What great weather! Enjoy but watch for potholes.

If you’re up right now, go take a look outside – Northern Lights! What a great start to FFFA.

Watch out for Canada Cartage trucks. Some of their drivers are very dangerous behind the wheel. I’m speaking from lots of experience having my life endangered on our hwy’s on numerous occasions recently.

It’s motorcycle season now folks. Please watch out for riders. You wouldn’t believe how many times a car or pickup truck driver has looked right at me and my bike then pulls right out in front of me, cutting me off and nearly causing me to wreck.

Be safe fellow riders.

Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 @ 4:38 AM by Mercenary

It’s motorcycle season now folks. Please watch out for riders. You wouldn’t believe how many times a car or pickup truck driver has looked right at me and my bike then pulls right out in front of me, cutting me off and nearly causing me to wreck.

——

Unfortunately, looking right at you doesn’t equate to seeing you. I wear a bright yellow Joe Rocket jacket and I’m still unseen by fully half the drivers out there.

Stop burning your grass!!!

I am wondering what the plans are for the Exhibition Grounds?

Last year we had a hotel chain that was going to build on the Ospika frontage until they met our mayor. I thought it would be good to have accommodations near the venues for tournaments and what not, but keeping all that land for recreational makes good sense too. Is that hotel still on the books, or should the city pave the area over, maybe plant some grass and incorporate a running trail or something that makes the land look semi developed?

I think all that undeveloped area around the Exhibition Grounds should be developed if only with pavement and grass… its the epicenter of the community sports and entertainment, so leaving it the way it currently is kind of leaves a bush league impression for civic pride.

If I was to develop the master plan I would do the following:
– Pave the Ospika frontage up to 22nd avenue.
– Update the informal campground at the old Rodeo grounds into a formal camp ground moved along the south side of 18th avenue west of the horse stables.
– Upgrade the old rodeo grounds if PG could become part of the rodeo circuit again.
– Get a refrigeration unit for the ice oval so PG could hold speed skating events, and have a good learning rink for small kids throughout the winter. I think this is more of a priority than the Massich Place upgrades).
– With a refrigeration unit it would be great to have a outdoor hockey rink added in the vicinity of the ice oval… this could double for a roller hockey rink in the summer and would be good for lacrosse as well.
– From the rodeo grounds along 22nd to Cranbrook hill add in some grass fields of what ever is in most need for the city, and then throughout the entire Exhibition Grounds have interconnected paved trails for user friendly access.

I thought 20-years ago we were going to see that land developed to its potential. The area is the most successful area in the city where the most people get utility for our public infrastructure, so therefor it makes the most sense to consider how we will build on this as part of PG’s long term infrastructure planning when considering our future priorities as a city.

IMHO

I like the suggestion by Eagleone, to make a campground near the CN centre. Funny thing is, the current soccer fields–were the municipal campgrounds, operated by the Kinsmen (the brickfront washrooms were for the campgrounds) –in years gone by. Everything old, is new again. Or is that-hindsight is 20/20.

My thanks to all you who work at 250, for still bringing us news at a most difficult time.

I also agree with your vision for the exhibition grounds Eagleone. The dirt parking lot can throw up a lot of dust when the wind is blowing. We could really make it a nice sporting district of sorts.

Hope everyone is enjoying this great weather..let’s hope we get another summer like last year.

As for motorcycles, all these potholes have to really keep you focused… And I do hope they start giving out tickets for the ones with straight pipes..just way to noisy.

Most of all be safe out there.

“Posted on Friday, April 10, 2015 @ 4:38 AM by Mercenary

It’s motorcycle season now folks. Please watch out for riders. You wouldn’t believe how many times a car or pickup truck driver has looked right at me and my bike then pulls right out in front of me, cutting me off and nearly causing me to wreck.”
After many years of driving a truck, I recently bought a small car. I am having a similar problem, so it’s not just the bikes. People just want to be bullies, I guess. I don’t usually have these problems driving my truck. They know they are cutting the bikes (and little cars) off, they do see you. They just don’t care. Unfortunately, on your bike, it could cost you your life or limb. I wonder if they’d care then? Or are their heads stuck too far up their tailpipes?

Eagleone, getting the outdoor ice oval setup for refrigeration and the actual unit to control it along with making it multi use would be huge money. The swing in temperatures in winter would make it so you would have to buy a top notch unit to maintain the correct temp. Be a huge yearly cost just to maintain it as well..

@ P Val

So up the user fees by a buck or two. Done deal.

A buck or two ..it will take as long to pay off as the time it takes to twin the highway..

They’ve done a pretty good job so far of Hwy 97 PG to Cache Creek. Drove home from Richmond to PG on Tuesday in 9 hrs using cruise control for most of the time. Very pleasant trip.

IBear. They are doing mostly the easy parts now..wait till they get to the tunnels etc.. Completion date is 2050.

Anyone feel like spring came really earlier this year? one of my neighbors mowed his lawn the other day. Is this this just me, or was it actually different this year?

PHJE. Up the user fee’s???? I doubt if more that 100 people use this skating rink on a regular basis. How would you generate any money.

