As this little patch of paradise bursts out of its constraints in every direction, there are a few nagging questions related to safety and serenity that need to be addressed.
For starters, with cycling trails criss-crossing the valley, and more than 240 kilometres of mountain bike trails, why is it that more and more pedestrians are dodging two-wheeled enthusiasts who make a habit of riding on sidewalks and crosswalks?
When it comes to motorized traffic, why do drivers put the pedal to the metal around parking lots and speed through crosswalks forcing pedestrians to step aside? In particular, the Garibaldi Village area has become a magnet for some nasty vehicular/pedestrian confrontations. Part of the problem may be that a lot of folks are in a big hurry these days, or they’ve watched one too many fast paced car ads on TV.
You also have to wonder why residents are subjected to vehicular noise pollution at all hours of the day or night. Defective mufflers, or aftermarket units designed to add a Formula One reverberation to an otherwise sedate Honda Civic, or F150 pickup, are coveted automotive accessories these days.
And let’s not even start on the deafening rumble emanating from certain motorcycle tailpipes. On the open road the noise issue may be minimal, but at 7 a.m. the auditory assault echoing through a strata complex has serious drawbacks.
Speaking of exhaust systems, although there are many responsible owners of the species canis lupus familiaris, some have yet to acquaint themselves with scoop-the-poop etiquette. They continue to disown their dog’s errant stogies, wherever they may be deposited.
With all the green pooch-poop bags freely available around trails and walkways, most owners do the right thing by retrieving their four-legged companion’s roadside offerings. But you have to wonder why some pet owners then put the kibosh on that thoughtful procedure by tossing the filled receptacle on the ground in the hope that the doggy doo-doo fairy will spirit it away?
On another canine-related note, what’s all this fuss about creating more off-leash areas? The length and breadth of this municipality is a de facto freerange zone, where leash laws are evaded with impunity on a daily basis. Advising owners to restrain their charges may result in a recommendation to stick that suggestion into the cavernous confines of the complainant’s lower anatomy where the sun’s rays can’t get at it.
In fact, dogs are sacrosanct in these parts. And, according to one respondent who was posting on The Squamish Chief’s comments pages in relation to a recent coyote/cat encounter, cats are “essentially an invasive species.”
For the most part, these are all minor, nitpicky transgressions. Still, they end up contributing to a rising level of daily frustration and friction between residents in this community.
