Calgary Cycling Paths & Infrastructure - Page 98

suburbia · #**1941** Posted **Sep 23, 2016, 6:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need A Thneed

When I used to be able to ride

That's just the point. If you only count the people who do ride when it is -10, of course all of them are riding most of the winter. The thing is, most are not able to do that, and you see that when running numbers at a city / population level. That's why the massive 85%+ drop in numbers when looking at say a February compared to summer. The nose creek count site goes from 30K/mth to 4K/mth in winter (that's not a road cycle track, but just pointing out the impact of our chinook-filled warm winters where temperatures supposedly "do not impact cyclists").

suburbia · #**1942** Posted **Sep 23, 2016, 6:38 PM**

Great to see all the numbers coming in for Edmonton Trail - Sept 6th was 10 riders all day all directions. By September 20th it was wayyy up to 20 riders! Hopefully this trajectory is not impacted over winter. Happy riding!

RyLucky · #**1943** Posted **Sep 23, 2016, 6:47 PM**

Anyone who's biked to work in winter in Calgary knows the following:

-Even at -20, you are perfectly warm so long as no skin is exposed.
-Most of the time, snow and ice is cleared from most mixed-use routes (combo of plows and chinooks), but you've got to be on the watch for black ice here and there. I ride my slicks all winter, and they are fine, but for most people I'd recommend grips or evan a mountain bike when it's icy
-snowbanks on the road can really reduce the amount of space on roads
-cyclists need more space in winter because that wheel can slip a few inches or they may need to avoid ice/gravel
-drivers need to brush off their cars, defog their windows, drive slower on ice, and check their blind spots
-By far the biggest impediment to cycling in winter isn't the weather, it isn't the drivers, it isn't the snow clearance or surfaces... it's the need for completely separated pathways combined with the weakness of our wills.

There's no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing choices.

Fuzz · #**1944** Posted **Sep 23, 2016, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalcolmTucker

^ unless there is just the right wind! Otherwise you can just layer until you need to switch to ski goggles and a neck warmer to stop frostbite on the check bones (unless you can withstand a restrictive mask). Today for heating up too much was a good example for me - I need to buy the headband version of my under helmet beanie - ended up with a wet mop at the other end! People were dressed pretty intensely today - got a few weird looks in jeans, a button down oxford and gloves.

I like to have a couple buffs for cycling. You can use one as a thin hat under the helmet that works really well. When it gets colder I put the beenie on my head and the buff is a neck warmer. On the coldest days I might use 2, one on the neck and the other scooted up to cover my cheeks.

The biggest thing that stopped me riding through the winter was the ice. Our freeze/thaw cycle can be brutal, there are always patches hiding. Studded tires fixed that issue, and I rode every day last year. It really isn't so bad. You dress like you are going cross country skiing and it all makes sense.

MalcolmTucker · #**1945** Posted **Sep 23, 2016, 9:21 PM**

^ I imagine studded tires work just fine on an average canadian tire mountain bike, which is what I was planning to transition to for winter anyways?

Fuzz · #**1946** Posted **Sep 23, 2016, 9:39 PM**

Yup, they will be fine. MEC has Schwalbe's for $66. I think that is the best value.

This is what I got:
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5035-585/Winter-26-x-1-75-Wire-Tire

Design-mind · #**1947** Posted **Sep 24, 2016, 8:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

*snip*
The biggest thing that stopped me riding through the winter was the ice. Our freeze/thaw cycle can be brutal, there are always patches hiding. Studded tires fixed that issue, and I rode every day last year. It really isn't so bad. You dress like you are going cross country skiing and it all makes sense.

I stop once they start spreading salt onto the roads. I have to ride on over 50% roads as there is no bike or cycle path to where I work. The cold doesn't bother me but the salt just gums everything up on my bike.

Fuzz · #**1948** Posted **Sep 24, 2016, 11:08 PM**

Ya, I am on 50% roads, and the salt —. I'll blast my bike with water whenever it warms up and do my best to clean it. It's 19 years old, but I still don't want it ruined. I thought the drivetrain would be done after one year, but after giving it a good spring clean it has been fine.

