Calgary Cycling Paths & Infrastructure - Page 21

DavidKuitunen · #**401** Posted **Dec 2, 2011, 11:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radley77

Hi folks, there is an opportunity to be a ward representative for Bike Calgary. I've made a submission to be ward 9 rep.

If anyone else is interested in being a ward representative you can find out more information here:
http://bikecalgary.org/node/3086

I would love to, but I live in Halifax now. Looks like Calgary is moving in the right direction though. Seems like a lot of good things are happening.

DavidKuitunen · #**402** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 1:45 AM**

Video Link

hulkrogan · #**403** Posted **Dec 7, 2011, 7:56 PM**

I feel like a cranky old man, but I finally put in a 311 request for the Centre street pathway underpass on the South side of the river. All the paths are nice and cleared up to this point, but the underpass itself is a slushy/icy/snowy slope that hasn't been cleared all winter. It's actually kind of fun riding up and trying to make it all the way while fish-tailing the whole time, but not totally safe when you're going down the slopes with pedestrians around.

Radley77 · #**404** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 8:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

I feel like a cranky old man, but I finally put in a 311 request for the Centre street pathway underpass on the South side of the river. All the paths are nice and cleared up to this point, but the underpass itself is a slushy/icy/snowy slope that hasn't been cleared all winter. It's actually kind of fun riding up and trying to make it all the way while fish-tailing the whole time, but not totally safe when you're going down the slopes with pedestrians around.

I biked by in the afternoon, same day as you posted this and it had been cleared up already. One of the other cyclists on the pathway I chatted with had mentioned the Jimmy Jeep that normally cleans the pathways couldn't fit under the bridge.

Radley77 · #**405** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 9:08 PM**

Does anyone know any more details about the bikeshare program that is being proposed besides what is in the City of Calgary 2011 cycling strategy documentation?

I came across this article in the Calgary Sun:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/12/12/bike-share-plan-to-cost-millions#disqus_thread

Thoughts? Personally, I don't understand the value of a bikeshare program... I generally don't find that Calgarians have a hard time accessing a bike. Why can't hotels and bike rental\active clothing store companies provide this service instead?

hulkrogan · #**406** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 9:21 PM**

I got a call back from the city that same day and they explained that the equipment they used on either side (different contractors on each side) didn't fit under the bridge, and they actually use sidewalk cleaning equipment to get under there which must have been tied up (or they forgot, it seemed like a long time and oddly enough the same day they called back it was clean after work). Either way, I'm just thankful the majority of the paths have been in pretty good shape despite the snow.

fusili · #**407** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 9:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radley77

Does anyone know any more details about the bikeshare program that is being proposed besides what is in the City of Calgary 2011 cycling strategy documentation?

I came across this article in the Calgary Sun:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/12/12/bike-share-plan-to-cost-millions#disqus_thread

Thoughts? Personally, I don't understand the value of a bikeshare program... I generally don't find that Calgarians have a hard time accessing a bike. Why can't hotels and bike rental\active clothing store companies provide this service instead?

Why have transit? Calgarians don't have too much trouble accessing cars?

The point of a bike share is that it fills an different demand for travel- medium distances between locations that do not originate at home. Bike shares allow someone to take transit to a location, take a bike share somewhere else quickly and take transit again, without having to return to their original destination.

When I was in Barcelona, their bike-share, Bicing, was hugely popular. People would ride the bikes from place to place when they either did not drive there, or if transit was inaccesible.

Radley77 · #**408** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 9:27 PM**

Calgarian · #**409** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 9:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radley77

Does anyone know any more details about the bikeshare program that is being proposed besides what is in the City of Calgary 2011 cycling strategy documentation?

I came across this article in the Calgary Sun:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/12/12/bike-share-plan-to-cost-millions#disqus_thread

Thoughts? Personally, I don't understand the value of a bikeshare program... I generally don't find that Calgarians have a hard time accessing a bike. Why can't hotels and bike rental\active clothing store companies provide this service instead?

That article reminded me why I hate Sun media. Calling a bike share program social engineering is the dumbest thing I've read in a long time. It's too bad too many people buy into their hyper conservative agenda and take that — to heart. The Sun should change their name to Faux News North.

