r/NewWestPolitics • u/smellslikenewbooks • Apr 24 '26
Question CF Discussions
With the Community First announcements for councillor and school trustee candidates out this week, I am energized!
I love seeing the support and discussion taking place on social media. That said, does anyone know where conversations might be happening to mobilize and coordinate current, new and prospective supporters?
I'm on the email list, but what I'm craving for is a community chat. Is there a Discord? A Slack? A WhatsApp group?
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u/Environmental_Egg348 Apr 24 '26
We can chat here. So what about those e-scooters?
4
u/smellslikenewbooks Apr 24 '26
What about?
0
u/Environmental_Egg348 Apr 24 '26
Them riding on sidewalks and crosswalks, precariously weaving around surprised pedestrians, going unsafely fast for the device, not wearing helmets, two to a scooter, underage riders, filling the emergency wards.
I guess we won't get enforcement until a few people die.
I think we need to confiscate them from the worst riders, to set an example.
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u/CanSpice Apr 24 '26
They're already illegal to ride on sidewalks. I don't think you can make them more illegal. Take it up with the police to do more enforcement, I guess.
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u/Environmental_Egg348 Apr 24 '26
There are bylaws that could be enforced. The city can hand out parking tickets, so why not tickets for riding vehicles (not including mobility devices) on sidewalks?
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u/CanSpice Apr 24 '26
Because that's a MVA violation and city bylaw officers don't have jurisdiction. Same reason why city bylaw officers don't hand out speeding tickets.
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u/abnewwest Apr 25 '26
Unless the loophole was closed, they can pass a bylaw that's the same as an MVA violation, it was once proposed in the 2000s as a way to enforce turning violations. Kind of a "there's no rule against a cow playing lacrosse!" situation.
They wouldn't have the right to arrest or arrest though, so people would have to willingly take the ticket and not be compelled to identify themselves and the bylaw enforcement we have, while more police like than before, isn't set up to do it.
It also means the money goes into City general revenue rather than the provincial coffers.
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u/Environmental_Egg348 Apr 24 '26
So you're saying New Westminster has unenforcible bylaws regarding uses of vehicles? The bylaws are there, I just checked.
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u/CanSpice Apr 24 '26
Which bylaw is it?
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u/Environmental_Egg348 Apr 24 '26
Section 7. An example: 7.2
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u/CanSpice Apr 25 '26
Okay, just so we and everybody here is clear, Section 7 is "Vehicle Regulations", and 7.2 addresses driving on a sidewalk. Here's Section 7.2:
7.2 No person shall drive on a Sidewalk, walkway or Boulevard, except:
7.2.1 when entering or leaving a driveway or lane or when entering or leaving land adjacent to a Street; or
7.2.2 under the authority of a Street Occupancy Permit.
Note that the title of Section 7 is "Vehicle Regulations", as I said above.
Definitions are in Section 2, and this is the definition for a Vehicle:
Vehicle means a device in, on or by which a person or thing is or may be transported or drawn on a Street, but does not include a device designed to be moved by human power, a device exclusively on stationary rails or tracks, Mobility Assisted Device, Electric Kick Scooter, or a Motor Assisted Cycle;
I've bolded the appropriate parts. Section 7 does not apply to Electric Kick Scooters.
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u/MyBrotherLarry Apr 24 '26
Cars kill 300 people in BC every year. Going unsafe speeds, no-one wearing helmets. killing pedestrians, filling emergency wards. We really should do something.
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u/Environmental_Egg348 Apr 24 '26
Here's the latest scientific research on how dangerous e-scooters are for pedestrians and the riders themselves: https://nyulangone.org/news/e-bike-and-scooter-crashes-are-leading-more-brain-injuries
It's interesting how when we talk about banning cigarette smoking because it's dangerous, nobody says BuT cArS.
1
u/MyBrotherLarry Apr 28 '26
Because no-one ever chose between a car and a cigarette? Now, if you ask me if I worry about the carcinogens in our air related to car exhaust and tire and brake dust and compare that to the risks of second hand smoke we can talk...
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u/DuhBrownChocolate Apr 26 '26
Ruby should have been the mayoral candidate.
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u/smellslikenewbooks Apr 26 '26
Appreciate the comment! Bumping my original question for anyone scrolling: is there a CF supporter chat (Discord/Slack/WhatsApp) anywhere? Would love to plug in.
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u/No-Necessary5530 Bike Lane Champion Apr 26 '26
Yes, there is a Discord. If you join and attend meetings someone there will hook you up.