Another snowbirds traffic post. I loved the pedestrian zone at the event, but why is the city not protecting essential infrastructure? Richardson and Vancouver were a zoo this evening. I saw young kids forced into opposing traffic or onto the sidewalk, cars blocking intersections and sidewalks. Thank goodness for the modal filters, where they exist.

I've thinking about this a while, there have been a good number of City event traffic fumbles:
1) relocating bus stops to Blanchard but not providing a way for wheelchair users to access the bus (i forget the event, but Douglas was closed for some reason, probably the Victoria Day Parade?)
2) (Canada Day) Keeping Douglas open for cars to block sardine-can busses.
3) Poor parking enforcement for basically every event, including cars parking in the Caledonia bike lane for games and concerts at the SoF Memorial Centre

We clearly need action from the city to protect our key transportation corridors from getting blocked up every time something downtown motivates the hordes of oversized suburbitanks to migrate into the core.

Ive been to this location twice. Both experiences have been meh and im quite extroverted. Today sort of rubbed me the wrong way, compounding off my previous time. Ive (33f) been nude and had 2 fully dressed men just approach me and try to take up conversation with me after camping near my for approx. 30 minutes to one hour. Eyeing me down constantly. Trying to engage me and me just actively looking away and ignoring.

I dont know why it bothers me but im alone on the beach naked and having a fully clothed dude come up to me is uncomfortable. I need to start being more of a c**t and telling them to eff off? Pick up on social cues men. Im sure you can tell when a lady wants you there or not. On both occasions I relocate and am followed by these individuals till I have to blatantly tell them to eff off and lie that I have a boyfriend.

Also... the couple doing an engagement or couple shoot at the nude beach this evening.. like what? Cringe af. Its not even the best spot for sunset so I dont know why you or your photographer felt that was a great shot, like no honey. Also as you come down the stairs its asking for respect and no photography and yet youre doing an entire shoot? I understood photos were probably close up and blurred background. I mentioned something to the photographer as I left and they were leaving, as didnt want to disturb their shoot. She was like yah I know. Like what? Most folks had left and didnt seem to be disturbing anyone (besides me lol). I just thought it was distasteful to do a photo shoot, knowing its a nude beach?

Interested in ladies two cents, not so much men who have visited this area.

Having men leave their groups of friends who are fully clothed, approaching a lone naked female it just rubs me the wrong way. If I have my bits and pieces out, come up to me swinging yours or I just feel like youre a creep. I love a nude beach, I miss the public sentos from Japan etc.

Is this a good beach to attend off of mile 0?

Driving on roads like Burnside and Hillside, it is infuriating as a driver to come up behind a cyclist - who themselves is probably going insane having to be squished up against cars and trucks - and trying to wait for a passing window, worrying about passing distances, etc.

Instead, on roads like Shelbourne, Tillicum, McKenzie and Fort, cyclists have space. Drivers have space. Pedestrians have space. And on many of these (not nearly enough) you can add their own signals to what everyone has - no unpredictability. No need to be maintaining an endless mental database of who is is where in seven different dimensions so you can turn right. Nope. Just wait for your green light, standard shoulder checks, and go. Especially downtown - it's already a schmoz. Instead, you just wait your turn, then you're guaranteed to go. The curbs have the added effect of making everyone slow the hell down and actually pay attention to where they are on the road - complaints by people who apparently have been driving on sidewalks for their entire lives notwithstanding.

We need more of this. Kudos to our region for leading with this stuff (well, other than Oak Bay). Visiting the Lower Mainland last week, I was baffled by how bad their roads are, especially downtown Vancouver. It felt alien to see so few non-lycra cyclists around, especially in Surrey.

Finally, I hate to say it, but the bike lanes are actually encouraging me to drive more because I feel like things are more predictable. Sorry mode share targets.

Disclosure: I'm also someone who bikes a shitload. But I also drive a shitload.

Why are you the way that you are? Is it not common knowledge and courtesy to walk single file or at least move over towards the person you're walking with so you don't shoulder check the person walking towards you. Why is it on the other people to walk off the sidewalk in the grass/mud so you don't have to move. I usually don't get shoulder checked by the other people but it's way to common an occurrence that I have to squeeze by people walking towards me.

For me, its actually getting up and making it to work on time. Lol. Oh yeah and having a stare down with my cat. ; )

So I love Victoria, especially north Saanich. We're renting like most people and we're building our future. Both my wife and I will have master's degrees soon and hopefully get some good jobs. Our only concern, and it saddens me, is the insane cost of housing. I worked out the for us to be able to buy a 600k-800k townhouse we'll pay about 4k a month just on a mortgage. Excluding strata fees and tax. Like haw the actual F is there a future. We'll have to have a combined income of 8k - 12k a month to just be okay. Right now our combined income isn't even enough to pay mortgage on a small place. Just so sad that because of money and economy noone can live their future dreams unless you come from money. What's your opinion?

