It’s hardly surprising that ozone pollution continues to rise in the Lower Mainland (front-page headline, April 26, 2012).
When sunlight hits vehicle exhaust, we get ozone. Since we are a car-dependent society, what else would we expect?
And why would we want to point the finger at off-shore sources? Oh, wait – I get it. Blaming someone else will get us off the hook when it comes to providing alternatives to the private vehicle (an example of which – the West Coast Express – has proven to be mightily popular).
We now hear that the promised transit link over the Port Mann Bridge may come to naught. We also know that taxpayers pay plenty when it comes to gas taxes and carbon taxes.
And then we read that south-of-Fraser municipalities are talking about joining forces. If that happens, I expect there will be even more gas taxes. I sincerely hope that those taxes will go to providing transit alternatives for commuters.
Unless, of course, we’re keen on continuing to breathe compromised air.
Regina Dalton