Those not using cars are saving us money
Several recent letters indicate that many people seem to think that cyclists and other non-drivers are “free loaders” while car drivers not only pay their own way, but subsidize non-drivers. This is not correct.
Research by Transport Canada found that fuel taxes only cover about 15 to 20 per cent of the public costs associated with driving (the costs to build and maintain roads, policing and health care costs associated with driving and car crashes, etc.).
The large majority of these costs are paid through general revenues by everyone, including non-drivers. This means that people who drive less than average — including many cyclists — are subsidizing those that drive more than average.
There is also a huge subsidy for parking. Transportation economist Donald Shoup estimated that there are more than two billion “free” off-street parking spaces in the U.S. and in 2002, the annual cost to provide these spaces was up to $334 billion — more than $1,000 for each person in the country.
That amount has likely increased significantly in the past 20 years. These costs are ultimately passed on to consumers, so “free” parking spaces that benefit drivers are paid for by everyone through higher prices for all the goods and services we purchase.
That means that someone who cycles or takes transit to the mall is subsidizing those who drive. In Greater Victoria, the subsidy for “free” parking is likely at least $500 million annually.
That makes the $146,000 for Victoria’s bike valet program look like a tiny rounding error.
Bike lanes are mostly paid for, not through property taxes, but through provincial and federal grants. There is a strong incentive for governments to fund active transportation projects.
Researchers in 91原创 found that a five-kilometre car trip costs society $2.78 to pay for infrastructure costs, as well as accident, emissions, and other pollution costs — and that is after subtracting the fuel tax and other fees that the motorist pays.
Meanwhile, a five-kilometre bike trip actually saves society $0.75 — mostly due to health-care savings resulting from the health benefits of cycling.
Steven Murray
Victoria
Parking restrictions help downtown business
A recent letter asked how raising parking rates will help businesses. Other letters suggested that Victoria should lower or eliminate parking fees downtown.
This shows a lack of understanding of the basic laws of supply and demand.
For many downtown customers, the issue is not having to pay a couple of bucks to park; it’s being able to easily find parking close to their destination.
Lowering or eliminating parking fees would only make this situation worse. Downtown businesses are more supportive of paid parking than many people seem to realize.
For example, it was the downtown businesses that asked the City of Victoria to start charging for street parking on Sundays, because they wanted more turnover rather than one car parking in the same spot all day.
In fact, parking meters were first introduced in the 1930s (in Oklahoma City), not because of revenue hungry local politicians, but at the request of downtown business owners who were concerned about cars parked in front of their businesses all day, leaving nowhere for customers to park.
Rob Maxwell
Victoria
Parking rates and hours should be left alone
My missus and I have one weekday date downtown — always to one of our favourite restaurants.
We arrive downtown at 5 and pay for an hour of parking. By 6 p.m. the parking is complimentary.
I use the term complimentary because there is no such thing as free parking. The variable rates during the day guarantee that there is a steady traffic to support local business.
Evening “rates” create an incentive to come downtown, instead of staying in the suburbs, to enjoy Victoria’s “vibrant” nightlife.
Now if I had to park and pay and then rush through dinner because my parking is about to expire … well that is not going to be an enjoyable evening. I’ll get indigestion.
And that meal.
It averages over $120 going to a downtown restaurant that is likely still struggling from the continued impact of a pandemic.
Please city hall: Spare me the stomach ache — leave the parking rates and hours of service alone!
R. Colin Newell
Saanich
A paintball gun and a cam at crosswalks
Mayhaps school crossing guards could be issued with a critter cam, attached to their safety vest, and a paintball gun. Fluorescent orange would be very eye-catching.
Robert Irvine
Metchosin
Let’s bring back reusable cups
Re: “Victoria restaurants might have to provide reusable dishware for dine-in patrons,” March 10.
While this bylaw focuses on dine-in service, I suspect many of the disposable cups in the public garbage (13,000 per day) come from take-out beverages.
Before the pandemic, bringing your own reusable cup for take-out service was strongly promoted, even incentivized in some cases.
But at a certain point in the pandemic, many businesses no longer allowed this.
Now I’m not clear what businesses are advocating: I’ve seen no instances of communication on this.
As pandemic restrictions continue to ease, it feels like there’s an opportunity (for individual businesses and more broadly) to once again encourage customers to get back in the habit of using their own cup — at the very least, for take-out.
Maureen Foxgord
Victoria
Long, long wait for that recycling report
Re: “Nearly half the waste going to landfill could be recycled, CRD report says,” March 10.
I find it odd that the Capital Regional District appears to have waited until five months after the Tetra Tech Canada study was completed in September 2022, to apprise the residents of Greater Victoria that much of the refuse going to the Hartland Landfill could (should) have been recycled.
It certainly should not be up to the collection service to do a sort at the curb.
Pete Seward
Oak Bay
Where were you on the last election day?
I would like to point out that everyone who didn’t vote in Victoria’s last municipal election and has complaints about the folks elected got what you deserve.
Next election get off your duffs and vote!
Wendy Darbey
Victoria
What does the neighbour think?
Most would agree the recent announcement of three residential towers providing 555 rental units on the former Mayfair Lanes site will provide much needed housing in Greater Victoria.
In addition to this housing, the commercial space including a Real 91原创 Superstore will provide economic activity and employment in the area.
Combined, this development will add significant traffic pressure of all forms to the adjacent municipal infrastructure.
While this proposed development is consistent with Saanich’s Uptown-Douglas Corridor Plan, what has not been discussed is “what does the next-door neighbour think”?
That neighbour is the City of Victoria of which Tolmie Street not only forms the southern border of this development, but also the municipal boundary.
While Victoria will receive benefits from this development, the existing roads, sidewalks and bike lanes will also bear the brunt of the increased traffic to and from the development.
Surely elected leaders of both municipalities have a critical interest in free-flowing traffic along the Douglas corridor.
Is the stated intention of Saanich council of making the Uptown-Douglas Corridor the new “Downtown Saanich” really needed or prudent without a regional planning process which engages the City of Victoria?
Once again, the fractured municipal governance model in the region impacts transportation planning in addition to well-documented impact on land use, policing, fire services, recreation etc.
No time has been better than now to have an impartial review of municipal governance and possible amalgamation through the upcoming joint Saanich-Victoria Citizens’ Assembly.
Ivan Crossett
Victoria
CRD landfill report can’t be serious
Re: “Nearly half the waste going to landfill could be recycled, CRD report says,” March 10.
As a resident of North Saanich and a homeowner responsible for maintenance and cost of my own septic system and wastewater, it is very hard to take the Capital Regional District landfill report seriously.
Only days ago the news was about the lack of planning and gross misuse of the Hartland facility, when biosolids from our sewage treatment plants can be be dumped there, scattered in our forests or shipped to Nanaimo or some other location.
The CRD should have had a firm plan in place for dealing with biosolids from these treatment plants long before these facilities came online.
Now they are asking us again to somehow cut back products we put into our garbage. I don’t put wood waste into my garbage can!
We were better off with our old outfall system where is was diluted and dispersed in a safe manner.
Thomas McColm
North Saanich
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