Driving in Victoria / the Island

Ok this one is almost cliche, but it bothers me so much day to day I decided to vent. I have driven in a lot of cities around the world and Victoria is the worst I've experienced. Here's why:

1. "BC blockade". Unlike other provinces (e.g. AB) where people have the consideration to "stay right except to pass", or States (such as Washington) where the driving lane is on the right by legislation, BC drivers and particularly those on the Island seem to think they have an obligation to drive in the left hand lane. Not only do the frequently choose the left hand lane (known as the "passing lane" in other jurisdictions) but they blithley drive at the same speed as the person next to them in the right hand lane. They will carry on producing this "blockade" for Km after Km, frustrating anyone who wants to pass. Island drivers have such a predilection for the left hand lane, sometimes you can actually commute more efficiently in the right hand lane (the "slow lane" in other jusrisdictions)


2. Fear of driving. It seems at least 50% of drivers in Victoria are terrified by the concept of driving. I can see no other explanation for why they crawl along 10-20km less then the speed limit. They also drive in the middle of the road on side streets, although there is plenty of room for cars to pass each other side by side. I think its these same people who are terrified of the left hand turn. Even when one has an advanced left arrow! Seriously at least 6 to 8 cars should be able to turn left with an advanced arrow, but in Victoria the first driver in the row waits till the arrow is half over before proceeding (slowly) with their turn, so perhaps one or two more cars squeak in a left turn.


3. Island eyes. Or perhaps Island brain? The inability to judge distance = rate x time or even approximate, seems ubiquitious. All too frequently am I driving along and have to hit the brakes because someone chooses to merge in front of me. Then they usually proceed to drive as in #2. above at 20 km below the speed limit. Invariable there is no one behind me, so if they waited 5 seconds for me to pass they could merge and tootle along at their snail pace without disrupting others...


4. City (dis)planners: In the 60s and 70s city planners goals where to try to make automobile travel across a city efficient. This was the driving hayday when US cities put all the ugly express ways and such in to attempt to combat grid lock. One way streets where created to improve efficiency. The pendulum has completly shifted the other way now and city planners will proudly declare their goal is to slow down your travel across town. "You see you really should be taking public transit or riding your bike, because cars pollute and kill people". So they are actively turning efficient 2 lane roads into single lane bottlenecks (think Fort St from Cook East) . And desynchronizing lights so travel through town takes 3 times longer then it could. I've timed the lights on Fort St. West of Cook and they are synchronized for someone travelling 10 km under the speed limit (40 Km). After all you should just calm down, and plan 3 times as much time to make your commute. Well this may be OK for some ( i'm not sure who) but there are some people who do need to really get across town efficiently. I could shorten my office so less sick people get seen in a day, but that seems counter productive. At times I need to get from RJH to VGH quickly (or back), people are sick and need to be helped. But Blanshard which should be a 60 km synchronized 6 lane efficient route across town is instead a fragmented disruptive exercise in futility.

Oh well there seems to be little chance of improvement with so many happy to commute at "island time".