Municipal Hall

January 25, 2008 / 12:00 AM

Maple Ridge, BC: Maple Ridge's Mayor is not happy with ICBC's latest announcement that citizens in his community are going to be paying more as a result of a general insurance rate increase being passed along to drivers in select communities. "In this case we're not happy to be among a chosen few and I am sure others in this group feel the same way, said Mayor Gordy Robson.

"I am not convinced that Maple Ridge has more crashes than other communities not identified to receive across-the-board insurance increases," said Mayor Robson. "ICBC's actions are surprising and as far as I am concerned it is an inequitable way of treating those with safe driving records, regardless of where they live. If they are going to increase premiums, do it as they had originally announced - to those with bad driving records."

The Mayor went on to say that this announcement if anything, has helped to underline Maple Ridge's long standing need for an improved transportation plan, something Maple Ridge Council has been calling for for years. TransLink's recent announcement of a RapidBus Service coming to the area cannot come soon enough according to the Mayor. "Maple Ridge needs to have higher priority in terms of improving transportation networks in the area especially with the addition of two new bridges which are likely to lead to higher traffic volumes." Maple Ridge remains one of the fastest growing municipalities in the Lower Mainland.