Calgary street names: To change or not to change? - Page 5

Stephen Ave · #81 Posted: **Apr 17, 2009, 6:08 PM**

One of the things I don't like about the numbered system, is the quadrant designation. I had some friends come visit from Ottawa a couple of years ago, and they wanted something to do during the day while I was at work, so I told them to go to 17th ave and hang out - they went to 17th ave SE! A popular street like 17th really should have a name.

I wish they'd at least give streets like 17th ave SW or 4th street SW a name.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lubicon

And confusing. Try giving someone from out of town the following directions:

Drive east on 16 AVE NW, then turn south on 14 ST NW etc. etc.

freeweed · #82 Posted: **Apr 17, 2009, 6:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lubicon

And confusing. Try giving someone from out of town the following directions:

Drive east on 16 AVE NW, then turn south on 14 ST NW etc. etc.

Calgary has NOTHING on some of the American cities I've driven in. Nothing.

Not that we don't have room for improvement.

PS: some of the most famous character streets in North America are numbered streets. Anyone ever hear of a little shop called "Saks 5th Avenue"?

Look way up · #83 Posted: **Apr 17, 2009, 6:44 PM**

Outside of 5th ave in NYC are there alot of other well known streets that are numbered?

Surrealplaces · #84 Posted: **Apr 17, 2009, 7:15 PM**

When you think of popular streets or Avenues, almost all of them are named.

Michigan Avenue, Slate Street, Rush street(Chi)
Rodeo Drive, Melrose Avenue, Sunset Blvd(LA)
South Street, Walnut Street (Philly)
Newbury Street (Boston)
Crescent street, St Catherine's (Mtl)
Young Street, Queen Street (Tor)
Bourbon street, Canal Street (NO)
Telegraph Street, Market street (San Fran)
Park avenue, Broadway Avenue, Avenue of the Americas, Wall street (NYC)

New York's Manhattan a great example of having number streets, but having names for the famous streets...in fact they may have become famous because they had a name. I don't see any reason Calgary can't do the same.

YYCguys · #85 Posted: **Apr 18, 2009, 4:09 PM**

One example that I can think of where a name would be more suitable than a number is the 32 Ave NE connector. That roadway is straight east of the Deerfoot but as it passes to the west, the alignment becomes skewed and actually turns into 41 Ave NE at Edmonton Trail and finally into 40 Ave NW west of Centre Street! Another example is how Blackfoot Trail turns into 17 Ave SE at Deerfoot! Another confusing road! I'm sure there are many more examples, and the City needs to look at them and make changes to make the city more navigable.

Distill3d · #86 Posted: **Apr 18, 2009, 4:37 PM**

I did vote to keep it as is. That however was before reading through the entire thread to see everyones point of view.

I do agree that certain streets with historical street names should be restored. and not just in the inner city. I'm actually surprised that no one has mentioned how 14 Street south of Glenmore Trail used to be named Paskapoo Trail (though I'm sure most of us are too young to remember that). I'll put my vote in for that to be one of the streets to go back to its old name.

I do agree with the points made about 17 Avenue doesn't sound like a vibrant and trendy district. however, a return to Notre Dame would be confusing to some people. I'd suggest for at least the section between MacLeod Trail and 14 Street be officially renamed to Red Mile Boulevard, or for those that want to keep it french, Boulevard Rouge Mile.

Wooster · #87 Posted: **Apr 18, 2009, 9:17 PM**

17th is one I don't mind as a numbered street.

DizzyEdge · #88 Posted: **Jun 10, 2009, 12:55 AM**

I just happened to google map "broadway, calgary" and it came up indicating 4th St SW was that street.

Smevo · #89 Posted: **Jun 10, 2009, 6:04 AM**

As someone who moved here in the past year, I actually find the quadrant and number system to be very useful for navigation purposes. That said, I like the "formerly known as" signs in the Beltline and Inglewood. It adds character and I think it could be spread to all the streets that would apply to.

Just don't do the signs like they do in Canmore, where you have to be on top of the intersection to see the numbered street name...it makes it confusing when trying to follow Google directions which used the numbers rather than the names.

Pedestrian malls (Stephen Ave and Barclay Parade) should definitely keep the names though, and I don't think anyone would disagree there.

Just my two cents.

bea · #90 Posted: **Jun 10, 2009, 6:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Ave

One of the things I don't like about the numbered system, is the quadrant designation. I had some friends come visit from Ottawa a couple of years ago, and they wanted something to do during the day while I was at work, so I told them to go to 17th ave and hang out - they went to 17th ave SE! A popular street like 17th really should have a name.

Like "Uptown 17th" or "International Avenue" ?

tdurden5573 · #91 Posted: **Jun 10, 2009, 7:32 AM**

I would love to see it go back to the names, but then in 20 years are we going to be proposing going back to numbers? My friends from Vancouver think the number system is way better, but I would prefer names for sure, much more character.

DizzyEdge · #92 Posted: **Jun 10, 2009, 9:10 AM**

The key is to bring back the names without losing the convenience of the numbers.

gorebug · #93 Posted: **Jun 10, 2009, 5:38 PM**

I think the preference depends on how an individual relates to the city or area in question.

When people navigate the city by foot, names are a much more appealing way of identifying areas. I would suspect that is why older cities and the oldest areas within 'new' cities have a large number of 'named' streets. The same pattern repeats itself in the outlying suburbs where numbered streets are once again avoided to provide the residents a greater sense of community.

Once one begins to commute from a greater distance however, the numbered system allows one to find an address quickly and easily without having to have been previously familiar with the area.

~bug

bluewaterandsunshine · #94 Posted: **Nov 13, 2009, 5:18 AM**

I like 17th Ave to be renamed "The Red Mile."

fusili · #95 Posted: **Nov 13, 2009, 6:46 AM**

I think we have a lot of cool street names, they just all happen to be arterials- Crowchild, Shaganappi, Deerfoot, Blackfoot, Glenmore, Metis, Marquis of Lorne, McKnight. All of those names would be a cool name for a pedestrian street. Unfortunately they are all streets that people would never ever want to walk along. MacLeod is similar, but it is a complete cluster F&$k once you get south of the Elbow River.