As one whose life has been enhanced immeasurably by Whistler, I wish to contribute in a small way by submitting the ideas put forth in this letter.
During each winter, and particularly after Whistler has received a large dump of snow in the valley, we have found the highway both north and south of Whistler to be well cleared of snow, while the highway in Whistler, particularly between Function Junction and Lorimer Road, had a lot of snow on it, even though we knew it had been plowed. I believe that this snow is from vehicles, a few hundred or more than a thousand, on the highway with snow on the roof. Vehicles not under cover will accumulate snow on their roof. When these vehicles are driven, the heat from within the vehicle, or the stopping and starting, will, over a short period of time, cause the snow to fall off the roof. Close friends [of mine] had their windshield shattered and were injured when a block of ice slid off the vehicle ahead of them.
Some Canadian provinces and some U.S. states have laws that require drivers to remove snow from their vehicle before moving it. May I suggest that the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) pass a bylaw requiring that all drivers must clear the snow off the roof, hood and trunk of their vehicle before moving it. Under the Motor Vehicle Act, the RMOW has the ability to pass such a bylaw. Furthermore, that the fine or penalty be tied to the value of the vehicle, with the proceeds directed to the food bank, housing or a fund for road widening.
Whistler has set goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and working to reduce our collective impact on the environment, yet after every busy day in Whistler, summer and winter, vehicles sit idling or crawl through Whistler as they wend their way south. Given the absence of a magic carpet or a highway in the clouds, down-to-Earth solutions need to be implemented.
May I suggest: Early notice of accidents or impediments to the smooth flow of southbound traffic, along with estimates on the extent of the delay; staggered departures along with both education and penalties to drivers for having their vehicles running while sitting stationary; penalties to drivers of vehicles blocking an intersection; a vehicle may only enter an intersection when it may safely exit that intersection (traffic flow was enhanced in London, England when such a rule was implemented. The implementation of such a rule/law/bylaw could work wonders in the Lower Mainland, too).
