Jingsamichty

But is IS chaos.

People's lives are micro-managed these days, whether it's dropping the kids off, getting to work, making a connection... anything that throws that finely balanced system off results in huge amounts of frustration.

Unfortunately most people aren't in a lucky enough situation to say, "Hey, it's snowing, let's just take the day off and enjoy it!". The AA and the RAC can preach all they like, but most folk can't afford not to travel.

dbd33

That's the same here. The weather gets bad, they pull the ploughs and then nominally close the roads and the public just has to get on with it. The difference, I suppose, is that here it happens every year so people drive vehicles equipped for the weather.

BristolUK

That reminds me of something on the radio here a few years ago.

The presenter reported white-out/freezing rain or whatever apocalyptic conditions existed that made going out crazy - "essential journeys only" sort of thing - and then the very next thing they announced (all clearly live, none recorded and the same presenter) was promoting one of the stores encouraging people to go there today.

scrubbedexpat091

Yep. Using snow as an excuse at my job won't cut it. If the airport is open we are expected to arrive for work.

The govt at various levels will say not to travel on the roads when it snows here but that just isn't realistic to expect.

BristolUK

Why not? Granted it depends on the reason for travel and what the state of the roads really is (it is Vancouver after all )

If an airport is open - operational, I mean, in terms of flights arriving and taking off - then things must be okay.

But when people are in weather related accidents when they've been warned to stay home I'd be in favour of fines set at an amount that covers the cost of all the services involved in dealing with it and subsequent fines for any employer sacking them for non attendance - as difficult as that may be to enforce.

Moses2013

Good idea but then you'd have plenty of companies leaving Canada. If it snows half the year (OK not Vancouver but other parts of Canada), you'll be flooded with weather related accidents and people trying to claim, or nobody will work

caretaker

If airplanes travelled on the highways, that would make sense...

BristolUK

Or people would just accept that there are times when it's not safe to be out driving. Just wait a few hours until it's better.


But of course I'm referring to planes arriving and departing because there are passengers arriving at and departing from the airport because the roads are safe.

Moses2013

Sure but that's very hard to define and what's safe or unsafe will depend on the person and where they live. It's often a lot worse off the main roads but people in the city might not see that. If I feel unsafe to drive, I stay at home and no boss can stop me.

BristolUK

I'd settle for the police/emergency services.

Let's face it a safe speed limit will depend on the person and locality but there's still an accepted and enforcable definition.

scrubbedexpat091

One thing is certain and that is an airport can be open and operational and the roads outside a total mess.

Several times last winter when Vancouver saw a decent amount of snow the airport was open and operating but the city roads were a total mess and transit buses a couple times stopped running.

caretaker

Yes, that's the part that would make sense if airplanes travelled on the roads. Air travel can be restricted when roads are open, and roads can be closed or under travel advisory while flights are still landing and taking off on schedule. Unless the highway is closed, period, Jsmith is going to work because the airport doesn't want to delay flights because the baggage handlers wanted to take a snow day.

BristolUK

Tell you what...snow in the UK looks nicer than snow here, judging by photos in the paper.

bats

I always fancied one of those jobs where you get to stay homeif the weather is bad. Even after the 87 hurricane I got in to work. Took me 4 hours but I got there.

Now i can enjoy being retired and not have to battle the weather to get to work and certainly don't miss sleeping on a stretcher when it was too nasty to drive home at midnight and I was on call.

BristolUK

That's lovely.

I still like to keep a sort of discipline in getting up fairly early. Stepdaughter has had loads of early starts lately meaning leaving for the bus at 7.15 so I'm up making sure she's up and having her brekky ready when she gets downstairs.