Metro Vancouver has had its first big blast of winter and already another snowstorm is forecast to arrive just as this editorial is published.
Whether it is cars sliding down hills, buses spinning their wheels or sidewalks iced over, we always seem to be caught with our snowpants down.
The truth is, our municipalities, the province and TransLink don't invest huge amounts of their budgets in preparation for Vancouver snow – at least compared to governments and transit systems in other parts of the country – because most of the time, we don’t get much of it.
The result is always a few hellish commutes and general dysfunction until the temperature rises. It also means preparation for ice and snow falls to us as individuals.
Our first and most obvious piece of advice is if you don’t have to go out into a snowstorm, don’t.
According to an ICBC survey, 76 per cent of Lower Mainland drivers have winter tires. But it only takes one driver in all-seasons to block an arterial road. If you don’t have proper winter tires, keep your car parked.
Out of necessity during the pandemic, every business that could conceivably have its work done remotely adapted and sent the employees home. Employers should absolutely make this the norm on days when heavy snow is in the forecast.
If we can all start applying a little bit more common sense before the winter weather comes, it will save a few front fenders and a lot of frustration.
It will also leave us free to chill out and enjoy the snow when it arrives.
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