10294 replies to this topic

[Danma]

On the westshore there's three middle schools, which means that many schools are not within walking distance to a lot of people. There is no middle school north of the highway, for example, nor is there a high school. I would encourage my kids to bike to school but I don't feel 100% comfortable about my kids biking on Millstream to cross the highway. They would have to be in the bike lanes, but then they're on a busy road full of cement mixers and dump trucks.

 

It's great that the E&N path runs east-west and the Goose cuts through the south half of Langford, but there are no good north-south routes, and surprisingly few paths that lead to middle or high schools.

Edited by Danma, 22 November 2021 - 09:08 AM.

[Mike K.]

I agree, where distances and practicality dictate and the parents can drive that's fine. But it's gotten to the point now where it's pretty bonkers. My neighbour drives his teenager to her middle school, for example. The walk is 15 minutes if you're dragging your feet. I see parents getting into cars in Vic West, and driving their kids to Vic West Elementary. The walk couldn't be more than 10 minutes.

[Mike K.]

Jeez, I was at a friend's place and we were doing some repair work, and the wife walks in panicking that we forgot to pick up the kid. I said no worries, I'll go get the kid. Kid was 13, and his walk from school was through suburban quiet streets, no more than 20 minutes. And funnily enough, it's the same walk I did when I was in grades 3 and 4.

[marks_28]

This is something I never understood. From Grade 2 onwards, I was always walking to school, whether it was a 5 min walk, or 25 min walk. Granted, both my parents worked, so I never really had an option to get a ride. But it was the same with a lot of my friends in those days too. Rarely would I ever walk alone, as most of the kids in our neighbourhood would walk as well. 

 

Regarding biking, I never biked to school back then. Maybe biking wasn't as popular or "cool" in those days, who knows. Although now I wonder why not - would have helped with the 25 min walk to junior high and high school. But these days, I definitely think traffic danger is a deterrent for kids to bike to school, especially in the West Shore. Where I live now, if a child was going to bike to the local elementary school, they would have to bike along both Pandora and Fort. Would I want my elementary aged child going along there by themselves? Not a chance. And with the amount of cycling intrastructure in the West Shore, or lack thereof, I sense a lot of families would feel the same. Unless they were lucky enough that they could access the local school on quiet streets only. But having to cross any of the highways? Going along one of the busy arterials? No thanks.

[Danma]

This is something I never understood. From Grade 2 onwards, I was always walking to school, whether it was a 5 min walk, or 25 min walk. Granted, both my parents worked, so I never really had an option to get a ride. But it was the same with a lot of my friends in those days too. Rarely would I ever walk alone, as most of the kids in our neighbourhood would walk as well. 

 

Regarding biking, I never biked to school back then. Maybe biking wasn't as popular or "cool" in those days, who knows. Although now I wonder why not - would have helped with the 25 min walk to junior high and high school. But these days, I definitely think traffic danger is a deterrent for kids to bike to school, especially in the West Shore. Where I live now, if a child was going to bike to the local elementary school, they would have to bike along both Pandora and Fort. Would I want my elementary aged child going along there by themselves? Not a chance. And with the amount of cycling intrastructure in the West Shore, or lack thereof, I sense a lot of families would feel the same. Unless they were lucky enough that they could access the local school on quiet streets only. But having to cross any of the highways? Going along one of the busy arterials? No thanks.

Yeah, that's our exact issue. It's an hour walk which is just excessively far... but there's no side roads or paths because Langford can't design neighbourhoods to save their lives and stuff like a pedestrian bridge across the highway from around where Mr. Mike's is was scrapped ages ago.

[marks_28]

Yeah, that's our exact issue. It's an hour walk which is just excessively far... but there's no side roads or paths because Langford can't design neighbourhoods to save their lives and stuff like a pedestrian bridge across the highway from around where Mr. Mike's is was scrapped ages ago.

 

Yeah I only recently learned about this whole debacle. For residents in the Florence Lake area, they had their walk essentially doubled from their neighbourhood to the Goldstream Ave. strip. I don't fully know the history, but I recall that Langford said they'd build the pedestrian bridge as part of the highway upgrade, then decided it was the Province's responsibility, and basically said not our problem. People kept illegally crossing the highway to save the huge walk around, so Langford's solution was to install fencing to prevent that, instead of recognzing that maybe they should dip into their financial reserves and build a pedestrian bridge or underpass. 

[Danma]

It might improve once all the undeveloped lands around Costco etc. are built and new roads and paths are implemented... but I'm not holding my breath.

[freedom_2008]

Traffic dangers?

I think that’s the first time I’ve heard that excuse as the reason. The families in my circles say their kids don’t have time to walk to school, or that they might get abducted, or that it’s too wet, too cold, too hot. But it all comes down to that choice being there, and kids loving it. Who wouldn’t?

The odds are greater for an average Canadian to be hit by lightning than a kid under age 18 to be abducted by a stranger. https://www.macleans...ur-kids-safety/

 

In Canada, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and youth ≤19. Motor-vehicle collisions (MVCs) accounted for 50% of all transport-related injury costs, followed by pedal cyclists (14%) and pedestrians (11%). https://bmcpublichea...2889-018-6269-9

[Victoria Watcher]

So what is the higher chance for injury?  Car crash in your parents' car on way to school, or random car hitting you as you walk to school?

[Mike K.]

I dunno, busy roads were still busy roads when I was a kid. Even busier in some regards. Craigflower was three or four lanes, wasn’t it? Now it’s two.

Upper Fort was three or four lanes, now it’s two. Lights used to be synced along downtown blocks, now they’re not so traffic moves slower.

I’d be inclined to say it’s never been a safer time to be a pedestrian in this city.

[marks_28]

Right, but I was saying how I wouldn't be comfortable with my child biking along Pandora and Fort Street. I would be more comfortable with them walking.

[mbjj]

Jeez, I was at a friend's place and we were doing some repair work, and the wife walks in panicking that we forgot to pick up the kid. I said no worries, I'll go get the kid. Kid was 13, and his walk from school was through suburban quiet streets, no more than 20 minutes. And funnily enough, it's the same walk I did when I was in grades 3 and 4.

 

Jeez, I was at a friend's place and we were doing some repair work, and the wife walks in panicking that we forgot to pick up the kid. I said no worries, I'll go get the kid. Kid was 13, and his walk from school was through suburban quiet streets, no more than 20 minutes. And funnily enough, it's the same walk I did when I was in grades 3 and 4.

In the Dark Ages, we were riding our bikes to school by grade two, lol. We loved walking to and from school, that was the social and gossip time. We sometimes walked early to school so we could hog the swings. My daughter walked to school from about grade 4 onwards as we were close (though Vic High was pretty far), but my nephew who lives out in behind Thetis Lake has to drive his kids as the school is quite far away. 

[todd]

I think it’s foolish to spend more than $2250 on an ebike. Plenty of good bikes for that price or less. wouldn’t want to worry about something more expensive than that? Most local suppliers only seem to carry the expensive ones?

I’ve always assumed you were a rich person.

Looks like the manufacture of my ebike just put the price up by $500

[On the Level]

In Canada, road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death among children and youth ≤19. Motor-vehicle collisions (MVCs) accounted for 50% of all transport-related injury costs, followed by pedal cyclists (14%) and pedestrians (11%). https://bmcpublichea...2889-018-6269-9

Given that most trips are by car, I would expect the percentage of injuries to be higher. It would be better to report injuries by trip and by km travelled.

[On the Level]

In the Dark Ages, we were riding our bikes to school by grade two, lol.

My mom walked me to my first day of grade 1, then after that I walked to school with a friend. Better days....