Calgary Water Cooler Talk Thread

[Cage]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Cargo bikes say "what's up?"

http://shifter.info/can-a-cargo-bike-pass-the-ultimate-test-of-suburban-life-a-trip-to-costco/

Thanks for posting. I would have liked to have seen the wife's comment on the grocery haul.
Wife: Where are the fruits and veggies?
Husband: too fragile for the bike carrier.
Wife: Where is the milk?
Husband: too heavy and bulky.
Wife: Why did you buy all these chips and candy, they were not on the grocery list?
Husband: Chips and candy were cheap and light and packed very well.
Wife: So you didnt get what I asked for and instead did a junk run?
Husband: yep.

Seriously, I figure the cargo bike guy had about $80 of costco groceries, $100 tops. Anything more any he paid too much.

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Hey now we are approaching the 10,000 post limit!

No more 10k post limit per thread. I made similar mistake in the YVR airport thread a while back.

[Bigtime]

If you seriously think folks aren't hauling fruits, veggies, milk and other items in bikes daily in Calgary you're not paying attention to the bike culture that is growing here.

I don't even have a cargo bike and I've hauled a weeks worth of our family groceries (including 3L of milk) with a pannier bag and backpack no problem. Fruit, veg, meats, and bread included. One time I may have also been holding a 12 pack in one hand Deaner style on the way back to the house.

[Western Spaghetti]

Originally Posted by Bad Grizzly

Off topic, but I'm sure a lot of people here would have an opinion on this CBC poll and will be making a call.

Is it time to ban the use of headphones by pedestrians and cyclists? Call 1-866-468-4422 to weigh in after news at noon

Lots of cyclists weighing on this at CBC. You'd think somebody was taking away their personal rights to freedom or something. It's exactly the same thing as that poster the province without warning pedestrians not to wear headphones while crossing the street. It caused a shitstorm among the left wing libtards, and this is no different.
I don't think we need to ban, as you can't legislate against. I don't think we need to ban, as you can't legislate against stupidity. IMO let Darwins theory take care of the situation.

[Tarsus]

I find that line of thinking highly insensitive, even offensive. The cyclists who are opposing the ban, simply want to be able to wear headphones while they're riding a bike, is that such a big deal?

Originally Posted by Western Spaghetti

Lots of cyclists weighing on this at CBC. You'd think somebody was taking away their personal rights to freedom or something. It's exactly the same thing as that poster the province without warning pedestrians not to wear headphones while crossing the street. It caused a shitstorm among the left wing libtards, and this is no different.
I don't think we need to ban, as you can't legislate against. I don't think we need to ban, as you can't legislate against stupidity. IMO let Darwins theory take care of the situation.

[milomilo]

Utterly pointless and authoritarian nanny statish. Reminds me of the type of 'solution' Tony Blair's New Labour party used to come up with - there's a problem? Ban it. Can't ban it? Tax it. Can't ban or tax it? Just ban or tax something else and call that the solution.

[speedog]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

If you seriously think folks aren't hauling fruits, veggies, milk and other items in bikes daily in Calgary you're not paying attention to the bike culture that is growing here.

I don't even have a cargo bike and I've hauled a weeks worth of our family groceries (including 3L of milk) with a pannier bag and backpack no problem. Fruit, veg, meats, and bread included. One time I may have also been holding a 12 pack in one hand Deaner style on the way back to the house.

You must have either a small family or one that doesn't eat or consume much - my weekly $250 Superstore bill fills five Superstore green bins and sometimes a bit more, I really don't think a cargo bike would cut it.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by speedog

You must have either a small family or one that doesn't eat or consume much - my weekly $250 Superstore bill fills five Superstore green bins and sometimes a bit more, I really don't think a cargo bike would cut it.

Family of four, we eat well and healthy. Only shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Proximity to a grocer helps too, you don't have to do the once a week shop all the time and can instead do little runs to resupply quickly if needed. 10 minute walk or 4 minute bike ride.

Spring and summer our garden plot puts out all the veg we need and an apple tree as bonus.

[suburbia]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Family of four, we eat well and healthy. Only shop the perimeter of the grocery store. Proximity to a grocer helps too, you don't have to do the once a week shop all the time and can instead do little runs to resupply quickly if needed. 10 minute walk or 4 minute bike ride.

