First snow hits Lower Mainland

First snow hits Lower Mainland: "First snow hits Lower Mainland
Last Updated: Nov 29 2005 07:16 AM PST

Commuters face traffic slowdowns on the Lower Mainland on Tuesday morning following an overnight snowfall that dumped as much as five centimetres in some of the suburbs.
Early-morning commute

Early-morning commute
There are also road warnings for many parts of Vancouver Island because of the snow.

* LINK: Road reports for Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley External site

* LINK: Road reports for Vancouver Island External site

Lighter snowfall was also reported in other coastal areas. Victoria got a dusting and about five centimetres fell in the Nanaimo area.

More flurries are forecast in Greater Vancouver and on Vancouver Island ? with up to two more centimetres expected on Tuesday.

* LINK: Vancouver weather forecast External site

ICBC says that while there will be fewer cars on the road in Greater Vancouver, there will be more accidents.

'Last year when we had a big snow storm in January we were seeing some days with a 15 per cent increase in phone calls, telephone claims,' says spokesperson Doug Henderson.

He says the big problem is that drivers here just don't get enough opportunity to practise.

* LINK: ICBC tips for driving in bad weather External site

That's a scary prospect for people who bike to work says Bonnie Fenton of the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition ? who has a message for drivers.

'Just for car drivers to be aware that bikes may be using main streets because they're more likely to be cleared than the uncleared side streets that people often do ride on their bikes.'
http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/Vancouver/photos/051129_snow2.jpg

* INTERVIEW: The Early Edition's Rick Cluff speaks with New Westminster Streets Supervisor Greig Dodgshon. Click to play

with files from Canadian Press"