So, I brought my bicycle with me to Vernon.  I m going to ride around Wood Lake on Friday.  Would anyone care to join me?  Thought I’d start around mid morning.

I just got word that my 10:30 won't be happening. Would 10:00 work for you, say, at the south-east corner of Wood Lake?

I was thinking of parking somewhere in Obama, or I think there’s a Starbucks near the highway at the south west end.

We are in Grand Forks right now doing some biking on the TC Trail.  Have ridden from Midway to Grand Forks and part way to Christina Lake.  Rain made us turn back.  Today we're going up to Slocan to do some rail trail between Slocan and S Slocan.  Trails are pretty good down here!

Sounds like some good riding, Bill.

Ross, You would turn right at the first light near Turtle Bay, then an immediate left into the parking lot for Starbucks. Want to meet there? Time?

Hey Mike,

Looks like I’m going to have to cancel cycling tomorrow.  Turns out that while I’ve been here in Vernon, at home my wife has contacted Covid.  I wasn’t due to get my vaccine invitation until Tuesday.  I was hoping to tag team with her so she could relieve me up here.  In any case I’ve obtained an early appointment in Armstrong tomorrow at 1:00 to get my vaccine earlier than my scheduled invitation.  Sandy will not be contagious by the time I intend to head home but wanted to get my vaccination as insurance.

Would you be available to cycle Saturday instead?

Sorry to hear about your wife Ross.  I hope she recovers well.  Still waiting for my invite before going for shot #6.

We altered plans and completed the section from Grand Forks to Christina Lk.  The path is good and the scenery great.  Most of the rail trails go through forest with trees lining both sides of the trail.  This section is down the Kettle River Valley with wide open fields for the most part.  The Cascades Chasm is very scenic.  Today was a shorter ride, so we packed up and headed for Slocan for the night.  Lots of history here.  The trail here also looks nice!  It takes you down the Slocan River to South Slocan.  Will have to wait til next year though, as we decided to return home tomorrow. 

So, back to the cycling.  Hawkeye and I are meeting at the Starbucks near the SW end of Wood Lake tomorrow at 10:00 for a ride around the lake.  Possible chance of a shower, but that’s what rain gear is for.

Thanks for the morning, Mike.  It was good to get out, and the weather cooperated perfectly.  But man, I’m glad it was flat.  I’m quite fatigued.

Gotta love those old rail lines. That was a good ride.

Some sections have enough downgrade that you don't need to pedal.  This was the case for the section into Princeton from Bankeir.  That section is probably one of the steepest we've ridden.  The section from Eholt to Grand Forks is also a steep downgrade.

In the case of the Wood Lake loop, there are very few slopes. For most of the trip, the rail line stays about the same distance above the water level.

We rode the part from Vernon to Oyama last summer.  It was a good trail but lots of e bikes going very fast while passing.

My experience with e-bike riders in general has not been good.  And indeed with cyclists in general as well.  Rules don’t apply to them.  No etiquette, no consideration of others, huge sense of entitlement and superiority.  This also goes for e scooter users, mono wheels, etc.  legislators have allowed them to spin out of control.

E-bike crashes are now becoming as frequent as motorcycle crashes in terms of kilometres travelled as well as severity if injuries and death.  Paris France has rescinded e scooter rental business licences because of the high crash injuries and deaths. 

In my opinion, anything not 100% human powered ( and maybe bicycles to) requires regulation and insurance.  Tough talk, yes, but in today’s traffic environment, responsibility must lie somewhere.  E powered vehicles have gotten a free ride and out of control.  The hazards they create far outstrips those posed by pedestrians and regular cyclists.  Something’s gotta give.

  What you’ve pointed out with non vehicle  electric leisure machines can easily sum up the state of the entire society regarding lack of responsibility, lack of social order, lack of etiquette. Try driving highway #1 from, say, New West to Abbotsford, and witness exactly what you summed up , stupid idiots on full display.
 

  Policing the electric 1 and 2 wheeled situation would be impossible. All those homeless dudes on ‘almost motorcycles’, they have no license, ID, and no inclination to pay any kind of fine ever.

  To me, the most carnage I’ve seen is the young kids on the stand up e scooters, with the 6” wheels. Inherently unstable, dangerous, add stupid teenager and skinned elbows are guaranteed.

 Basic physical skills of humans in western society has dropped enormously the last 25-30 yrs. We have nobody but ourselves to blame.

Compared to some of my acqaintences, you're an optimist.

I have no issue with rules and licensing.  But I think dedicated paths for ebikes or for bikes in general would help with safety.  Here in Chase I ride on the shoulder on town roads and am often surprised by cars or trucks coming close enough I can touch them.  A year or so ago I was on the road by the gas station, signalling a left turn.  A car tried to pass me and almost ran me over, knocking me down and busting my helmet.