Anybody else get the sense that Calgary is always a city that tries to do a lot of hybrid stuff that is suppose to work well in other markets but just doesn't apply here very well? There is always a lot of an odd mish mash of stuff going on.
Bike Lanes: I am not opposed to bike lanes and I think they serve a great purpose when done correctly, it seems in places like downtown and the Beltline it is always at the expense of street parking. Both can co-exist and you don't need bike lanes on both sides of the street like there is on some.
Calgary's pathways vs Calgary's bike lanes show a significant difference. Calgary's pathways can be busy where you lot's of people, even in the winter, but we don't see a lot of traffic in the winter on the bike lanes. When I hear some city councilors like former Druh Farrel show us videos of busy European cities with busy bike lanes and slowed traffic and trying to compare that to Calgary, it's wild. That volume of people cycling along 12th avenue would just bunch up at each traffic light.
Calgary has a thing with just adding traffic lights everywhere as if that's a great choice for......anybody moving?
We get these programs for the cars ,parking and poor quality transit and we end up with situations like this.
1) Landlord has jacked up rent cause city owned utility rates have skyrocketed, property taxes on landlord parking spot (free or charged) has gone through the roof. Now the soon to be expensive city parking makes car ownership even more expensive but the transit options are piss poor.
2) Now if someone gives up their car, taking transit for the odd shopping trip or visiting their parents, that can take forever. How many trains and buses for a downtown to deep SW trip on a Sunday to visit mama and papa bear? 1-1.5 hour's each way? 3 hour's round trip? We are now almost approaching flight time to Toronto!
On the flip side for those who live in the suburbs and want to do anything downtown, it's a hassle. Visit a specialty downtown and grab $200 in specialty groceries ? Na, the parking is a disaster and I got a ticket last time! Meanwhile the specialty, independent clothing store who's struggling to stay afloat is trying to attract some of the wealthier clients out of downtown but is having trouble reaching them. How much do you really want that store's clothing and how much trouble are you going to go for on transit and or parking for it? Probably just easier to go to Costco.
It's almost like we have an idiot strategy for everything. The suburbs with the same big box stores and chain restaurants are too boring for some, they want the downtown action but with out the hassle. The downtown crew want's to visit family, friends, and other businesses but we make it hard.
Are we growing up, or out? Are we adding bike lanes with actual usage? Calgary is one of the only cities I have ever seen where I can count the amount of Skip/Uber Eat's etc cyclists and motorbike/scooter riders on half my hand.
Why are we approving the same big box and chain crap in every section of the city? Mix it up, offer tax breaks for small business. People who live in the suburbs want cool things and they want some action without a NEED to drive or head downtown.
Anyways, rant over! haha
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