Remember what it was like to learn to ride a bike for the first time? They told you it’s something you’d never forget and it would make for a lifetime of fun.The City of Calgary needs help from interested citizens to plan a bicycle-friendly city for all to enjoy – whether to commute to work or school, run errands or just for the joy of it – The City is looking for a citizen’s perspective to make changes that will get more people cycling in Calgary.
“Calgarians have told us they want more places that are bicycle friendly,” says Nicole Jensen, Transportation Planner. “To this end, we are looking for people of all ages and all cycling abilities to volunteer for a committee to provide input. We want to know what are the most important issues that prevent us from cycling?”
The input The City gathers will be used to guide a strategy that will go to City Council for approval and put the city well on its way to becoming a place where cycling is a choice for more Calgarians.
For details about the volunteer recruitment for this committee, visit www.calgary.ca/transportationplanning, or click volunteer PDF here.
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Clearly it's lack of on-street lanes, particularly in the middle of the city. There's lots of streets downtowns with 4+ metre curb lanes that could quite easily be outfitted with an highly identifiable bike lane.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see a Citizens Guide to biking in the city. A map of paths, as well as a reminder of the "rules of the road."
ReplyDeleteIt's all in the bike lanes! The only bike lane i've ever seen in Calgary is along 26th ave SW in Richmond. We need those on EVERY street going into downtown. Eliminate street parking and make bike lanes. Common Sense!
ReplyDeleteUsers are in DESPERATE need of education on HOW to use the pathways. In particular, most users seem not to know:
ReplyDeleteUnless there is no alternative, pathways with yellow lines are for BIKES and SKATERS; unmarked pathways are for WALKERS
STAY to the RIGHT!!!
If you're on skates or a bike, SIGNAL your approach by using your voice or a bell. Don't just blow by people who may not hear you!
When you hear a biker or skater coming MOVE RIGHT. YOUR RIGHT.
The speed limit is 20kms MAX. Not 40 because you're in training or you're fit or you're more awesome than other humans. 20kms.If you don't have a speedometre you suck because they're inexpensive and useful; they also track mileage.
If you stop moving get OFF the pathway! and PLEASE make sure it is safe to stop. Don't just stop short! Pathways are transportation routes - meaning you have to signal lane changes, passing and stopping. Shoulder checking is ESSENTIAL!!!
Dogs and children MUST be under control at all times. For dogs that means ON LEASH.
If I hit your so-cute, so-well-behaved off-leash dog that just ran into the pathway of my bike, I'm not going to be sorry for you but I will be very sad for it - that it has a stupid, neglectful owner who didn't look to the dog's safety. "he's a good dog" is NOT a safety strategy.
Same for your children; if you're walking on a BIKE path and you're not keeping your children IN SIGHT and ON THE RIGHT, they will be hurt for sure and sure. Grow up, be an adult and observe the rules that are in place to keep you SAFE!!!
If all this advice pisses you off, stay off the pathways because you are a hazard to yourself and others.
IF this advice makes sense and you understand it will keep you safe, congratulations, you may use the pathways.
What Calgary needs is a "commuter lane" time zone. Between the hours of say...6:00am - 8:30am and 4:00pm - 6:00pm on weekdays, all speed limits on the path system should be open. That is, if a rider wants to set a speed of 30km / hour they should be free to do so (still riding safely and with respect for other users). This should be in effect in NON-heavily populated areas only (i.e.: not through Price's Island).
ReplyDeleteRiders that are serious about commuting can maintain a higher pace without putting themselves or others at danger. The serious commuter isn’t just out for a little Sunday afternoon ride when riding twice a day in all weather types and all seasons. I wish the city would consider this as a viable option for those who choose to cycle as their mode of commuting.
Speed Limits:
ReplyDeleteThe pathway speed limit is too low. Sure, congested areas need to be slow, but dedicated "wheels" pathways don't need to be posted so slow that commuting is discouraged. If there's nobody on the path, why even have a limit? The focus should be on "safe speeds" ... nail cyclists that are riding "unsafely". Until speedometers are mandatory, it's impossible for cyclists to gauge their speeds anyway.
Pathways:
Twinned pathways and transition areas are often signed poorly. Paint stencils on pathways to mark them as "wheels" and/or "heels" to guide users. Users are often confused at south end of Edworthy Park and wander onto the wrong pathway. Additionally, centrelines should always be painted and near blindspots and under bridges.
Bike Lanes:
Lane markings are often worn off roadways and not repainted. Crews need to be committed to maintaining bike lane markings. 52 Street NW, near Home Road is a case in point.
Bike Maps:
Better distribution of pathway maps is necessary. All bike shops should offer them free, just like Bus Maps. The web version is to be applauded, but it's impractical while cycling. Instead of a useless air photo background, a contour map would be more useful (like they used to be).
Encouragement:
The City must be applauded for recent efforts to improve cycling. Keep up the good work and don't stop making positive changes. I encourage you to focus on the user's needs, not bureaucratic obstacles to change.