Winter tire requirements on BX/Swan Lake area roads

This is a reminder about the importance of winter tires and driving appropriately for road conditions. The snowflake inside the mountain symbol is given by tire manufacturers indicating a tire is designated as a winter tire and appropriate for use in snow. Not all roads in the BX area require winter tires or chains, and thus not all are viewed the same by the new regulations of posted roads stating you must have either. The RCMP has done much educating and advertising in this regard, and in nearly every issue of The Morning Star over the last few weeks, the importance of winter tires and driving appropriately for the road conditions has been stressed. Silver Star Road, Hwy 6, Hwy 97, Hwy 97A, Hwy 97B are all affected by this mandatory regulation. All other roads that are not posted are recommended to have snow tires installed for winter driving. Roads such as Hartnell Road are of concern, however are not signed. ICBC has additional information on buying snow tires in this fact sheet: www.icbc.com/road_safety/pdf/Road_Safety_Buying_Better_Tires_PI222A.pdf. For more information, you may contact: Kathryn Birnie Regional Programs Coordinator City of Vernon/RCMP Safe Communities Unit 101 - 3334 30th Avenue, Vernon BC, V1T 2C8 250.308.6591 Fax: 250.260.5866 Email: kbirnie@vernon.ca

Have Your Say on Rural Transportation Needs

The Regional District of North Okanagan, with the assistance of Boulevard Transportation Group, is undertaking the Transportation Options for Rural Residents Study, a community visioning and planning exercise to improve transportation options for North Okanagan’s rural residents. The study will involve exploring programs and infrastructure to improve transportation options for rural residents. Potential improvements will work toward increasing mobility, but also seek to make rural transport more socially equitable, universally accessible and environmentally sustainable. The study will address transportation options within rural areas as well as connections to existing regional and municipal transportation systems. Community Survey As part of the Study, the Regional District has developed a community survey to better understand travel behaviour in the North Okanagan and identify barriers to more efficient, sustainable transport. The survey is available to be completed on-line at www.rdno.ca or paper copies can be sent to you by contacting the Regional District of North Okanagan, (250) 550 3700. The survey is open until February 27th 2009. Your assistance in completing the survey would be greatly appreciated. Community Mapping Workshops North Okanagan electoral area residents are also encouraged to attend a series of workshops held by the Regional District in mid-February. The workshops will be an open forum where rural residents can work with the project team to identify and prioritize future transportation infrastructure improvements. Workshop date and location is as follows: Ø Electoral Areas B & C BX Elementary School,Wednesday, February 18th, 2009, 7.00PM For more information please visit the Regional District of North Okanagan’s website at www.rdno.ca or contact the Regional District of North Okanagan’s Sustainability Coordinator, Anna Page at (250) 550-3700.