Golf courses opened a month earlier than last year.. Great start so far

harpers coast guard cuts hard at work helping to pollute in Canada’s largest port . Is there anyone left in Bc that doesn’t know how inept harper and the harperettes really are .

I read in this morning’s PG Citizen that a motorized scooter was hit by a vehicle at 10th and Harper on Thursday afternoon.

Is there any motor vehicle act that limits motorized scooter use on city streets?

I was biking, in the bike lane, westbound on 10th avenue early Thursday afternoon between Carney St and East Central St ( commonly called the bypass) and had to move out into the westbound vehicle lane because a motorized scooter ,occupying the complete bike lane was headed, eastbound, directly towards me?

Ataloss,, it’s not often that I agree with you but in this case you are absolutely right.
I just can’t believe that there is anyone in this country that actually calls Harper and his band of clowns Conservatives. They are in fact the Preston Manning reformers in disguise. It’s time for a more centrist government as the one we have is closer to a Fascist party than anything remotely resembling the Progressive Conservatives of the past. So the question is, which of our rights will they attack if they win another majority?

I bet they will come after the OAS . more rights for corporations and SOEs . OAS is not funded like CPP or EI .

Scooters are legally pedestrians and should be on the sidewalks giving way to walking pedestrians. BUT often sidewakls not accessible in this town because no curb cuts or sidewalks so bumpy they are not safe (or so slanted scooters fall over). Then legally allowed to be on road, facing oncoming traffic so opposite from a bike. Both bike and scooter should attempt to move over safely to pass safely. If in doubt, get off your bike for a minute.

hope this person is ok.

Crusty Clark is upset about the spill response over the spill in English channel.. What a shock..isn’t the liberals fault for not making sure there is adequate split response.. It’s only BC’s coast..what a joke she is.

Coast guard is a federal duristiction .thats why harper and the harperettes decided to shut down the kits beach coast guard station . That station would have been 10 minutes from the spill site . Most of the photo ops are being done on kits beach in clear veiw of the ships at moorage . That’s why the station has been there for decades , until an idiot took the helm .

Pval it’s english bay . The English channel is between England and France .

The frothing in here is hilarious. Now we have oil spills in the English Channel. Step away from the keyboard and think first.

Just a thought for all the bikers out there, it’s cheap enough and simple enough to set up, it’s a dash camera. Saving the video on a SD card and then picking up the phone when you get home, drop a dime on an idiot. The more of us recording our rides and reporting idiots that drive without consideration, the quicker the message will get through. We all need to share the road and drive and ride responsibly. Now to go out for a nice ride.. Have a great weekend everyone.

@ professional you are so right about being camera’d up . We use a VIO and gopro . When you ride or drive your vehicle the camera changes behaviour . I can’t understand why flaggers are not wearing them as well .

English bay English channel, neither likes oil spills :)

Professional – has you or anyone else for that matter ever gone into the RCMP with camera footage to show the infraction and actually had them issue a ticket? I’ve thought of it as well, but not so sure you’ll get an enthusiastic response.

@ ski51 Yes as a mater of fact on several occasions I have submitted video and on each occasion it resulted in a non-disputed ticket being issued to the individual involved in the occurrence. So long as the day date and time are accurate on the footage, it will always be admissible in court (generally a slam dunk for the crown).

Hey, did they ever nail the person causing flat tires around the hospital?

Its a dull day here in Abby and looks like rain. You guys in George are so lucky with all the great weather you are having. Think I’ll move back to PG. So please don’t rub it in.

I see Jimmy is back with all hi knowlege. You know he could be an English professor. All he seems to do is complain about our language and proof reading. Wander when he/she will come up with a good idea.
Cheers

The Mayor of Vancouver: We were not notified until much later, I blame Victoria and the federal Coast Guard!

The Premier: The Mayor is not fully informed as it is the Coast Guard’s responsibility to inform us and the City rightaway, not half a day later!

The Coast Guard: We responded properly, it is not our fault! Besides, we did not know what the substance was at the time.

Conclusion: When a spill happens the people will find out from finding gooey black “stuff” on the beaches!

Not wanting to upset the moderators and point out that I am the topic of not one but two not quite identical posts, from the same person. So much material here, but apparently you have to be a dipper to spout off freely. Next.

Why don’t the granola eating progressives call for the closure of the port of Vancouver? Bunch of hypocrites; Kinder Morgan had nothing to do with this, as it was a grain freighter, but that won’t stop them whining about an oil spill.
You can just imagine some 19th century granola eater rolling over in their grave: “…I told you if you allowed Vancouver to have a port and accept freighters a bunker fuel spill would happen and cover all the Kits beach dog mess and trash in a light coating of oil.”

Honestly this Friday Blog should be renamed to something a lot more appropriate…I am going to suggest curmidgeon’s Corner

NyteHawk – it’s not a “Blog” it’s a “Free for All.” I think that aptly describes it.

Hey Retired02 – thought you might come “home” for Ben’s funeral tomorrow.

Ah so jimmy Hughes.. You think it’s fine for a spill or two to happen..guessing in your mind it’s part of fling business.. Why it is because people want to save our oceans … And whining about a oil spill..really…whining about it..is that what you call it when all this oil is washing up in shore…whining.. Get a grip dude