Motorcycle crews prove invaluable
Dear Editor:
My nephew and I want to convey our condolences to the family and friends of the rider who was killed and the two riders who were injured in the Granfondo race Sunday.
We had been on a ride to southern Alberta and had ridden past the racers between Osoyoos and Keremeos. When we got to Keremeos I had mentioned to my nephew how odd it was to not see any motorcycle support riders for this event. In fact the only support vehicle I saw was one pickup with its four-ways on, driving along the highway.
I have been volunteering along with a large group of other motorcycle riders for this kind of event for over 15 years now. My wife and I were one of the 18 volunteer riders at the Canadian Ironman in Penticton in 2012.
We have all volunteered and/or performed at various charity and event functions over the years. These include the Granfondo races. My buddy Verne and I led the elite riders in the Whistler Granfondo off the Lionsgate Bridge prior to the start of the race in 2021.
I had mentioned to both my nephew and my wife how surprised I was to not see any supporting motorcycles at this event and how unsafe it made me think it was for the bicycle riders.
Our main purpose on these kinds of races when we volunteer is to keep the vehicle traffic slowed down and separated from the bike riders. We often carry medical attendants on our bikes as passengers to provide emergency first aid and also most of us have some spare parts for the riders should their bikes break down.
In all the events where we have been providing support there has never鈥攖o my knowledge鈥攂een more than one minor accident between a vehicle and a bicycle. I don鈥檛 know if the race had any motorcycle support as I did not ride the whole course.
I don鈥檛 know how this accident happened but I wonder if they did not have proper support would it have happened? When I saw the news report it made me feel sick and so very sad that this had happened.
To the families and friends of these riders our thoughts and prayers go out to you. To all our two-wheel friends, whether you have pedals or motors, ride safe.
Dave Truesdell
Ladysmith
Drivers don鈥檛 respect cyclists
Dear Editor:
I participated in Sunday鈥檚 tragic Okanagan Grandfondo... and also saw that two cyclists were hit in Prince George last week, one fatally.
Unfortunately, neither event surprises me, at all.
I regularly ride Naramata Road (as I live in that community) and at least 5% of motorists brush past me without the legally required separation distance of 1.5 meters .... some do not even adjust their vehicle鈥檚 location in the lane, at all!
Yesterday, on 3A (80 km/h at that location) with many, many cyclists on this well- publicized event, a truck/camper combo came past me within a few feet not moving over a bit (even though the adjacent lane was empty on this double-laned section), blowing his horn.
It appears many motorists are 1.) unaware of the separation requirement 2.) retain the attitude that bicycles do not belong on the road and it is OK to hit one.
I see no evidence of enforcement of this 2024 B.C. regulation.
I am extremely frustrated, scared and convinced I will be hit one day. I will mount a bike flag horizontally to try to improve the vehicle/bicycle separation.
Ron Braun
Naramata
Woman, 81 cycles to appointments
Dear Editor:
My answer to Judy Preen鈥檚 question in Saturday鈥檚 letters page.
She asked, 鈥淚 am wondering how many people go grocery shopping, other forms of shopping, to the doctor and dentist offices on bikes?鈥
I do! I do!
I live in Kelowna and I cycle to my doctor appointments, dental appointments, cafes, banking, retail stores, to the Kelowna Hospital to visit my husband; all my errands are done on my bike.
Bike racks are almost everywhere I go and I absolutely love the bike paths! I do not cycle to the grocery store for obvious reasons鈥擨 have no place to carry the groceries鈥攁lthough I guess I could attach a wagon of some sort.
By the way, I am an 81-and-a-half year young senior.
Joy Ryan
Kelowna
Eby has no right to rewrite OCP
Dear Editor:
Regarding the 鈥楥ity of Kelowna seeking feedback on planned changes to the 2040 Official Community Plan鈥 (OCP)
New housing rules imposed by the provincial government are forcing the City of Kelowna to make some changes to its 2040 Official Community Plan.
The City鈥檚 proposal to change the OCP 鈥榯o meet the evolving needs of our community鈥 is absolute nonsense.
The real reason for those radical changes has everything to do with Premier David Eby鈥檚 attempt to bail out and 鈥榮ave face鈥 for former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his insanely out of-control immigration policies, implemented without a complementary and viable housing policy, that should have been negotiated with the provinces, in consultation with the people.
Such massive changes are in breach of federal, provincial, and municipal statutes. They will destroy the form and character of our city, and severely undermine our quality of life.
In 2023, Trudeau admitted 1.25 million newcomers into Canada, and announced a target of 395,000 new permanent residents for 2025, plus an astounding 673,000 temporary-foreign workers, other temps, and international students.
From 2000 to 2015 the average annual immigration was 617,800, increasing to a massive 1.4 million each year from 2016 to 2024.
Eby has absolutely no legal or moral right to rewrite our OCP, and arbitrarily impose those radical changes on our cities, and our city councillors have no legal or moral right to implement them.
The B.C. government is out of control, and our basic human rights to be consulted have been severely violated.
Andy Thomsen
Kelowna
Project way over planner鈥檚 head
Dear Editor:
What is happening to the city of Penticton?
The streets are getting smaller and smaller to get around these days. I am so surprised someone hasn鈥檛 been killed yet with the confusion over bike lane BS.
The absolution abortion of South Main is beyond words. When are you people planning on planting these flowers/plantings as spring has sprung and summer has arrived and still nothing. What are you waiting for as your people have weeded the areas and will soon need to again?
This is so beyond embarrassing and pathetic!
Get your flowers together people and would kindly ask the city planner to step down as this is way over your head.
Luca James
Penticton
Workers on front lines not a burden
Dear Editor:
An incident in the U.S. prompted some reflection on a serious issue in Kelowna.
In Missouri, the Republican-controlled legislature just blocked a bill that would have set the minimum wage at $15, and granted paid sick leave. Why, because to them it would destroy business, and discourage new business in the state.
It doesn鈥檛 matter that CEOs make 200 times more than the average worker (300 times in the U.S.), or that owners are worth up to $300 billion, it is the front line worker, the grinder, the builder, the foundation of a business, who Is generally portrayed as a burden when it comes to improving, and even maintaining their standard of living.
Now look at Kelowna Springs Golf Club. This course should be owned by the city, providing all the benefits to residents of modest means and their families that our wealthier co-citizens enjoy at their country clubs.
But wealthy Kelowna staff say no, this would be standing in the way of business development, in the way of warehouses. Again, the same people as above are being told they are negatively impacting business progress.
Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas saw the need, after the loss of several affordable courses in town, and promised to save Kelowna Springs during his mayoral campaign. He now seems to be hedging.
Whether there is a surplus of industrial land in Kelowna (there is) or not, this issue is about showing respect to local front line workers and their families.
We need to follow the example of Vancouver-owned and profitably operated municipal golf courses like Fraserview (one of six); modest green fees, negligible fees for kids, family rates, and modest food prices (like the $6.50 all-day, full breakfast), where the folks who are the backbone of our society can regularly enjoy a wonderful family experience.
Don Henderson
Kelowna