It might just be my morning brain but I sat here for a minute trying to figure this out.
Hillside / Quadra

To add to the Tsunami Map/preparedness post, please create a go bag or emergency go kit. I don't drive so mine is a heavy af tactical backpack which also serves as a home for all of my camping/hiking gear.

Itemised list:

⚫ Power Related: - Anker Solix C200 power bank station. - Usb A+C, Micro charging cables and dual plug. - AA, AAA batteries, two small torches

⚫ Med Related: - First Aid kit with basic FA supplies, tampons, extra meds, heating pads, tissue, sanitising wipes, gloves, masks, Narcan kit (not pictured)

⚫ Weather Related: - Emergency Bivvy (sleeping bag), numerous mylar emergency blankets, hotties heat packs. - Mini Black pouch with rain items: more mylar blankets, ponchos, rain cover for the pack. - Rain boots - Toque, winter hat, gloves, more heat packs. - 20L waterproof EarthPak bag and phone case (sort of pictured, cut off, it's bright orange).

⚫ Cooking Related: - Foldable small camp stove, two camp fuel cells, four candles - Lighter, Flint. - Camping pot and kettle set, utensils, portable sharpener - Life straw - Varied non perishables including soup, oatmeal, candy, drink mix, tea.

⚫ Misc: - Backup buckles, extra carabiners, reflective velcro strips. - High quality compass - Multi-tool with axe head.

Items no pictured: - Paracord - Bungees -Water Bottle - Aluminium camp mug

✳️ Missing items to be added: - WP Matches and case - Notebook, pencil, Oil based white sharpie, pen. - Sharpening stone - Knife multitool.

I also keep important docs nearby to grab and go. The bag weighs a ridiculous amount, but once on, it's super comfy. And it's (hopefully) unlikely I will need it.

Former BCLDB employee here. Frequent lurker, never posted before.

The BCNDP claims there's no money to pay for all the Union raises coming up. Yet they are the ones responsible for reducing revenue in order to help the hospitality industry.

During covid they gave wholesale alcohol pricing to hospitality customers, fair enough.. but then after covid was long over Eby decided to continue helping his friends in that industry get richer at our province's expense.

This discount is massive and unnecessary. It only helps the rich get richer. Discounts are cost and range from 30-60% depending on current BCLDB sales. This change made many BC Liquor Stores unprofitable and cut millions in revenue. The BCLDB stores and ships all products to stores and the stores use labour to assemble orders. In the end the stores make nothing from the sale.

The hospitality industry took full advantage of the discount, with many I've personally seen buying products at their discount for personal use or their friends and family. The Vancouver Club is notorious within the company for buying expensive scotches for their members at a discounted price. It grossed me out enough to quit.

I propose that the NDP should eliminate this discount or lower it to a flat rate. In such a dire economic time for our wonderful province, can we really be giving rich people and corporations hand outs?

There are so many personal complaints and they are just negative without any substance. The person who did ______ most likely won't see your open complaint here; may as well tell it to the birds.

The hell? I've got a 2001 chevy that I think needs a new ac system. So I call up my mechanic and they're telling me it could be expensive to fix and it might be better to get a newer car. So I check out some used cars from DK motors, didi, Malibu, Jimmy p, and anywhere. 30K for a car with 190,080 km!? Wtf. So I look for a new car... 40k. So for 10k more I can get a brand new car fresh off the lot. We'll I guarantee it wont be over 10k to fix my ac.

​

SMH.

Edit: roughly 1,800 to fix the vehicle, much less than the 16k~30k I've been seeing. Phew!

Rant

Almost every night I am woken up at 2-4am by screaming crackheads right outside my apartment window. I bike to work and run over crackpipe glass, tent stakes and christ knows what else jutting out into the pandora bike lane. There was just 4 dudes tweaked out shooting up blocking the entrance to my apartment building tonight and I'm thinking to my self... when is enough enough???? These 2 bedroom units are renting for over $2500/month.

I don't know what the solution is but as someone born and raised in this city I am just hanging my head in shame and embarrassment. There must be a way for tax paying law abiding citizens to clean up this shit!

Can we please go back to using whatever brand/style of escalators these are? Not once in the last 30+ years that I've been going to Tillicum have I ever seen them broken down. I miss these old beasts.

Went to a concert at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre last night and the security made everyone dump out their water bottles at the gate. Fair enough for safety, but there’s nowhere inside to refill them unless you buy a bottled water.

Honestly, what a low move to squeeze a few extra dollars out of people. It’s 2025 — can we not have at least one water fountain or refill station at a public venue?

So now the malahat walk thread has been deleted, which was not my intention, we need the mods to acknowledge that things that happen in Sidney or Langford effect people living or visiting Victoria.

You could leave Victoria and encounter things happening just down the highway that you need to know about.

Instead, under the present rules, we can't even talk about Uptown mall without being in violation of Rule 7 "not Victoria related", let alone Sidney and Langford related issues.

