"Travel
Etiquette" of BC, Canada
Canadian
Loonie |
Exchange
to Canadian Currency: Make
things easier on yourself. The world markets are not exactly
easy to follow these days so exchange your currency to
Canadian dollars before arriving. Instead of wasting time
exchanging currency you can spend more time exploring
Canada with a pocket of Canadian Loonies ($1) and Toonies
($2). It would be appreciated by many and make your trip
that much easier and less cumbersome. |
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Do NOT Litter: This is a HUGE pet-peeve for BCeh.com . There is nothing
more repulsive than driving along the BC highways and
backroads exploring wilderness and, then see some trash,
sofa or mattress thrown into the forest and left behind
by some idiots. How hard is it to hold onto your garbage
until you reach the next community, a scenic look out
with garbage cans or a campsite or park washroom to
dispose of your litter. Not hard at all. Keeping our
parks, beaches, trails, highways and communities clean
and litter free is important to the quality of life
we enjoy. Often garbage attracts wildlife and dangerous
situations. We have implemented harsh penalties for
littering with maximum fines reaching $2000 Canadian
in some areas. Keep your trash to yourself please until
an appropriate location is available. |
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Flashing
Green Stop Lights: Confusing
description eh. Solid green lights mean "GO"
but when you drive towards a flashing green light it is
designated as a "Pedestrian Crosswalk". The
light turns red when someone is waiting to cross the busy
street. You will see them once in awhile as you are driving
from community to community. The flashing green light
stays flashing green until a pedestrian pushes the crosswalk
button and then the green light turns solid red stopping
the traffic letting the pedestrian cross. Do not stop
your vehicle on a solid or flashing green light or
you might get a rude awakening from behind by another
car. |
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Do NOT Feed the Wildlife: Yes, some wild animals like baby black bears look cuddly.
Yes, the deer fawns are cute. Yes, the mountain goats
are curious. Yes, seagulls are attracted to your food.
But feeding any animal is doing no one any favours. Our
wildlife is meant to survive and live in it's natural
environment. Feeding wildlife draws the wildlife into
our communities looking for garbage therefore endangering
people. The wildlife is unpredictable and should not be
approached and fed any food making them more humanized.
Do not get out of the car at any time when wildlife approaches
(bears, elk, cougars, etc.) as this may cause them to
become defensive and aggressive. Wildlife is very temperamental. |
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Smile,
Hello and Thank you: Everyone
likes to meet happy people. No one likes to deal with
arrogant, rude people. So, if we all try to be happy,
be nicer and be respectful of each other.. we all then
take part in creating a better atmosphere to visit,
explore and travel to for you. Pass it Forward! We would
like to think, we in BC, tend to be laid back and friendlier
than most. We here in BC, Canada tend to be polite (maybe
too polite) but who cares, we are proud of this image
of being too polite especially in today's mixed up crazy
world. When visiting BC, you will notice that most of
us tend to say "Hello" and "Thank you".
We do not bite back. How tough is it to be nice to each
other. Not tough at all! |
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Passing
Lane Highways: Some of our major highways have two lanes going each
way. Great for passing slower vehicles. But many of our
highways are single lane highways running through mountains,
valleys and parks. Some of the one lane highways, the
minor highways, have what we call "passing lanes"
every few kilometres. These broken yellow lines indicate
faster cars are able to pass slower moving vehicles if
there is no oncoming traffic. Remember the fable of the
Hare and the Tortoise? Well then... speed has limits in
the wilderness. |
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Gratuity
Appreciated: If
you are happy with the service from a restaurant, accommodation,
tour company employee please take the time to let them
know your satisfaction with a tip. Most restaurants establishments
do not include the tip or gratuity on their bills. Many
servers are paid minimum wage and survive on their tips.
Most of the people in the hospitality industry work hard
and long and often can be over looked or taken for granted.
If the service you received from any of our eating establishments,
accommodations and/or tour guides help make your visit
enjoyable, please show your appreciation. If they are
rude or expect a tip and provide you with poor service
.... then no tip is required. Tip for good polite service,
not out of necessity. |
Rest
Areas
Pull Out Areas |
Single
Lane Bumper to Bumper: Vehicle "Pull Outs" or "Rest Stops"
are there for a reason... so slow moving vehicles can
pull over so to let cars past them or to stop for a picnic
or to visit a restroom. BC has many long roads with wicked
corners leading from town to town lined with breathe taking
scenery. Some of the roads are one lane highways with
little opportunity to pass a slow moving vehicle like
a rented RV or rental car that is moving at a ridiculous
slow speed and not knowing it. When a line up starts to
form behind a vehicle of 10 or more vehicles, bumper to
bumper, PULL OVER and let everyone pass. |
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Wildlife
has the Right of Way... Wildlife
is frozen when met by your vehicle headlights. Wildlife
does not look twice before crossing the road. Deer, elk,
bears, wolves, raccoons, cougars and other wildlife frequently
use our highways for travel routes as most of our highways
go through their eco systems. Wildlife tends to hide in
bushes until they dart out onto the roads to cross giving
no warning. Please, at all times be aware of wildlife
on our highways. |
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Large
Logging Trucks... our BC gravel backroads and highways are main travel routes
for logging trucks. Many roads have hidden corners exploring
through rainforest, mountain valleys climbing up and down
hills with limited views of oncoming traffic. We have
many logging trucks on our roads as forestry is big business
in BC. All vehicles lose when met head on by a logging
truck so stay alert. |
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 BC Regions
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