If They Can’t Stop for a Baby Goose, What Hope Is There for a Child?
By Tina Winterlik aka Zipolita
Something absolutely heartbreaking happened in Vancouver this week.
A baby Canada goose—just a tiny, fluffy gosling—was run over and killed by a speeding cyclist in Olympic Village. The cyclist didn’t stop. Didn’t check. Didn’t care. The baby goose died in front of its siblings. In front of a witness. In front of the city.
And that cyclist just kept going.
What kind of person sees life as that disposable?
What hope do we have if someone can barrel down a bike path so fast, so disconnected, so heartless, that they can crush a living creature and flee the scene?
We’re not just talking about wildlife. We’re talking about a mindset—a toxic, dangerous one—that’s spreading like wildfire through our city.
Electric Bikes: The Unregulated Menace
Let me be clear: I love bikes. I’ve ridden my old Norco for over 30 years. But the rise of unregulated electric bikes—some with massive tires, motors as strong as a scooter, and speeds that rival mopeds—is creating chaos on our paths.
The Kitsilano bike paths this weekend were a nightmare.
- Pedestrians walking four abreast, unaware they’re in the bike lane.
- Cyclists flying past like they're in the Tour de France.
- No clear signage. No enforcement. No respect.
And I, on my humble human-powered bike, have to shout warnings, “You’re in the bike lane!” and still pray I don’t get sideswiped by a Yahoo zooming by on a $4,000 e-bike.
We Just Lost a Child
A child just died after being struck by a bus in Vancouver. Our streets, our sidewalks, our paths—none of them feel safe anymore.
How many more tragedies will it take before we stop and say, “Enough”?
What Happens When It’s Your Pet? Or Your Kid?
This isn’t just about one baby goose. It’s about a culture that’s forgotten how to slow down. A city that’s putting speed and convenience over life—over decency, respect, and awareness.
- If they can’t stop for a goose, what will they do when it’s your dog crossing the path?
- What about your elderly parent going for a walk?
- Your child chasing a ball?
Time for Action: What Needs to Change
-
License ALL Electric Bikes.
If it goes more than 25 km/h, it’s not a bicycle. It needs regulation. -
Clear Path Markings and Signage.
Vancouver must invest in repainting, re-signing, and redesigning mixed-use paths to separate pedestrians and high-speed cyclists. -
Enforcement and Fines.
Just like cars, cyclists—especially those on e-bikes—should be ticketed for reckless speed and behavior. -
Education and Respect.
Share the path. Yield to the vulnerable. Respect life—human and animal alike.
This city is too beautiful, too vibrant, and too full of life to let it be destroyed by people who care more about getting somewhere fast than coexisting with others.
Slow down.
Look around.
Act like we all belong here—because we do.
Even the baby goose.
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