Calgary Water Cooler Talk Thread - Page 95

fusili · #**1881** Posted **Jul 27, 2015, 4:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Definitely the potential damage caused by a cyclist running a red light is far smaller than a motorist (other than the life altering mental trauma of a motorist who kills a cyclist who ran a red of course). But I think cyclists should not get a free pass to constantly be ignoring rules so that no one has any idea what their next move is. Of course that's not all cyclists, but many, and I've had some discussions with biking advocates on twitter who basically talk like its their god given right to ignore all traffic safety rules, in between demanding more bike lines of course.

Watch an intersection, any intersection, in this city for half an hour and you will see vehicles constantly running red lights, making left-hand turns without watching for pedestrians or entering the intersection when there isn't room to clear. I swear it is almost every light cycle where someone violates some traffic bylaw or another. Or look to see how many people are on cell phones or otherwise distracted when driving. I don't think cyclists are the main problem.

DizzyEdge · #**1882** Posted **Jul 27, 2015, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Watch an intersection, any intersection, in this city for half an hour and you will see vehicles constantly running red lights, making left-hand turns without watching for pedestrians or entering the intersection when there isn't room to clear. I swear it is almost every light cycle where someone violates some traffic bylaw or another. Or look to see how many people are on cell phones or otherwise distracted when driving. I don't think cyclists are the main problem.

Absolutely, but on both cases neither should a get a free pass. And I would argue that cyclists blow through red lights far more often than motorists. And I'm not talking instances where it's safe to cross, more like the bike courier I saw the other day blow through a red at 8th st and 10th ave sw in decent traffic, almost get hit by a car, fell off her bike, then got up and started screaming at the guy in the car.

And I'm saying this as someone who is looking to start cycling to work.

Fuzz · #**1883** Posted **Jul 27, 2015, 4:50 PM**

I'm not sure bike couriers should be lumped in with other types of cyclists. Not many people ride like a bike courier. I will say as a cyclist I've almost been run over by vehicles far more times than by cyclists.

Bigtime · #**1884** Posted **Jul 27, 2015, 4:57 PM**

I'd agree that you have to classify bike couriers in their own world, they're all sorts of crazy.

Ramsayfarian · #**1885** Posted **Jul 27, 2015, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fusili

Watch an intersection, any intersection, in this city for half an hour and you will see vehicles constantly running red lights, making left-hand turns without watching for pedestrians or entering the intersection when there isn't room to clear. I swear it is almost every light cycle where someone violates some traffic bylaw or another. Or look to see how many people are on cell phones or otherwise distracted when driving. I don't think cyclists are the main problem.

I don't think anyone thinks cyclists are the main problem. More than once, I've braked for a red light to have the vehicle behind me change lanes so they can run the light.

Personally I find the entitlement of some cyclists more amusing than anything else. They seem to have no issue if when the rules of the road are in their favour. Such as being able to take up an entire lane but yet god forbid we ticket them from running red lights.

Sure a bike causes less damage, but I suspect it might be a tad traumatizing for the motorist. Also a bike is entirely capable of seriously injuring a pedestrian.

I don't cycle nearly as much as I used to, which might explain my expanding waistline, when I do ride, I run lights with wild abandon, but I also accept the consequences of my actions.

Calgarian · #**1886** Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 3:32 PM**

Anyone noticing lots of Poplars are turning yellow and losing their leaves already? noticed a whole bunch just off 16 Ave by Foothills hospital yesterday.

UofC.engineer · #**1887** Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 4:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Anyone noticing lots of Poplars are turning yellow and losing their leaves already? noticed a whole bunch just off 16 Ave by Foothills hospital yesterday.

Yeah, I believe it is disease and not drought, because even poplars close to a water source are turning yellow.

Fuzz · #**1888** Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 4:15 PM**

Ya, was wondering if it may have been caused by Snowtember...

Calgarian · #**1889** Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 4:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by UofC.engineer

Yeah, I believe it is disease and not drought, because even poplars close to a water source are turning yellow.

I was wondering if it was something like that, lots of dead or sparse poplars this summer...

Innersoul1 · #**1890** Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 6:48 PM**

I had a good laugh reading this article last night. It was a good experiment for sure!

bikes / Controversy / Law & Order
This Is What Happened When Bicyclists Obeyed Traffic Laws Along The Wiggle Yesterday
Posted By Kevin Montgomery on Thu, Jul 30, 2015 at 11:06 AM

http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2015/0...-traffic-laws-along-the-wiggle-yesterday

Quote:

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I'm mildly annoyed at cyclists that go through red lights. You are picking on bad wording, but missing a portion of the issue they are speaking to. That is, if cyclists want to be treated as vehicles, they should act like them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by geotag277

I've never heard of a cyclist speeding through a red light causing a fatality other than themselves. As opposed to all the cars that do it that actually cause damage.