Spring and summer our garden plot puts out all the veg we need and an apple tree as bonus.

Being minutes from a store certainly was a major consideration for our home. We rarely shop weekends - quick visits weekday evenings are efficient and we don't have to get as much. Still, I can't imaging via bike, though could be possible if we ate out more I suppose.

[dbp]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

A headphone ban is ridiculous, enforcing it would be a waste of money. Not to sound insensitive because I do feel for those involved, but if you are crossing train tracks or a road and not paying attention, then it's your own damn fault if you get hit.

Couldn't agree more! Yet again another example of "common sense being not so common".

[fusili]

I've read somewhere that a pedestrian with headphones on listening at normal volume hears more road noise than a driver with their windows rolled up. And that isn't considering drivers who are listening to music in their vehicles. I wear headphones when I walk, and sometimes when I bike. But it is at a volume that does not compromise my ability to hear what is happening on the street.

[Bigtime]

When I started bike commuting again last April I was putting in headphones and playing some tunes, but always at a low enough volume that I could hear things like the bell from other riders. After a few months I got into the habit of not wearing them anymore. Enjoying the sounds of the ride and all that. I am seeing more and more riders using those bluetooth speakers and mounting them on the bike and cranking tunes.

[DizzyEdge]

I think it depends on the headphones.

I find this style to be far more isolating



than this style

[Fuzz]

When I first got an iPod I started riding with it, but quickly realized it is to dangerous. Things can happen very quickly when you share the road, I want to be able to react to what I heart before I see it. I don't see walking with music being dangerous at all, as long as you pay attention. That includes not looknig at your GD phone!

[Bigtime]

Anecdotally I see very few cyclists wearing earbuds/headphones. Joggers on the other hand it's damn near every single one.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

When I started bike commuting again last April I was putting in headphones and playing some tunes, but always at a low enough volume that I could hear things like the bell from other riders. After a few months I got into the habit of not wearing them anymore. Enjoying the sounds of the ride and all that. I am seeing more and more riders using those bluetooth speakers and mounting them on the bike and cranking tunes.

I Don't wear headphones while riding my bike, I ride on the road in places and with the speed I ride and the speed obstacles can come up, it's just asking for trouble in my mind.

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Anecdotally I see very few cyclists wearing earbuds/headphones. Joggers on the other hand it's damn near every single one.

Yep, runners always have them, so they never hear my bell, then get mad when I pass close to them while they're running in the middle of the pathway. Hearing shouldn't be the only problem here, common sense and an awareness of where you are relative to your surroundings are just as important.

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by Western Spaghetti

Lots of cyclists weighing on this at CBC. You'd think somebody was taking away their personal rights to freedom or something. It's exactly the same thing as that poster the province without warning pedestrians not to wear headphones while crossing the street. It caused a shitstorm among the left wing libtards, and this is no different.
I don't think we need to ban, as you can't legislate against. I don't think we need to ban, as you can't legislate against stupidity. IMO let Darwins theory take care of the situation.

You discredit yourself the second you use the term libtard.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Yep, runners always have them, so they never hear my bell, then get mad when I pass close to them while they're running in the middle of the pathway. Hearing shouldn't be the only problem here, common sense and an awareness of where you are relative to your surroundings are just as important.

This a thousand times. Keep right except to pass. How hard is this to understand?

[CalgaryAlex]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

This a thousand times. Keep right except to pass. How hard is this to understand?

I love slow-moving pedestrians strolling along the clearly marked bike paths on the Riverwalk. There is a clearly marked, substantially-wide pedestrian pathway not a meter closer to the river!

[Calgarian]

Originally Posted by CalgaryAlex

I love slow-moving pedestrians strolling along the clearly marked bike paths on the Riverwalk. There is a clearly marked, substantially-wide pedestrian pathway not a meter closer to the river!

I just politely inform them that they are in the bike lane and most people move to the pedestrian path.

Are there any plans to continue the divided pathway to the west? the pathways around Eau Claire are the worst, you get people walking or running 4 wide taking up the whole damn path.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by CalgaryAlex

I love slow-moving pedestrians strolling along the clearly marked bike paths on the Riverwalk. There is a clearly marked, substantially-wide pedestrian pathway not a meter closer to the river!

You also get bikes riding on the ped path section too. Why are some things so hard for people to figure out?