Calgary Cycling Paths & Infrastructure

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

The Herald is asking today if it's time to declare the 10th Avenue bike lanes a failure. http://blogs.calgaryherald.com/2012/...nes-a-failure/

I have noticed motorists in the bike lanes many times, whether parking, turning or passing. I have also noticed cops along 10th giving out tickets pretty much daily. Is it just me or do a lot of motorists in Calgary put themselves above everyone else, even if it is dangerous to the health of others? I see it at most red lights where some asshole is blocking the cross walk and a driving lane because he wanted to save 2 minutes, or I've seen it where a motorist blocks the sidewalk completely while trying to pull out of a parkade or parking lot, completely ignorant to the fact that they are in the way of a lot of people. Thoughts?

I do have to comment on this. Sometimes (not all the time) this is necessary to simply see safely the oncoming traffic. It is a result of bad driveway (or intersection) design.

Case in point. Turning onto Edmonton Trail from 7th Ave NE. In order to see the northbound traffic, you have to have your car parked right on the cross walk meant for people crossing 7th ave. If you were to be behind it, it is impossible to see what is coming, and therefore not safe to pull out onto Edmonton Trail.

[Aegis]

I don't think the 10th Ave bike lanes are a failure. They are a start. If more people used them, the mass of cyclists would make it difficult for vehicles to breach the bike lane. If the bike lane became that busy, there would be more support for physical segregation of the bike lane from the roadway.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

I do have to comment on this. Sometimes (not all the time) this is necessary to simply see safely the oncoming traffic. It is a result of bad driveway (or intersection) design.

Case in point. Turning onto Edmonton Trail from 7th Ave NE. In order to see the northbound traffic, you have to have your car parked right on the cross walk meant for people crossing 7th ave. If you were to be behind it, it is impossible to see what is coming, and therefore not safe to pull out onto Edmonton Trail.

Pulling out of the Palliser Parkade is another one like this where you have to be nearly on the road in order to see the road. Mostly though, it's just people being ignorant to the fact that there are people trying to get places who don't use a car.

[mrcccondor]

Originally Posted by Aegis

I don't think the 10th Ave bike lanes are a failure. They are a start. If more people used them, the mass of cyclists would make it difficult for vehicles to breach the bike lane. If the bike lane became that busy, there would be more support for physical segregation of the bike lane from the roadway.

I'd say they are a failure. Having a westbound bike lane for only certain hours of a day is not infrastructure. Of course drivers aren't used to it.

[Radley77]

Just a bit of backgrounder info:
City of Calgary : Improvements to 10 Avenue S.W. between Crowchild Trail and Macleod Trail

Related documents
•10 Avenue South Cycle Route Improvements
•10 Avenue Improvements

I find the posted documentation unclear because one doesn't know the times of the parking lanes. That and the bike lane is only in operation in the westbound direction Mon. - Fri. 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM . Floating lanes are hard to wayfind and unclear about alternatives...

One solution to potentially migrate to would be conversion of of 10 Ave to:
1. shared westbound\eastbound bike lane
2. eastbound auto lane
3. westbound auto lane
4. westbound parking lane

This scheme would result in a west/east corridor for bikes and in loss of one lane of parking revenue. 10th Ave would also start to feel a bit more like Stephen Ave or the Red Mile.

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Just a bit of backgrounder info:
City of Calgary : Improvements to 10 Avenue S.W. between Crowchild Trail and Macleod Trail

Related documents
•10 Avenue South Cycle Route Improvements
•10 Avenue Improvements

I find the posted documentation unclear because one doesn't know the times of the parking lanes. That and the bike lane is only in operation in the westbound direction Mon. - Fri. 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM . Floating lanes are hard to wayfind and unclear about alternatives...

One solution to potentially migrate to would be conversion of of 10 Ave to:
1. shared westbound\eastbound bike lane
2. eastbound auto lane
3. westbound auto lane
4. westbound parking lane

This scheme would result in a west/east corridor for bikes and in loss of one lane of parking revenue. 10th Ave would also start to feel a bit more like Stephen Ave or the Red Mile.

This would also provide a nice buffer between the sidewalk and traffic, making walking along 10th much more pleasant.

As mentioned making the lane floating causes confusion with both drivers and riders, it should a 24/7 operation as a bike lane that way it's clear to everyone.

[MichaelS]

Originally Posted by Full Mountain

This would also provide a nice buffer between the sidewalk and traffic, making walking along 10th much more pleasant.

As mentioned making the lane floating causes confusion with both drivers and riders, it should a 24/7 operation as a bike lane that way it's clear to everyone.

You are assuming there is a sidewalk on 10th Ave. Maybe if they put in a separate bike lane, they would put a proper one in....

[Full Mountain]

Originally Posted by MichaelS

You are assuming there is a sidewalk on 10th Ave. Maybe if they put in a separate bike lane, they would put a proper one in....

