What's with the Traffic in Calgary?

[Muta]

Traffic in Calgary... I don't understand it.

Living on the west end of the City, I see Bow Trail packed every morning, and then not packed. The days that this happens are random; there's no consistency.

If anyone knows, Bow Trail has contruction going on at the overpass right next to Crowchild Trail. This bottlenecks traffic all way back into pretty much Sarcee Trail; well, atleast today and yesterday. I looked out my window this morning and saw traffic completely backed up. Which really doesn't make any sense, considering there's no new contruction going on anywhere else on the road, and it's warm out this week - so you would think the bikers would be back out - but no, there's more cars on the road than ever.

Sometimes I drive (to work for Corporate Challenge, as an example) but most of the time I bus. Sometimes, there's no traffic on a weekday right until right before the construction. Other days, it's backed up for miles. And miles.

What I don't get is why does this happen? Perhaps it's just a coincidence that everyone is driving at the same time? But then, why would people drive somedays and not others? Or is that regular? I thought most people usually have a standard way of getting to work. But the constant 'swings' in traffic density leave me confused on a daily basis.

Anyhoo, does anyone else notice this? Or am I just an anomoly?

/rant.

[Claeren]

It is worse now since summer too.

1) Vacations are all over, everyone is back to work.

2) School kids are back which generates a lot of extra road clogging 'trips' through the city.




Claeren.

[Jayems]

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Calgarians have absolutely no idea what a signal light is, nor how to use one.

... but probably not.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Claeren

1) Vacations are all over, everyone is back to work.

2) School kids are back which generates a lot of extra road clogging 'trips' through the city.

These are both good points.

But, this has been happening through the summer, too; so this is my main reason for confusion. The school example you provided is a great answer that I didn't consider, but it doesn't solve the issue of the random summer traffic on certain days.

The weather is also making me confused. I would expect alot more pedestrians and bikers on the paths, thereby reducing traffic on the roads. So far, it's been the complete opposite.

[ken0042]

Maybe because the weather is nice people want to drive so they can golf or do other outdoor activities after work.

[Boblobla]

Originally Posted by Claeren

It is worse now since summer too.

1) Vacations are all over, everyone is back to work.

2) School kids are back which generates a lot of extra road clogging 'trips' through the city.

I have noticed this, I live in the NW and work in Sundance. The traffic on Crowchild for the last week has been horrible. Only due to volume. It sucks.

[COGENT]

I know what your saying.

I have a theory... and please just take it as MY theory. I don't have evidence just experience.

When was younger I worked in retail and the restaurant business and I noticed that people tend to do stuff at the same time. While working in a restaurant there were the obvious rush's of people... lunch, dinner. However there would always be a rush of people coming in at a totally random time and that time was never the same on any given day, it just happened. I see it everywhere I go. I actually used to live on 9th ave, so sometimes I would hang out on my balcony and watch the random rush of cars on the weekends... again no reason for these rushes that I could recognize.

Again, this is just my theory but it does support your point.

[JiriHrdina]

One of the things I've noticed is that traffic can generally be fine as long as nothing happens. But if a crash happens on a main road - it gums up not just that road but everything around it.

If you have a fender bender on e/b Glenmore during rush hour - you can count on Glenmore, Crowchild, 14th Street SW, Elbow Drive all getting seriously fuggered up.

There's just no margin for error.

[Traditional_Ale]

I think driving in Kelowna is a million times worse than Calgary. Everyone drives 80 km/h no matter what and right up till you hit your drive-way, and it takes 20 minutes to turn left anywhere. Calgary feels worse though, because we have these massive roads but then they're always completely filled.

Still better than trying to turn left off of HWY97.

[Bertuzzied]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

One of the things I've noticed is that traffic can generally be fine as long as nothing happens. But if a crash happens on a main road - it gums up not just that road but everything around it.

If you have a fender bender on e/b Glenmore during rush hour - you can count on Glenmore, Crowchild, 14th Street SW, Elbow Drive all getting seriously fuggered up.

There's just no margin for error.

The worst is when there isn't even an accident and a piece of crap car/truck is just broken down. I can't believe some of the vehicles that are still on the roads.

