Discussions

Navigating around Brandon is annoying when there are often few well lit signs on people's houses.  
 
It would be good if house owners could backlight their signs then delivery drivers could better recognize their houses and provide timely deliveries.  
 
I understand why they may not want to advertise their house numbers, but a simple led backlight would solve a number a problems for the delivery guy.  
 
Mildly annoyed pizza delivery driver  

Yes, in a perfect world. Some homes have those, but not all will be visible or even near the outside lighting. When you have done this long enough, you almost know which house or bldg you are going to. Then the bays, blvd's, crescents and cul-du-sac streets can be fun if it's dark or numbers are hidden. It's best to get the numbering sequence figured out, if you can view the number on the house next door.  
The core is easiest of course. Blocks start at 00 at Pacific and end up at 1400 when you get to Richmond. If you are going north, zero starts at the tracks and number grows as you travel north. Most blocks end in 50 or 60.  
IE: If you are going to 734- 7th Street, you will be on the west side of the street (even number) and most likely in the middle of the block. I find most people leave a light on. If not, the number on the homes on either side of it should give it away.  
Some blocks seem to have street lights out, so I will try to shine to shine my lights on homes as I pull a u-turn.  
Have fun.

Invest in a high-powered flashlight that plugs into your power outlet. I used to use one and it made finding some addresses so much easier.  
 
Yes, I used to deliver pizza.

house numbers should be well visible not only for delivery drivers, who doesnt want a quick pizza, but mainly for EMS, last thing you would want is emergency crews slower to find your house :S

traveller said "house numbers should be well visible not only for delivery drivers, who doesnt want a quick pizza, but mainly for EMS, last thing you would want is emergency crews slower to find your house :S "

However, "should be" and "are" are two different things.  
 
Some outside lights illuminate the house number, some do not: and not everyone remembers to turn their lights on after ordering. Other times, the numbers are so small you can't read them from your vehicle in the street or they are too "stylish" and almost unreadable..... sometimes they do not even exist.  
 
A high-powered flashlight is still the best answer.  
 

traveller said "house numbers should be well visible not only for delivery drivers, who doesnt want a quick pizza, but mainly for EMS, last thing you would want is emergency crews slower to find your house :S "

Wasn't there a bylaw that was created some time ago that stated that all house numbers are to be easily visible and also lit at night for this (EMS) purpose?

Well I am not about to run an electrical line to the front of the house to start lighting up numbers. I drove delivery before and in a perfect world the house would be glowing to show where to go. Now with gps and everything else deliveries should be a breeze. I tried the proactive approach and the odd trouble house I would let them know to make sure to leave a light on the porch or whatever to easily see better for next time.

I used to be a cable guy and eventually just ponied-up for a highly focused LED flashlight. It made my life so much easier on those late/early shifts back in the day finding house numbers, and overhead distribution-taps.  
 
try before you buy-get one with a good battery holder, and sharp focus - for best results.  
 
Always ALWAYS give a hard time to those new-build homeowners who can't seem to get around to installing the number on their house! Not only does it make your job next to impossible ans waste your time guessing, but it puts their lives at risk if they ever need to call for an ambulance or police! That usually gets at least a paper sign taped to the window next time I'm by.  
 
Edited by sparkycivic, 2016-02-22 11:13:05

while GPS can make things easier we all know that can screw up too but i agree, even if there is a law, which i believe says that you have to have your houses numbered, never heard lite, lots of people will be non-compliant.  
 
For a delivery guy I do think having a high powered light might help but as a public service i recommend in my first aid courses to make sure your numbers are visible in case EMS does need to use them

Flutterby said "    traveller said "house numbers should be well visible not only for delivery drivers, who doesnt want a quick pizza, but mainly for EMS, last thing you would want is emergency crews slower to find your house :S " Wasn't there a bylaw that was created some time ago that stated that all house numbers are to be easily visible and also lit at night for this (EMS) purpose? "

i was out having lunch with some relatives and this topic came up. the bylaw was created but, has never been enforced. apparently, the excessive ice on sidewalks, excessive dog excrement and 2 hour parking limits aren't enforced either.  
 
i haven't had any issues with these personally but, it seems that plenty of others have, going by the way the small conversation quickly spread to a three table radius.  
 
it seems to me that, the school tax hike could maybe be avoided, if the bylaws were enforced and fines were given. then, only the people NOT following the rules, would have to pay extra.

CCCL said "    Flutterby said "    traveller said "house numbers should be well visible not only for delivery drivers, who doesnt want a quick pizza, but mainly for EMS, last thing you would want is emergency crews slower to find your house :S " Wasn't there a bylaw that was created some time ago that stated that all house numbers are to be easily visible and also lit at night for this (EMS) purpose? " i was out having lunch with some relatives and this topic came up. the bylaw was created but, has never been enforced. apparently, the excessive ice on sidewalks, excessive dog excrement and 2 hour parking limits aren't enforced either.     i haven't had any issues with these personally but, it seems that plenty of others have, going by the way the small conversation quickly spread to a three table radius.     it seems to me that, the school tax hike could maybe be avoided, if the bylaws were enforced and fines were given. then, only the people NOT following the rules, would have to pay extra. "

"the bylaw was created but, has never been enforced."  
 
Are we talking about a bylaw that states numbers must be there (front and rear), or one that says they need to be lit as well? I do know that at one time they were enforcing having to have them both front and rear. Before this thread, I've never heard about the need to have them lit.  
 
"it seems to me that, the school tax hike could maybe be avoided, if the bylaws were enforced and fines were given. then, only the people NOT following the rules, would have to pay extra."  
 
My understanding is that any money collected as a result of bylaw enforcement would go to the city coffers, not the Brandon School Division. The only way we are going to see the Brandon School Division budget get under control is to have School Board trustees that can see the need to provide a good quality education to the students, as well as make sure the taxpayer is getting the best value for their tax dollars. At this point in time, and for many years now, it is my opinion that we aren't getting either.

Even in daylight, the brass numbers on brick surface disappear. White on a dark background or black on a very light background. The black on gold stickers often reflect as a bunch of squares, often too small to see from the driver's position.  
 
Brown on brick, brass on beige, under the overhang, and tree branches have overgrown that spaces are just a few of the problems I have found with delivering both during the day or evening.  
 
I will be replacing my address sign this summer because it is more than five years old.  
 
 

I volunteer for operation red nose every year and know how frustrating it can be when you cannot read the numbers.