The south side is pretty good, the north side on the other hand.....

[Radley77]

Was reading a bit more of the comments from Tom Babins' CH article. The one I found particularly shocking was, "Bicycles do not belong in the downtown core of a major city." I'm guessing this person hasn't been to cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Montreal or Vancouver. Calgary has fallen way behind what major cities have done for bike infrastructure, and in the particular places like Minneapolis and Portland where there has been some fairly compelling successes.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Was reading a bit more of the comments from Tom Babins' CH article. The one I found particularly shocking was, "Bicycles do not belong in the downtown core of a major city." I'm guessing this person hasn't been to cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Montreal or Vancouver. Calgary has fallen way behind what major cities have done for bike infrastructure, and in the particular places like Minneapolis and Portland where there has been some fairly compelling successes.

Yeah it's sad how closed minded people in this city can be, cycling is a great alternative to driving, even in a winter city like Calgary.

[suburbia]

Prince's Island and the surrounding pathways got a workout today with the 28th World Partnership Walk. The free post walk World Partnership Festival was awesome - I think better than some of the ones we end up paying for! Here are some photos and pics of the end part - the video clip (portion with sound about 60 seconds in) is the crowd getting into it right at the end before wrap-up.

• Video Link

If anyone has been to this event in the past and also went today, you'll know how much of a blessing the Peace Bridge is for these types of big events.

EDIT: Just noticed the thread is specifically for "cycle" pathways, whereas I was thinking it was just pathways. Oops ... but I leave the post up anyway in case it is interesting to some.

[DavidKuitunen]

Originally Posted by Radley77

Was reading a bit more of the comments from Tom Babins' CH article. The one I found particularly shocking was, "Bicycles do not belong in the downtown core of a major city." I'm guessing this person hasn't been to cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Montreal or Vancouver. Calgary has fallen way behind what major cities have done for bike infrastructure, and in the particular places like Minneapolis and Portland where there has been some fairly compelling successes.

I don't understand people with that sentiment. If you only drove a car in the downtown portion of Calgary for an hour during rush hour your average speed might be 5kms/h if you're lucky. On a bike you just whiz by at a steady speed and it just makes sense. Cars and bikes both belong in the downtown core, only cars become increasingly less practical and affordable to park as the city grows. That comment doesn't really surprise me too much, I think a lot of people have the same attitude in Alberta. I remember cycling out near Vulcan one summer and a lady stopped on the highway and asked if I needed a ride, I just chuckled and said "no i'm doing this for recreation." She looked completely baffled.

[suburbia]

Looks like it isn't just cars that get frustrated with the cyclists - it is the pedestrians also!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...forcement.html

[Radley77]

Please all users of the pathways be careful out there. Recommend to slow down for pedestrians, stay on the right side while walking, don't have too long a leash, keep your children on the right hand side, use appropriate bike\ped path when available, use a bell when passing, don't listen to loud music on your headphones to the point you are not aware of your surroundings and recommend for cyclists to wear a helmut.

I have had friends have some serious injuries out there on the pathways. Please educate your friends and family about how to use the pathway system safely.

[DizzyEdge]

Originally Posted by suburbia

Looks like it isn't just cars that get frustrated with the cyclists - it is the pedestrians also!

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgar...forcement.html

I encounter asshole cyclists on the paths (and increasingly on narrow sidewalks) all the time when I'm walking, and also when I'm cycling. I'd love to see better enforcement.

[Calgarian]

Yeah Cyclists pretty much just do what they want, rules be damned! Better education and enforcement of rules for cyclists would probably go a long was as I doubt most of them realize they fall under the umbrella of vehicles not pedestrians.

[Radley77]

City of Calgary held an open house at the Mewata armoury about bike lanes on 6th St SW and 7th St SW that is open to discussion from both driver's and cyclists.

There is also several options listed on the website up for discussion:
http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...ike-lanes.aspx

Media Coverage from CBC:
http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Canad.../ID=2245585283

Nice to see consultation process taking place and Maggie Schofield of Downtown Calgary getting engaged.

[Radley77]

Introducing Tom Thivener, the City's new Cycling Coordinator

• Video Link

Looks like a knowledgable, engaging and thoughtful guy. Seems promising.

[suburbia]

I was headed from Beddington Trail onto south-bound Deerfoot Trail this morning around 11:15am and came upon a cyclist going the wrong way up the ramp - right where it goes from three lanes to two and narrows up. I'm trying to check over my left shoulder to change lanes and coming up the other side is a bicycle as the roadway narrows. I think the cops need to really start getting serious with these bozos.

On a site note, Vancouver is having issues with its bike sharing program because of cooties:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/...medium=twitter

[suburbia]

Just saw this re-tweet by the mayor. This is one hot photo!

Naheed Nenshi ‏@nenshi
Great shot! RT @MikeDenton6: @nenshi What an amazing bridge to photograph! http://pic.twitter.com/7fk0vGX1