Dear Editor:
Re: A Christmas Chrestomathy – No Refunds, No Returns, Dec. 14 This Just In opinion column by Trevor Lautens.
Bravo Mr. Lautens.
Something that most people seem to miss or just choose to ignore in the B-Line equation is why TransLink needs to take two lanes of Marine Drive to dedicate them to buses only.
I drive from Caulfeild to downtown Vancouver most days and some times I even ride the Blue Bus. I have yet to personally witness a need to reduce Marine Drive to just one lane for vehicle traffic in either direction.
I have not personally witnessed a bus being overcrowded (yes, I have ridden it from Cypress Park to Georgia and Burrard and back several times, 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.) and have never had it help up by gridlock necessitating a dedicated lane. What I do hear are people who would like to ride a B-Line and that’s fair, but whoa on the 1970s argument that getting 50 people out of their cars and into a bus reduces their carbon footprint. That thinking and facts were based on old oil-burning cars of the ’70s versus a diesel bus.
However, in 2018, the diesel bus is the polluter compared to the many commuters who have switched to hybrids and Teslas. Have a look around West Vancouver. Every second car is electric or hybrid.
So, instead of trying to justify a B-Line with a dedicated lane, maybe TransLink and the mayors should rethink their approach. If this is a done deal, why not spin this into a win-win? Why not allow e-cars and hybrids in the dedicated lane as well? Food for thought.
Ken Walton
West Vancouver
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