Misnomered

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Public transit is one of those environments that lends itself to interaction with strangers. Sometimes it's a conversation about the weather, other times the interaction is non-verbal. The latter is often more interesting.

Returning home after dinner with a friend earlier this evening, I noticed a rainbow in the sky just as the bus was pulling out of uptown. I naturally put my book down to admire it.

The rainbow formed a perfect arc in the sky. I wondered if the handsome guy sitting in the row in front of me, who had been courteous enough to ask me if reclining his seat would disturb me, could see the rainbow. It was then that the handsome guy sitting in the row in front of me started photographing the rainbow with his camera phone. I myself had been thinking of doing the same thing. Encouraged, I pulled out my camera and snapped a few shots.

Labels: June 2009, observations, transit

posted by Vanessa at 10:12 PM

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

I got home just in time.

I had met my friend Cynthia for dinner at this great sushi restaurant on Main. Because of the hot weather today, I wore my cute dress I bought in Victoria and didn't bring a cardigan.

We parted ways shortly before ten. Nightfall had crept over the city prematurely; the sky had become overcast. Despite this, it was still very humid. I walked home against the howling wind, an ordeal made more difficult as sand was blowing up from construction sites and I had to navigate closed sidewalks. I could smell the rain coming, and may have felt a drop here or there with five long blocks left. I hoped the clouds wouldn't crack until I had made it back. After connecting the final street lamp dots I made it up my back steps dry.

Subsequently, brushing my teeth I heard a sound. Looking out the bathroom window I saw steady, moderate rain dancing across the roof of the car parked in the driveway.

Labels: food, July 2008, observations, transit

posted by Vanessa at 10:56 PM

Thursday, March 13, 2008

The municipality responded to my crosswalk email quickly! The next day I received a response confirming that they'd received my email and were forwarding it to the appropriate person. This is the extent to which I expected to hear back from them. But when I got home I had a message asking me to call them back. I returned the call the next day and spoke with the Superintendent of Streets.

He explained to me that crosswalk lines are not just painted on. It's actually a special compound and it is too cold at the moment for them to apply it (maybe repaving the crosswalks at the start of winter was a silly idea then). "But isn't there tape?" he asked. I informed him that there were tapped on stop lines for the cars, but nothing for the crosswalks. So he said next time it was nice out he would have his crews tape down the crosswalks.

It was nice out the following day. So on my way to my bus stop mid-morning I noticed that they'd taped the crosswalks. Victory!

If you'll notice, across the intersection, there is no crosswalk!

If you'll notice, across the intersection, there is no crosswalk!

But they only taped down two of the four crosswalks at the four-way stop.

Oh well, I suppose. It's something at least and the sense of safety seems to have increased in response, i.e. cars are actually respecting pedestrians trying to cross!

[Update, Tuesday, March 18, 2008:] Monday morning the real crosswalk and stop lines were painted back on, thus ending the crosswalk saga.

Labels: March 2008, photos, transit

posted by Vanessa at 10:07 PM

Sunday, March 09, 2008

I just sent this letter to the municipal Engineering department, the Mayor and City Council:

In late October or early November I saw city workers repaving the four-way stop intersection of [Avenue] and [Street]. Temporary stop lines were painted but no temporary crosswalk lines were painted. This makes it extremely dangerous for pedestrians to cross the street, as cars seem to be less inclined to stop for people wanting to cross the street. Moreover, drivers seem to adhere less stringently to the four-way stop signs. This is a serious concern to me as I live in the neighbourhood and frequently need to use the crosswalks at this intersection.

It has been nearly six months since the crews have finished repaving this intersection. Would it be possible to paint the crosswalk lines soon? This is a grave matter of pedestrian safety.

Without re-painting the lines the job isn't done and it is unacceptable that it has taken this long to complete this task. A boy that lives nearby was hit by a car at this intersection a few years ago. A month ago I was crossing this intersection going Northwest when an elderly woman blew the stop sign heading Southeast (there are other issues with this).

The crosswalks in this community are dangerous because the drivers are inattentive. Further down this same street at the main intersection with a street lamp I've seen drivers making left-turns and nearly missing mothers pushing baby carriages (I've seen this happen more than once, the pedestrian had the right-of-way because the "walk" sign was illuminated). At this same intersection I've almost been hit by a car wanting to turn right when it was my turn to cross (the woman driving smiled and waved at me when she noticed me on the curb).

Another crosswalk just West of this one has had numerous accidents. There is debate over whether the crosswalk is poorly designed; the crosswalk is not at an intersection and is pedestrian-activated, but instead of a flashing green traffic light that turns red to stop traffic, amber lights simply flash "to increase motorists’ awareness of the presence of a pedestrian by improving their visibility to approaching traffic." However, I find that frequently drivers are in too much of a hurry. Instead of stopping to let the pedestrian cross, they try to save the 45 seconds it would otherwise take by speeding through.

Of course the lesson we learn as children to "stop and look both ways before crossing the street" is an important one, but pedestrian caution and awareness is only half of it and is not infallible. I guess I just feel that my odds of getting hit have been heightened.

Labels: March 2008, transit

posted by Vanessa at 3:35 PM

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

I call it Corporate Whore Coffee Co. and endeavour to support smaller independent coffee shops. However, as a poor student I will make use of a free gift certificate, especially in light of the fact that Corporate Whore Coffee Co. is the only establishment offering me respite from the cold while I wait for the bus home from my night class Wednesday evenings.

Yesterday morning the situation that led me to order their mediocre drip coffe was slightly different. Having woken up early to go volunteer, I needed help easing into full consciousness, and decided to use said gift certificate. Drowned in milk, my tall medium roast was more palatable that I remember their dark roast being.

Never really impressed in the first place with the philosophising that adorns the side of their cups, I found this one by Madeleine Albright particularly shocking (forgive the poor quality camera-phone photo):

Upon further inquiry, I see how the decontextualisation of the phrase is what created schock value for me. It also made me reflect on my choice of volunteer organisation..

Labels: food, November 2007, photos, pop culture, transit

posted by Vanessa at 11:07 AM

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Despite the obstacles, Hayley and I supported business along the Canada Line, and saw John Travolta in drag at the Park Theatre. The primary reason we chose the Park was the show time. The added bonus was being able to get admission and a fountain drink for less than the cost of a larger chain theatre's price of admission.

Labels: July 2007, movies, pop culture, transit

posted by Vanessa at 11:30 PM

Friday, July 20, 2007

As a public transit user, I was very impressed with the Underground and Metro when I was in London and Paris last summer. I felt that the expansive Underground and Metro systems were very useful and something to which our system could aspire. When I returned I, like anyone who has just arrived back in town after some time spent in Europe, had some new insights regarding our local system.

Construction of Canada Line has been problematic since before its start. In addition to the hardships borne by the Cambie Street merchants and residents, the Canada Line has been opposed by the communities of South Delta and White Rock who will lose their direct bus service to the city centre so TransLink can meet its 50,000 riders per day quota as part of its agreement to meet requirements for government funding.

Although our counterpart, SkyTrain, need not be as extensive as the Underground's twelve lines, I feel that in spite of all the trouble the Canada Line has incited in its construction, it will ultimately be beneficial to our public transportation system.

Labels: July 2007, transit

posted by Vanessa at 11:57 PM