly in Montreal

_____

Bruce--

There is fogettery and there is purposeful shaking of the Etch-A-Sketch for framing purposes...Clearly, you found a good example of the latter.

______

Anon-Above--

You mean all season radials won't take you to the top of Grouse Mountain and back?


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Keith said...

A snow summit, just the thing. However, it won’t be that easy as more then one entity will be involved, there is much to do in preparation.

A steering committee needs to be formed to set the terms of reference for the participants and make up of the summit group.

Then focus groups are required to define what is snow, budgetary requirements and will federal and provincial “ partners” be part of the process.? Who will be responsible for providing refreshments? Will it be a standing committee due to the shortage of seating that couldn’t be delivered due to the 6 inch snow drifts.? Are the proceedings to be in camera, or out camera, either way, will anything made by Canon from a specialty camera store suffice.? Can the required snow removal equipment once determined be solar powered.? What are the priorities, bike lanes, sidewalks, 10 feet either side of all Starbucks including the adjacent on street parking spaces.?

Are the focus groups capable of tackling such questions, will further sub committees be required.?

On the face of it it looks to be a daunting task that local politicians and other relevant parties, are not capable of coming to terms with before the 2023 whitemare is upon us. Best option is to call Vern at Winnipeg city hall.

RossK said...

Keith - Ha!

(and media coverage...lots and lots of media coverage with spokesthingies and everything)


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Anonymous said...

All seasons are better than summers, but snowies, especially X-Ice and Blizzaks, are by far the best for safer driving in snow conditions. DF

Anonymous said...

Excellent and appropriate post, Ross. Ideally this should be a presentation in mainstream media, although it will probably get distorted. It seems that the minor injuries of the accident victims along with planting words in their mouths is the strategy of current reporters. Another current issue by all mainstream media, including CBC, is all about compensation for travel interruptions, not the extreme weather event. As for the grandstanding about snow removal, those politicians haven't paid any attention to the similar problems in Washington state and other areas North America. Send them to Buffalo for the rest of the winter. RG

e.a.f. said...

For a little comedy relief it was fun to watch the "media" try to lead people to blame no one but the "government". As to who is responsible, usually the drivers who don't have proper tires, don't know how to drive in snow, driving too fast. O.K. driving too fast may not exactly be the problem, its not being able to stop.

In 1996 we had a massive snow fall, things were a disaster.

In the mid 1970s we had a lovely snow fall It took buses in the City of Vancouver over an hour to go a block. some even longer. Nothing was moving. Went out and had a look, hadn't seen anything like it since the 8th grade, when Richmond in some places had almost 3 feet of snow.

The media was suggesting or trying to have others suggest the connector should have been closed. I've driven that stretch of road. On one lovely March day, it started to snow. Slush every where, slippery as a Lieberal/Socred politician, no road clearing. Thought about it and did what I always have done, put the vehicle in second gear and go slow. No problem.

When mini wac became premier back in the day, one of things he did was privatize all road maintenance. As one of my associates noted ten years later, the roads hadn't been clear in 10 years in her area.

Closing the two bridges made sense. The ice bombs aren't a fun thing to have happen to you. Now who built those bridges? Any one, can you remember, perhaps the media could check their files?????

In Nanaimo we had the usual comments in the local paper. One group complaining their road wasn't cleared nor the side walks. the other group always complains about high taxes regardless of the season. Of course the Mayor, council, Works dept. could remove snow from every road in town, but that costs a whole lot of money. People need to get a grip. Snow happens very infrequently and government can not nor should they budget for a short term event like snow. The main roots are always kept clear. Buses go along just fine. If you choose to purchase a home in a hilly area, you need to think about what will happen come "snow season"--well two days of it.

there are the usual complaints about unshovelled side walks. Mine is not shovelled. Not able to do that, old and slightly disabled. Try to hire some one, good luck with that.

As a senior who has a lovely steel plate in their leg, complements of our good medical system and the great surgeon in Nanaimo, I stay in when it snows. Its not the driving, its the walk to the vehicle.

People need to take responsibilty for some things themselves. That is what we have right wingers for, they're always advocating that. When it snows, not so much, they want it all cleared by the "government". It would be money better spent on health care and housing.

Most of us in this country can wait a day or so to take care of whatever is out there.

Keith said...

When I was a small lad walking 3 miles to school up hill both ways in 6 feet of snow wearing my dads old pyjamas, there was a requirement that vehicles had to have snow/winter tires on the drive wheels. The twice annual tire change or a winter set of wheels was the norm. Over time we have got away from that.

Although it’s not possible to legislate covering all the effects on the rest of us of the to clueless to realize they are clueless, is it not time to revisit that requirement again, or make it mandatory that all vehicles province wide have at the minimum mud and snow rated tires on by November 1 ? as is the case already on many of our highways or parts thereof. Then follow up with fines etc. if the vehicles blocking the roads don’t meet the minimum tire standards, driving while covered in ice and snow and the other dumb stuff that happens every snow and ice event.

Every snow fall on latte land brings the now predictable news clips of someone in a tire shop saying the rush is crazy and they left it too late etc etc., soon followed reports of the usual mayhem bought on by the aforementioned clueless and ill prepared despite the interviews with the municipal safety vest clad spokesperson in front of a pile of salt and snow ploughs before the dump comes, and myriad other folks saying stay off the roads at least until they can be cleared.