S'no Intelligence out there

Once again, the Lower Mainland has been smothered by a suspicious white powder, and the locals are engaged in a small struggle to navigate it until it's flushed away with the next rainfall. It's the kind of the thing that makes people in other parts of the country, where "real" winters take place, snicker at Vancouver and our lack of preparation. This page is not about to advocate that Starbucks starts selling snow chains, but I do have a few suggestions to ward off the nasty weather with one's reputation intact.

-If you are using your own vehicle to commute, resign yourself to the fact that even though that mound of snow fell on the roof of your car, it is not yours to keep. Clear it off immediately before getting in your car and driving away. This page sees a multitude of drivers with rolling snowpacks stuck to their vehicle roofs like some kind of trophy they hunted down and are taking to a nearby taxidermist. It's enough snow that could cause a mini-avalanche on your windshield at precisely the wrong time, i.e. when you're running into something, or someone.

-You are not some kind of hero for leaving your vehicle at home and availing yourself of the services of the Coast Mountain Bus Company to make your commute. Heroes would not neglect to familiarize themselves with such overwhelming details as the correct route, the fare, and where to get off the bus and possibly transfer BEFORE insisting that the driver provide this information as you hold up other passengers who are running later than you.

-This page appreciates the struggles of small businesses, and the challenges of keeping costs under control. However, the last time I checked, one could still purchase a snow shovel for under twenty dollars. Some of us are healthy enough to walk to our destinations, at least until we slip on an unattended patch and injure ourselves. Any retailer or service which wants our businesses should be making it as safe as possible to come through their front door.

-If you are a large University which is located at the farthest western point of the largest commuter corridor in Metro Vancouver, remaining open while every other educational institution closes because of the weather is an exercise in masochistic futility. Nothing will endear your students to their alma mater like a treacherous 2 to 3 hour commute for a lecture their professor has cancelled. This page is also sure that your support staff greatly enjoy having to scramble for last minute child care (because their kids aren't going to school) and risking their personal safety because you 'expect' them to show up for work.