So, they way things are looking, I may have to ready myself very quickly to move on. Job searching isn't going to well right now. I'm not finding anything yet. So, I've already sent messages to a couple of friends down south, hoping to find couch space until I can find regular enough work, then hopefully still, find a place of my own, or a roomate.
One of the plus sides to this idea is, I can work on my application to the navy directly from one of the recruitment offices, which I can't do up here, since the nearest recruitment centre that I know of is in Kamloops, and it's only for the Reserves. What I want is to join the Navy as a full time Non-Commisioned Member.
So, it may seem like things are bad, but, at least there still some hope, and things could be far far worse.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Two Wheels Bad?
I didn't really want to start this blog as a forum of complaint, but I really must make protest about some of the behaviors and actions involving cyclists, and I'm fairly certain that I'm not the only one with similar complaints.
I ride an electric scooter, requiring no insurance, registration, or drivers license. My scooter has a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour onflat ground, and falls within the same laws as bicycle. Yet, while traffic laws are (understandable) enforced for electrical assisted bicycles like mine, regular bicycles seems to be given free reign as to how they ride through the streets.
As an example of personal experience, I was riding my scoot and took a route that brought me onto the sidewalk for more than 20 feet.
This was witnessed bit a police officer, who immediately stopped me for riding on the sidewalk. The officer was good enough to let me go with a warning, and that, I am appreciative. I was in the wrong, which I accept, and the outcome could have been worse.
Even as a bicycle, I am expected to adhere to the flow of traffic, keeping to the shoulder of the road to allow regular traffic to pass me. All of this is fully understandable and easily accepted. However, this is where my issue begins to become more irritating.
Since this occurrence, I have seen more than a multitude of bicycles that do not adhere to any of the traffic laws... lack of helmets, riding on the sidewalk, running through stop signs without as much as slowing down, no hand signal when turning and even riding against the flow of traffic of a one way street. I've witnessed these incursions time and time again, but never seen and of the laws regarding these acts enforced.
Regular, pedal powered bicycles are, under the laws of the Department of Transportation, are vehicles, required to follow the traffic laws, and nothing is done. Why?
I would greatly like to see these laws to be enforced, just as they would be enforced with any other vehicle... car, truck, big rig, motorcycle, scooter.
On another note regarding electric scooters; Since they indeed fall under the Department of Transportation laws as an electrical assisted bicycles, they are allowed full access to bicycle trails. I have been reprimanded on a number of occasions for being on the bike trail with a motorized vehicle. I am not a motorized vehicle. If a bicycle is allowed on the trail, so am I on my scooter.
However, unlike another rider of an electrical scooter I've seen, I again follow the law laid out by the Department of Transportation, and yield to all foot traffic on these trails. Pedestrians do indeed have the right of way on the bike trail, and unlike this other rider, I do NOT come up as close as I can to people walking on the trail and honk my horn, expecting them to get out of my way. I maintain a safe distance to these people and considerably slow down until I either have a safe area to pass, or, the people on the trail are considerate, and step to the side for me.
I ride an electric scooter, requiring no insurance, registration, or drivers license. My scooter has a maximum speed of 30 miles per hour onflat ground, and falls within the same laws as bicycle. Yet, while traffic laws are (understandable) enforced for electrical assisted bicycles like mine, regular bicycles seems to be given free reign as to how they ride through the streets.
As an example of personal experience, I was riding my scoot and took a route that brought me onto the sidewalk for more than 20 feet.
This was witnessed bit a police officer, who immediately stopped me for riding on the sidewalk. The officer was good enough to let me go with a warning, and that, I am appreciative. I was in the wrong, which I accept, and the outcome could have been worse.
Even as a bicycle, I am expected to adhere to the flow of traffic, keeping to the shoulder of the road to allow regular traffic to pass me. All of this is fully understandable and easily accepted. However, this is where my issue begins to become more irritating.
Since this occurrence, I have seen more than a multitude of bicycles that do not adhere to any of the traffic laws... lack of helmets, riding on the sidewalk, running through stop signs without as much as slowing down, no hand signal when turning and even riding against the flow of traffic of a one way street. I've witnessed these incursions time and time again, but never seen and of the laws regarding these acts enforced.
Regular, pedal powered bicycles are, under the laws of the Department of Transportation, are vehicles, required to follow the traffic laws, and nothing is done. Why?
I would greatly like to see these laws to be enforced, just as they would be enforced with any other vehicle... car, truck, big rig, motorcycle, scooter.
On another note regarding electric scooters; Since they indeed fall under the Department of Transportation laws as an electrical assisted bicycles, they are allowed full access to bicycle trails. I have been reprimanded on a number of occasions for being on the bike trail with a motorized vehicle. I am not a motorized vehicle. If a bicycle is allowed on the trail, so am I on my scooter.
However, unlike another rider of an electrical scooter I've seen, I again follow the law laid out by the Department of Transportation, and yield to all foot traffic on these trails. Pedestrians do indeed have the right of way on the bike trail, and unlike this other rider, I do NOT come up as close as I can to people walking on the trail and honk my horn, expecting them to get out of my way. I maintain a safe distance to these people and considerably slow down until I either have a safe area to pass, or, the people on the trail are considerate, and step to the side for me.
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