While cyclists should observe the rules of the road, there should be some concept of relationship between the damage you can potentially cause and the responsibility and accountability for your actions. It's also technically illegal to drive 1 KPH over the speed limit, but the damage potential for doing so is much reduced so no one cares.

Many drivers have this odd "if I can't do it no one should" attitude when observing other vehicles on the road. Be as safe as possible and don't enter a insane road rage fit just because someone else does something else.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DizzyEdge

Definitely the potential damage caused by a cyclist running a red light is far smaller than a motorist (other than the life altering mental trauma of a motorist who kills a cyclist who ran a red of course). But I think cyclists should not get a free pass to constantly be ignoring rules so that no one has any idea what their next move is. Of course that's not all cyclists, but many, and I've had some discussions with biking advocates on twitter who basically talk like its their god given right to ignore all traffic safety rules, in between demanding more bike lines of course.

fusili · #**1891** Posted **Aug 4, 2015, 7:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innersoul1

I had a good laugh reading this article last night. It was a good experiment for sure!

bikes / Controversy / Law & Order
This Is What Happened When Bicyclists Obeyed Traffic Laws Along The Wiggle Yesterday
Posted By Kevin Montgomery on Thu, Jul 30, 2015 at 11:06 AM

http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2015/0...-traffic-laws-along-the-wiggle-yesterday

I saw that too and it raises a good point. If bicycles were to follow every rule as vehicles do, it would be incredibly frustrating and inefficient.

mwalker_mw · #**1892** Posted **Aug 5, 2015, 1:09 PM**

Yes, but the takeaway from this should be that the laws need to be fixed not ignored. I'm not sure that will be the case. A very effective demonstration nonetheless.

CalgaryAlex · #**1893** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 10:22 PM**

Anyone know why this horrible building still stands? It's a complete eyesore and would be better as an empty/fenced-off lot.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.038176,-1...w%3D25.161211%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

Ramsayfarian · #**1894** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 11:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwalker_mw

Yes, but the takeaway from this should be that the laws need to be fixed not ignored. I'm not sure that will be the case. A very effective demonstration nonetheless.

I think the takeaway is that they should have applied for a parade permit. There were hundreds of cyclists. Hundreds of anything would have the same effect. I wouldn't call that a real life example.

Calgarian · #**1895** Posted **Aug 6, 2015, 11:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalgaryAlex

Anyone know why this horrible building still stands? It's a complete eyesore and would be better as an empty/fenced-off lot.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.038176,-1...w%3D25.161211%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

That whole lot is prime for some redevelopment.

Fuzz · #**1896** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 2:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalgaryAlex

Anyone know why this horrible building still stands? It's a complete eyesore and would be better as an empty/fenced-off lot.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.038176,-1...w%3D25.161211%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

What, you don't like my crack shack?

ByeByeBaby · #**1897** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 6:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

I think the takeaway is that they should have applied for a parade permit. There were hundreds of cyclists. Hundreds of anything would have the same effect. I wouldn't call that a real life example.

So every time hundreds of cars go down the same road around the same time, you think they should have a parade permit; makes sense to me. Congrats, you just made rush hour illegal - that's real proactive problem solving!

This happened on a route that has hundreds of cyclists every single day; there are as many cyclists as cars during the rush hour there. Your ill-informed assumption that it's not possible for roads in North America to have lots of cyclists without it being some nefarious plot is showing.

Ramsayfarian · #**1898** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 1:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ByeByeBaby

So every time hundreds of cars go down the same road around the same time, you think they should have a parade permit; makes sense to me. Congrats, you just made rush hour illegal - that's real proactive problem solving!

This happened on a route that has hundreds of cyclists every single day; there are as many cyclists as cars during the rush hour there. Your ill-informed assumption that it's not possible for roads in North America to have lots of cyclists without it being some nefarious plot is showing.

You've read a lot into a 3 line comment.

Is that hundreds at the same time or hundreds throughout the day? I think they could have done a better job by having the everyday cyclist who utilize this route to obey the traffic laws during their normal commute. Then they would be showing the real impact.

UofC.engineer · #**1899** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 2:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CalgaryAlex

Anyone know why this horrible building still stands? It's a complete eyesore and would be better as an empty/fenced-off lot.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.038176,-1...w%3D25.161211%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656

Looks like one of the few remaining houses when that area was all residential. I agree, it's a piece of shit but I'd rather see the elbow river and stampede casinos get torn down.

DizzyEdge · #**1900** Posted **Aug 7, 2015, 3:47 PM**

What's crazy is as recent as 2012 that house was still occupied.