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A possible ban on smoking at bus stops?
Vancouver could join other Canadian cities like Victoria, Edmonton and Saskatoon, when it votes on a proposed smoking ban on outdoor patios.
Vancouver city council will vote next week on a recommendation to prohibit smoking on restaurant patios, near public doorways, windows, and at enclosed, or even partially enclosed, bus shelters.
Lighting up within six metres of any of those areas will be prohibited once the ban takes affect, likely in about six months from now.
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan attributes the move to public pressure.
"We've had a lot of complaints over the years from people who feel they can't enjoy the patios because of the smoking that goes on,'' he said. "It's a real quality of life issue for many people.''
Sullivan said the city is also mindful of how it is perceived by outsiders as it gets closer to hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
"The world is arriving in 2010 and we want to have initiatives like this in place so we can showcase some of the progressive moves we're making here," he said.
However, Sullivan said the city needs time to consult with businesses that will be affected by the ban, which is why it is not expected not take effect for another six months.
BC Restaurant Association president Ian Tostenson said his chief concern is that smokers will migrate, along with their friends, to patios in other municipalities such as Richmond, Burnaby, and North Vancouver, where a ban has not been imposed.
"If it happens, it should happen across all municipalities,'' he said, adding that such a move would ensure a level playing field for all businesses in the Lower Mainland that would be impacted by a smoking ban.
Banning smoking at bus stops is a wonderful idea, but the article says that smoking will be banned within six meters of "enclosed" and "partially enclosed" bus shelters. Does this mean that bus stops that consist of only a sign on a pole will not fall under this ban? If so, that means that a non-smoker who is standing at the bus stop (ie-at the pole) will have to move if a smoker starts smoking beside them, or that a smoker could stand in line and smoke.
Also, what about at some busy bus stops such as the 99B-Line stop at Commercial Station? Those lines can get extremely long during rush hour, extending far past 6 meters from the bus shelters. So would a person who is standing in line, but past the 6 meter mark, be allowed to smoke in line, bothering the other people in line?
If this legislation is passed, I hope there aren't any of these legal loopholes that would allow smokers to continue smoking near people who are waiting for a bus, thus defeating the intent of the ban.
Vancouver could join other Canadian cities like Victoria, Edmonton and Saskatoon, when it votes on a proposed smoking ban on outdoor patios.
Vancouver city council will vote next week on a recommendation to prohibit smoking on restaurant patios, near public doorways, windows, and at enclosed, or even partially enclosed, bus shelters.
Lighting up within six metres of any of those areas will be prohibited once the ban takes affect, likely in about six months from now.
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan attributes the move to public pressure.
"We've had a lot of complaints over the years from people who feel they can't enjoy the patios because of the smoking that goes on,'' he said. "It's a real quality of life issue for many people.''
Sullivan said the city is also mindful of how it is perceived by outsiders as it gets closer to hosting the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
"The world is arriving in 2010 and we want to have initiatives like this in place so we can showcase some of the progressive moves we're making here," he said.
However, Sullivan said the city needs time to consult with businesses that will be affected by the ban, which is why it is not expected not take effect for another six months.
BC Restaurant Association president Ian Tostenson said his chief concern is that smokers will migrate, along with their friends, to patios in other municipalities such as Richmond, Burnaby, and North Vancouver, where a ban has not been imposed.
"If it happens, it should happen across all municipalities,'' he said, adding that such a move would ensure a level playing field for all businesses in the Lower Mainland that would be impacted by a smoking ban.
Banning smoking at bus stops is a wonderful idea, but the article says that smoking will be banned within six meters of "enclosed" and "partially enclosed" bus shelters. Does this mean that bus stops that consist of only a sign on a pole will not fall under this ban? If so, that means that a non-smoker who is standing at the bus stop (ie-at the pole) will have to move if a smoker starts smoking beside them, or that a smoker could stand in line and smoke.
Also, what about at some busy bus stops such as the 99B-Line stop at Commercial Station? Those lines can get extremely long during rush hour, extending far past 6 meters from the bus shelters. So would a person who is standing in line, but past the 6 meter mark, be allowed to smoke in line, bothering the other people in line?
If this legislation is passed, I hope there aren't any of these legal loopholes that would allow smokers to continue smoking near people who are waiting for a bus, thus defeating the intent of the ban.