How to Build a Highway

TranBC logoThe more that I learn about how to construct one of BC's highways, the more I see how complicated that job really is. One would think that you decide where to go, level off a pathway, build a few bridges, throw down some pavement, put up a few signs and we're good to go. I don't know if a person could find a better way to understate the task than my last sentence!

Q&A - Rude, Aggressive and Obnoxious

Q&A ImageWe live in a small town up north with the RCMP are well known to be rude, aggressive and ...obnoxious. My 25 year old son was teaching my 21 year old son how to drive a standard last night...my younger son stalled on the road and tried to get the car started and stalled a couple of more times - he was more nervous also because there was a police car behind him.

VIDEO - How to Trigger a Traffic Light on Your Bike

VideoThis short video from the City of Redmond, Washington explains how inductive loops embedded in the pavement control traffic lights in response to traffic being present. If you are a cyclist, it can be difficult to trigger the lights if you don't know how to take advantage of the loops. Watch the video and learn how to effectively "cycle" the signal to green!

CASE LAW - Taylor v Depew

BC Courts Coat of ArmsCan you spare $206,333.05? This is the amount that the defendant, Matthew Depew, has been required to pay Sean Taylor for damages suffered in an off road collision. Mr. Taylor was riding a motorcycle in poor repair and Mr. Depew was driving a dune buggy on a single lane dirt forest road serving a forest service camp site near Campbell River.

Q&A - Jaywalking or Using an Unmarked Crosswalk?

Pedestrian CrossingI hope you can clarify for me if I illegally jaywalked today or was just using an "unmarked crosswalk." The grand entrance to our townhouse complex is directly across the street from the entrance to another grand townhouse complex. The two entrances form a kind of right-angle intersection with the 2-lane road they bisect (82nd avenue and 160th Street, Surrey approx. place).

Hauling Firewood This Weekend?

firewood in pickup truckHeading out to collect some firewood for the winter this weekend? Fall was always a good time to watch for pickup trucks with pyramids of firewood in the back on our highways. When checked they were often illegal, and unsafe, in three ways: unsecured load, overweight and a danger to vehicle occupants if the pickup was involved in a collision.

VIDEO - Seven Tips for Passing Your ICBC Road Test

VideoThese seven tips presented by ICBC may be used to successfully pass your road test, regardless of whether you drive a passenger vehicle, commercial vehicle or a motorcycle. For those of you who are already licensed drivers, these are seven tips that you should still be aware of so that you continue to drive safely and courteously.

Those That Can't, Those That Don't and Those That Don't Care

SoapboxFor the sake of making my point, I'm going to divide traffic rule violators into three categories; those that don't know the rules, those that make honest mistakes and those who are selfish and don't think about what their actions might result in. I know that I try my best not to be in the first category and despite my best efforts am occasionally part of the second category. Hopefully I am never in the last category.