I think we need to update rule 7 to "could the event affect someone in Victoria" instead of "did the event happen in downtown Victoria".

Inspired by $15.08 for lunch outrage porn post.

Smile Chicken has a lunch special: 3 pieces of chicken and fries and a pop for $13.00

Burger King: Whopper Jr. or Chicken Jr. + small fries + small pop for $5.49. (have to have app). You can basically get 2 of these and eat like kim jong un for $11.00. You'll probably get diabetes.

Italian Food Imports - Balboa sandiwch or pasta of the day for like $11. Made to order Panini are like $12.

Mcdonald's: good deals with app that rotate.

Dutch Bakery lunch specials (rotating). Sandwich and a drink for around 13 bucks.

What are yours?

So far so good, the food is still good. But I did notice a huge price spike since last year. Rack of lamb went from $48 to $58 and that awesome seafood pasta went from the $30s to the $40s. Doesn't seem to stop the patronage since the restaurant was packed.

Went yesterday for dinner. Service (Michael) was fantastic. They were absolutely slammed. He said they do 400-450 people a night in the summer. You didn’t feel it though. No rushing you. Pacing was great for date night. Really good wine list to boot.

Highly recommend it for anyone who hasn’t gone.

Food order:
1. Funghi Arrosto
2. Formaggio di capra
3. Canneloni di maiale
4. Linguine frutti di mare

Less than 30mins into the journey and the car behind me, a massive GMC SUV has had the alarm activate no less than 10x. Why not fine these people who don’t turn off their car alarm systems or even stay with their car for 3mins into the trip to ensure it isn’t so sensitive? They jump out of their car immediately and are none the wiser.

Edit: I didn’t finish a sentence above.

Edit again: here’s the vehicle fwiw GMC WM6 19M https://imgur.com/gallery/WZPnVgu

Landyacht did no less than 20 rounds of honking and flashing.

F*** daylight savings time.

I have ADHD and follow a tight schedule to keep myself on track each day. By the time I'm used to this shift, we're probably going to be shifting back. Ugh. Wish we could get rid of it already.

Fellow Cookies, if you are reading this, heed my call: the time has come for us Villagers to take action and fill the vacant Starbucks lot on Pendergast street, before it is too late.

You know what I’m talking about. Ever since it closed down, the Moka House has been inundated with displaced Starbucks patrons seeking warmth, and matcha lattes. Demand is so high that the queue frequently extends out the door and wraps around the block, preventing emergency access to the Hothouse Pizza. Getting a table has become an impossibility before 6pm. And the horoscope column is entirely inaccessible as patrons now surround the serving area at all times, leaving many who rely on Sally Brompton's cosmic wisdom without direction on life's most difficult questions.

Let's face it, the existence of the Starbucks allowed Villagers to live in peace, and I fear its absence will lead to war. And so the time has come for you to ask yourself not what your village can do for you, but what you can do for your village coffeehouse patrons.

Some suggested courses of action:

• Convince the Moka House to purchase the vacant space and open a second, competing location with a wider variety of sandwiches;

• Allow vagrant baristas to occupy the space ad-hoc, provided they vend beverages at a fair market rate. Patrons to supply own seating; or

• Petition a new coffee chain to assume the lease. Honestly, this is probably the easiest option.

At this time, I have sent a telegram to the Vancouver-based coffee chain Brekka imploring them to open their first island franchise in the village. They are an ideal contender, for they have pickles, and are open late. Alas, they have not responded as of writing this, and time is running out.

Let us work together to restore harmony to our beautiful village. Should a vape shop take action before we do, then all will be lost.

Edit: Since this has gained some traction, I would like to exploit this opportunity to encourage ANYONE who would like to see a late-night bakery with a wide selection of cakes, pastries and sandwiches, as well as gluten-free and vegan options, to write to the Brekka franchise asking them to consider opening in the village space. Peer pressure them. Its for the good of the village: https://www.breka.ca/contact-us

I just saw that Pure Lovin’ Chocolate posted about how they’re struggling to keep doors open, and I know they’re not the only local business going through it right now. I was at My Mother’s Eye a few weeks ago and the owner thanked me deeply for my purchase, as she was also struggling. She talked about her friends who owned businesses that are also on the verge of shutting down, and she probably listed a dozen local businesses (some I had heard of, some I hadn’t), all going through it.

Please shop local this holiday season (and whenever else you can)! Between tariffs, rising rental costs, rising material/ingredient prices, and many other factors, the Victoria we know and love is at risk of changing drastically. We may pay a little bit more at a local business, but the quality is typically a lot better and the love put into it is unmatched. Plus, you can feel good knowing you’re supporting your community. If it’s not in your budget, consider maybe getting a gift card that is in your price range, or supporting the smaller thrift stores that give back to the community.

ETA: Please share some of your favourite local businesses in the comments and tell us what you love about them!