Why am I sorting through other people’s garbage? That is one question that flashed through my mind as I had to follow company policy regarding recycling. All waste had to be separated into: paper, plastic, cardboard, glass, and whatever else. The cardboard seemed easy, until I saw the sign that read absolutely no plastic is permitted with the cardboard. Too late did I realized that the cardboard box I had flattened had plastic packing tape on it, and I had to retrieve the cardboard from the recycle bin to remove the strips of tape. Paper coffee cups with coffee left inside. Spent chewing gum wrapped in paper. Wet paper soaked with unidentified liquids. It was going to get worse.
A hardly touched yogurt, nuts, ice cream, concoction that was in a plastic cup. Did I mention the organic waste bin yet? Am I supposed to empty the contents into one bin, wash the plastic cup out, and then put the plastic cup in the plastic recycle bin? The answer is, yes. This is the first company I have ever worked for that recycles, and I think I understand why. Going through a mix of wet and dry waste with one’s hands that other people left behind is disgusting, a possible health hazard, and is a huge waste of time.
The Company has a Health and Safety policy that is mostly government regulation. The government regulates everything including the soap employees use to wash their hands with. Recycling is different. There is no health and safety policy when it comes to handling garbage if one must sort and recycle it. Gloves are not required, nor is any other protective equipment required. Going to clean the employee’s change room? This is what you need to wear, this is what you use, this is the name of the cleaning product you are using, this is what is in it, this is how to use it correctly, this is what to do if this happens, and…. Going to handle garbage for recycling? Make sure you don’t mix paper and plastic together. You may destroy the planet.
For the past few years, the Ontario government has permitted the riders of e-bikes to operate their vehicles without a driver’s licence, vehicle licence, registration, licence plate, or insurance despite the fact that an e-bike is a self-propelled motorized electric vehicle that is capable of a sustained speed of up to 35 km/h. Since the e-bike can be powered through the power of pedals by the operator, it is free from the laws that govern similar vehicles such as a gasoline powered scooter. E-bikes require no licence plate, no headlamp, taillamp, or turn signal lamps.
As I was driving along in my car (Aveo), an e-bike rider exited the adjacent park, and entered the roadway ahead of me. His being in the park on an e-bike is prohibited. He rode on the right side of the roadway. The roadway was a double lane with two lanes that could turn right onto a one way street. I intended to turn right onto the one way street so I reduced my speed to not overtake him and to avoid me cutting in front of him when I made my right hand turn. I noticed his rear view mirrors and I presumed he was checking them and he was aware of me behind him.
Without any hand signal, he turned right a few meters ahead of me. I turned right to find him suddenly moving into the centre of my lane without any hand signal paying obsoletely no attention to his rear view mirrors, or anything else. I did not honk my horn as I braked to slow down. With the same disregard for other traffic, and again without signalling, he changed lanes again, going into the centre left lane in front of traffic. If they could, my eyes would have lighted him on fire as I glared at this idiot with rage. This is nothing new. E-bikes in parks where they are not allowed, e-bikes on sidewalks where they are prohibited, e-bikes all over the roads riding by their own rules. I am sick of it.
I used to ride a 50cc 2-stroke light motorcycle (60 km/h maximum speed). I had to earn a driver’s licence by passing a written and road test. I had to register and plate my vehicle. I had to have insurance. I had to wear an approved helmet while riding. I had to obey the rules of the road. I am fed up with these e-bike idiots, many who can not even pass a wriiten driver’s licence test, jumping on e-bikes and doing whatever they want because Ontario gives them special privileges because they don’t use gasoline.
E-bikes (and bicycles) must obey the rules of the road when on any public roadway.