Design-mind · #**1949** Posted **Sep 25, 2016, 3:50 AM**

I thought of making a winter bike. A single speed with a belt drive. That way less moving parts to build up ice and other —. But for right now I am a transit man during the winter months.

suburbia · #**1950** Posted **Sep 25, 2016, 11:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Design-mind

I am a transit man during the winter months.

Good man! I'm all for leveraging transit instead of chewing up more asphalt.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Design-mind

I stop once they start spreading salt onto the roads. I have to ride on over 50% roads as there is no bike or cycle path to where I work. The cold doesn't bother me but the salt just gums everything up on my bike.

It is a notable problem - bikes aren't really made for our roads.

suburbia · #**1951** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyLucky

Anyone who's biked to work in winter in Calgary knows the following:

-Even at -20, you are perfectly warm so long as no skin is exposed.
-Most of the time, snow and ice is cleared from most mixed-use routes (combo of plows and chinooks), but you've got to be on the watch for black ice here and there. I ride my slicks all winter, and they are fine, but for most people I'd recommend grips or evan a mountain bike when it's icy
-snowbanks on the road can really reduce the amount of space on roads
-cyclists need more space in winter because that wheel can slip a few inches or they may need to avoid ice/gravel
-drivers need to brush off their cars, defog their windows, drive slower on ice, and check their blind spots
-By far the biggest impediment to cycling in winter isn't the weather, it isn't the drivers, it isn't the snow clearance or surfaces... it's the need for completely separated pathways combined with the weakness of our wills.

There's no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing choices.

I think you are continuing to ignore the actual numbers IE the massive 85% drop in numbers on the most popular core routes. It is likely much greater a drop further out.

RyLucky · #**1952** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 5:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbia

I think you are continuing to ignore the actual numbers IE the massive 85% drop in numbers on the most popular core routes. It is likely much greater a drop further out.

While we're giving rebuttals to points that weren't made...

We'll get you out on your bike soon, Suburbia. We'll get you a reflective flak jacket to keep you safe from all the random crime and a mount for your phone with the numbers 9-1 pre-dialed.

suburbia · #**1953** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 5:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyLucky

While we're giving rebuttals to points that weren't made...

We'll get you out on your bike soon, Suburbia. We'll get you a reflective flak jacket to keep you safe from all the random crime and a mount for your phone with the numbers 9-1 pre-dialed.

Excellent rebuttal Mr. Trump.

Fuzz · #**1954** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 5:44 PM**

I'm not sure you could get Suburbia on a bike. I just don't see how the physics of it would work.

Ramsayfarian · #**1955** Posted **Oct 16, 2016, 4:53 AM**

Brilliant idea. If we really want this to take off here, we need to start calling it the Dutch Reach Around.

http://99percentinvisible.org/article/dutch-reach-clever-workaround-keep-cyclists-getting-doored/

Chealion · #**1956** Posted **Nov 8, 2016, 3:58 AM**

For those curious the city now presents data from 25 counters: www.eco-public.com/ParcPublic/?id=4190

13 of them also offer pedestrian counts on various pathways. The newest ones are Nose Hill, two around the Glenmore Reservoir and one on the Bow River Pathway in Parkdale.

Calgarian · #**1957** Posted **Nov 9, 2016, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Yup, they will be fine. MEC has Schwalbe's for $66. I think that is the best value.

This is what I got:
https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5035-585/Winter-26-x-1-75-Wire-Tire

I need some of these for my mountain bike, will have to look at getting some soon!

sim · #**1958** Posted **Nov 10, 2016, 6:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by suburbia

Good man! I'm all for leveraging transit instead of chewing up more asphalt.

It is a notable problem - bikes aren't really made for our roads.

Bikes played a large role in triggering the advent of the early version of what our roads are today - namely asphalt. So please, try again.

Oh, and don't you still owe me the world's most comprehensive transportation cost-benefit analysis? I think it's been well over a year now. I'm still waiting. I'm sure that mathematically adept mind of yours is still hard at work.

Bigtime · #**1959** Posted **Nov 10, 2016, 1:44 PM**

I've been commuting by bike for 8 months now this year. Awesome sauce, I love the reduced km's on the car.

Design-mind · #**1960** Posted **Nov 11, 2016, 9:28 PM**

Nice work Bigtime. I have kept track of my cycle commuting kms this year and they are already at over 3600kms. Nice to not have those extra kms on the car.