[Bobblehead]

When I lived up on Coach Hill (a number of years ago, granted. I'm sure it is worse now), first day after Labour day traffic was a mess again.

Friday mornings are often much smoother traffic flow, but outside of that it was always bad or horrible.

[Locke]

Construction. Glenmore is almost done. Goddamn Glenmore....

[The Ditch]

I'm happy I leave for work quite early, the odd time I do leave later it gets very frustrating with all of the traffic.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

I think driving in Kelowna is a million times worse than Calgary. Everyone drives 80 km/h no matter what and right up till you hit your drive-way, and it takes 20 minutes to turn left anywhere. Calgary feels worse though, because we have these massive roads but then they're always completely filled.

Still better than trying to turn left off of HWY97.

Yeah and the fact that they never turn off their right hand turn blinker even if they're turning left is annoying.

[metal_geek]

10-15 mins make a huge difference in the volume of traffic on some places.

Deerfoot north backs up to 130th mon-wed at 7:30 am... wait till 7:45 and the backup moves to barlow... not a big distance savings, but 15 min saves 10 min driving time...

Some roads are still just plain buggered though. The whole section of deerfoot from bow bottom through to glenmore is a gigantic disaster... Really, is it possible to have a worse westbound glenmore exit from deefoot? What about the merge of bow bottom onto deerfoot.. that's the root of all the south deerfoot problems...

[MaxPower]

Originally Posted by Jayems

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Calgarians have absolutely no idea what a signal light is, nor how to use one.

... but probably not.

+1. The streets are filled with idiots. I also hate when traffic is backed up at a light, the light changes to green, and you gotta wait for every dink to wake up and realize the car in front of him is moving so now he can start moving his car. Traffic backups just seem to me like the result of the summing of each individual's mental lapses.

[Claeren]

Originally Posted by Muta

These are both good points.

But, this has been happening through the summer, too; so this is my main reason for confusion. The school example you provided is a great answer that I didn't consider, but it doesn't solve the issue of the random summer traffic on certain days.

The weather is also making me confused. I would expect alot more pedestrians and bikers on the paths, thereby reducing traffic on the roads. So far, it's been the complete opposite.

Well they try to do a lot of the road closures/constructions during the summer for that same reason. (Thus the variablity in traffic between different weekdays)

So as soon as the construction cycle starts to let-up the school season starts.

Right now is the worst though because there is still fall work being done on the roads. Come winter, hopefully, some of that pulls back and then all you have to do is pray every morning for there to not be a snowstorm...




Claeren.

[bradster57]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

When I lived up on Coach Hill (a number of years ago, granted. I'm sure it is worse now), first day after Labour day traffic was a mess again.

Friday mornings are often much smoother traffic flow, but outside of that it was always bad or horrible.

I had to change my work times living in Coach Hill going down Bow Trail. If I get on the bus at 7am it can take 45 minutes to get to work downtown. In bad weather up to an hour. If I get on first or second bus of the day (around 6am) it will take 15 to 20 minutes regardless of weather.

[Draug]

Originally Posted by Boblobla

I live in the NW and work in Sundance. The traffic on Crowchild for the last week has been horrible. Only due to volume. It sucks.

Interesting. I would have thought Crowchild would be getting better now that it is 3 lanes most of the way, although they still have one mostly closed while they finish up construction. I think it will still bottle neck at 16th ave; I can see that being a huge problem.

I am considering buying an acreage in Bearspaw. I've driven from Bearspaw Road, down Crowchild, to the Bow Trail exit, at about 6 random times through the day, but none right at the traffic peak. It takes a consistent 16-19 minutes everytime, including the construction at Stoney Trail and Crowfoot.

How bad is it in the morning, between 7-8? Double? Worse?

[Superflyer]

Originally Posted by bradster57

I had to change my work times living in Coach Hill going down Bow Trail. If I get on the bus at 7am it can take 45 minutes to get to work downtown. In bad weather up to an hour. If I get on first or second bus of the day (around 6am) it will take 15 to 20 minutes regardless of weather.

This happens to me as well. I take a bus at 7:05 and I get downtown in 20-25 minutes, but if I miss that one and catch the next one at 7:15, then the trip takes 40-45 minutes because of the extra traffic. Crazy how ten minutes later can cause your trip to last an extra 20 minutes.