As for the bike share program, nothing wrong with trying it out, many other cities have had a lot of success with it. If we want to alleviate the traffic congestion downtown and in other parts of the Centre City, getting them out of their cars (which usually only have one person in them anyway) is the best way to go about it.

DavidKuitunen · #**410** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 9:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radley77

Does anyone know any more details about the bikeshare program that is being proposed besides what is in the City of Calgary 2011 cycling strategy documentation?

I came across this article in the Calgary Sun:
http://www.calgarysun.com/2011/12/12/bike-share-plan-to-cost-millions#disqus_thread

Thoughts? Personally, I don't understand the value of a bikeshare program... I generally don't find that Calgarians have a hard time accessing a bike. Why can't hotels and bike rental\active clothing store companies provide this service instead?

Bike sharing is really convenient. I was in Montreal for three months last summer and I had left my bike in Alberta. If I need to get half way across the city I could easily get around without needing my own bike, or lock, or worrying about storing a bike if I didn't use it for days/weeks at a time, and I wasn't staying in Montreal long enough to justify bringing my bike all the way there. I showed a few of my friends how to use the system, at first they were really reluctant to try it out and after they all fell in love with it and wouldn't shut up about how awesome it was.

It's great for tourist or transient people like myself. It's way cheaper than a taxi and in a lot of cases cheaper and faster than public transportation. The one problem with calgary is that the majority of people don't feel safe riding on the streets so I wouldn't expect to see it being used much, but maybe the city could start putting a few stations along the river like east village, eau claire, bowness park, pearse estate park, etc. It might catch on and then they could extend the system after they've established some inner-city bike lanes. The university would be a good place to put a few stations around so students could get to class a little faster.

Video Link

Calgarian · #**411** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 10:13 PM**

So who paid for the Bixi system in other Canadian cities?

DavidKuitunen · #**412** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 10:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So who paid for the Bixi system in other Canadian cities?

It was developed and is owned by the Public Bike System Company (PBSC) which was set up by the parking authority of Montréal.

*according to wikipedia

Bixi operates in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City, and the Research in Motion campus in Waterloo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bixi

New york is launching its own version of bixi. Alta bike share is getting the contract for New york's bike share system, Alta also owns capital bike share that operates in Washington DC.

Video Link

MalcolmTucker · #**413** Posted **Dec 12, 2011, 10:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

So who paid for the Bixi system in other Canadian cities?

Usually a private company, but backstopped by a loan gaurantee. They also get the locations for free from the city as well.

Radley77 · #**414** Posted **Dec 13, 2011, 12:49 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Why have transit? Calgarians don't have too much trouble accessing cars?

The point of a bike share is that it fills an different demand for travel- medium distances between locations that do not originate at home. Bike shares allow someone to take transit to a location, take a bike share somewhere else quickly and take transit again, without having to return to their original destination.

When I was in Barcelona, their bike-share, Bicing, was hugely popular. People would ride the bikes from place to place when they either did not drive there, or if transit was inaccesible.

I guess I was referring to a very broad definition of access. Access to transit can mean everything from high cost associated with parking, traffic bottlenecks, to physical disabilities, age, etc. I can't really see bike sharing helping out with any of these issues.

Whereas with bike share a lot of these same issues don't apply. From the feasibility study it stated that, "Bike sharing provides a mobility option for trips too far to walk, but not long enough to justify waiting for transit or too costly to make by taxi or private vehicle."

It makes sense that one of the things that could be done is colocating LRT stations with bikeshare stations in Centre City. The other potential spot is where there is heavy taxi usage or anywhere people are travelling multimodal (LRT\bus->bike, bike->LRT\bus, car\taxi->bike, bike->car\taxi). Not sure how much issues there would be with people getting drunk and cycling...

Moreover, would be nice if getting secure bike facilities at an LRT station was less complex and more payment options available ( http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/bike_lockers.html ). Also, would love to see more onstreet bike parking facilities at businesses downtown if there is space available.

Ramsayfarian · #**415** Posted **Dec 13, 2011, 5:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

As for the bike share program, nothing wrong with trying it out, many other cities have had a lot of success with it. If we want to alleviate the traffic congestion downtown and in other parts of the Centre City, getting them out of their cars (which usually only have one person in them anyway) is the best way to go about it.

I really don't see this alleviating traffic congestion downtown or any other part of the city. I'm all for a third party to take the plunge and try it out as a privately owned business. Hell, I'd even let the city give them space at train stations and other locations around Calgary. Even waive the fee for the business license.

I don't think the city should be shelling out 2.5m plus operating costs to do it themselves. At least not right now. I'd rather see that money spent on something else, like skateparks.

Calgarian · #**416** Posted **Dec 13, 2011, 2:45 PM**

Seeing as how most traffic downtown comes from the suburbs, I also doubt it will alleviate traffic as I doubt anyone is going to bike in from Somerset or Tuscany, that would take forever. If they can get people using the system and have a few more people from the inner city take a bike instead of a car, then it's a win in my books.

Calgary needs to focus on transit first and foremost, that and car pool lanes. That might help traffic get a bit better, or at least keep it from getting worse.

DavidKuitunen · #**417** Posted **Dec 13, 2011, 2:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I really don't see this alleviating traffic congestion downtown or any other part of the city. I'm all for a third party to take the plunge and try it out as a privately owned business. Hell, I'd even let the city give them space at train stations and other locations around Calgary. Even waive the fee for the business license.

I don't think the city should be shelling out 2.5m plus operating costs to do it themselves. At least not right now. I'd rather see that money spent on something else, like skateparks.

I agree with you, that the city shouldn't be paying 2.5m for operating costs of a system like this. But they could at least try a pilot program to see how feasible it is. As for alleviating traffic congestion, just think about what 50 people on bicycles looks like in a group. Then imagine everyone of those people got into 41 vehicles (the average # of people/vehicle being 1.2 in Calgary)

DavidKuitunen · #**418** Posted **Dec 13, 2011, 3:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Seeing as how most traffic downtown comes from the suburbs, I also doubt it will alleviate traffic as I doubt anyone is going to bike in from Somerset or Tuscany, that would take forever. If they can get people using the system and have a few more people from the inner city take a bike instead of a car, then it's a win in my books.

Calgary needs to focus on transit first and foremost, that and car pool lanes. That might help traffic get a bit better, or at least keep it from getting worse.

The system wouldn't extend out to the suburbs, It would probably only be Downtown, Beltline, Sunnyside, Sunalta, Victoria Park, Bridgeland, etc. Any part of the city where biking is a faster option than driving during rush hour.

fusili · #**419** Posted **Dec 13, 2011, 4:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Seeing as how most traffic downtown comes from the suburbs, I also doubt it will alleviate traffic as I doubt anyone is going to bike in from Somerset or Tuscany, that would take forever. If they can get people using the system and have a few more people from the inner city take a bike instead of a car, then it's a win in my books.

Calgary needs to focus on transit first and foremost, that and car pool lanes. That might help traffic get a bit better, or at least keep it from getting worse.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidKuitunen

The system wouldn't extend out to the suburbs, It would probably only be Downtown, Beltline, Sunnyside, Sunalta, Victoria Park, Bridgeland, etc. Any part of the city where biking is a faster option than driving during rush hour.

I think people are missing the point of a bike-share system. It is not a commuter bicycle program. Much the same was as a car share system is not a commuter system. Bike shares serve medium distance trips for people in dense urban areas where transit is either unavailable, or simply because transit takes longer (there are no wait station wait times for a bike share), and almost always for trips that do not originate at home (going from work to a store for example).

If someone is to bike to work, it is more convenient, and probably cheaper, to just buy a bike.

These "alternative" (I hate that word) transportation options basically are ways to complement each other, and each serve to fill a travel demand niche. For a car-free lifestyle you need all of them. Transit to go longer distances to areas close to transit stations (usually the commute), bike shares to go medium distances (usually to and from transit stations- for example going to an appointment or to a store) for trips not originating at home, car shares for longer, non-transit accessible trips, outside the city trips, and trips you need to carry a lot (grocery shopping, hardware store, skiing

). Once you start to build all these options up, not having a car, or having one less car becomes a lot easier.

Calgarian · #**420** Posted **Dec 13, 2011, 4:27 PM**

I get the point of this and support it, at least on a trial basis for now. This is just another option for getting around the center city that doesn't involve cars.