Accusations of Drinking and Partying at City Hall

[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by Minnie

Are you always this whiny and bitter?

The Memorial Drive projects are wonderful things.

Are you always that naive?

Really what does the Peace Bridge, visually put forward to honor the fallen? It was named that to sell it when they knew there would be backlash over the way the contract was tendered, the real lack of need for it, and why local talent wasn't considered.
As some other said above, there is a lot more that could have been done for veterans and our lost soldiers with the cash than letting Druh play fast and loose with large sums of tax dollars. The war museums and veterans associations are always in need, but I guess that doesn't get you as wet as admiring your bridge and rusting sculptures.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

Are you always that naive?

Really what does the Peace Bridge, visually put forward to honor the fallen? It was named that to sell it when they knew there would be backlash over the way the contract was tendered, the real lack of need for it, and why local talent wasn't considered.
As some other said above, there is a lot more that could have been done for veterans and our lost soldiers with the cash than letting Druh play fast and loose with large sums of tax dollars. The war museums and veterans associations are always in need, but I guess that doesn't get you as wet as admiring your bridge and rusting sculptures.

Clearly you and you alone should have been delegated to decide how to spend all of the associated tax dollars on these projects.

I love when people say that Councillors play 'fast and loose' with tax dollars, like they aren't just 1 of 15 elected members of Council or that the 15,000 employee administration has no say in anything that happens at The City.

Oh, and the local talent thing. You know who relies on local talent? Places like Sundre, Claresholm and Didsbury. You know who has helped bring more upper echelon world-wide design talent to Calgary than anyone in the last 100 years? Druh Farrell. And you should be thankful for it.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

Are you always that naive?

Really what does the Peace Bridge, visually put forward to honor the fallen? It was named that to sell it when they knew there would be backlash over the way the contract was tendered, the real lack of need for it, and why local talent wasn't considered..

It was needed.

Santiago Calatrava

Spoiler!

Local talent

Spoiler!

I know it seems unfair, one nice image vs a plain one but that's one of the better ones I could find of the Patrick's Island bridge. The Peace Bridge is a magnet for photographers, the other one just isn't.

Also.. The Peace Bridge is red... like the Flames.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by troutman

The Bridge has become a real landmark. Every time I go by it someone is taking pictures.

And nobody is using it for its actual purpose....everytime I go by it I mean.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by transplant99

And nobody is using it for its actual purpose....everytime I go by it I mean.

You're f'n joking right?

No one is using it to walk/run/bike across?

I was on it yesterday taking a few photos, tonnes of people out on a beautiful Sunday morning running and biking across.

That's insanity to even suggest that, a total and complete show of ignorance.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

You're f'n joking right?

No one is using it to walk/run/bike across?

I was on it yesterday taking a few photos, tonnes of people out on a beautiful Sunday morning running and biking across.

That's insanity to even suggest that, a total and complete show of ignorance.

I said that everytime i go by it...it is not being used. Just because YOU were there and people used it yesterday...is nothing but YOUR perception.

Nothing ignorant about saying that...maybe i dont go by during busy times, i dont know. Rarely go by on weekends, usually a couple times during the day weekdays.

What i do know is what i see anecdotally, just like i was responding to anecdotal comments on Troutmans part.

You really cant stand anyone having an opposing viewpoint can you?

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

I just have a hard time believing that it was necessary to get a designer from overseas to get a beautiful design. They really couldn't find a local or national talent? Come on.

Add on the ridiculous price...and people are gonna be pissed.

It didn't need to or have to cost that much. Are we in competition with other cities to have a beautiful bridge?

Didn't you once post you wished it would fall into the river, during the flood?

Hard to take you too seriously here.

All of the things you've brought up have been addressed numerous times over. I've seen you do a drive by post about the Peace Bridge many times before, when someone address your posts, you never return with a reply.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by transplant99

And nobody is using it for its actual purpose....everytime I go by it I mean.

Wow... just wow

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I said that everytime i go by it...it is not being used. Just because YOU were there and people used it yesterday...is nothing but YOUR perception.

Nothing ignorant about saying that...maybe i dont go by during busy times, i dont know. Rarely go by on weekends, usually a couple times during the day weekdays.

What i do know is what i see anecdotally, just like i was responding to anecdotal comments on Troutmans part.

You really cant stand anyone having an opposing viewpoint can you?

I can't stand ignorance for the most part. The bridge is being used, a lot. You should know if all you have is anecdotal evidence you should just disregard yourself. Hell even going by anecdotal you'd be the only one who thinks he can get away with saying you thought it wasn't being used.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...counts-tell-us

Here is a usage chart, just for cyclists.
http://peacebridge.visio-tools.com/

[RougeUnderoos]

Jesus Christ are people still bitching about that effing bridge?

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

Wow... just wow

LOL...awesome contribution.


As i clearly explained...i dont go down there on weekends where it may be a different scene, but when i do go by i rarely see a single body on it. It may be because its winter and isnt used as much, but its just my observation..i guess that's frowned upon now if it doesnt fit the narrative you want?

[SebC]

Cheers to Peace Bridge!

[MRCboicgy]

I don't what to even say here, but could we please steer this back to the neighbourhood of the original topic?

[gasman]

Originally Posted by transplant99

I said that everytime i go by it...it is not being used. Just because YOU were there and people used it yesterday...is nothing but YOUR perception.

Nothing ignorant about saying that...maybe i dont go by during busy times, i dont know. Rarely go by on weekends, usually a couple times during the day weekdays.

What i do know is what i see anecdotally, just like i was responding to anecdotal comments on Troutmans part.

You really cant stand anyone having an opposing viewpoint can you?

There is a bike counter on the Peace bridge.

Average number of bicycle users is 814 trips/day with a maximum daily total of over 3400, and over 33,000 bike trips/month average.

Yesterday there were 814 trips counted.

That is just cyclist data. I expect that pedestrian traffic would be higher, but I have no real data to back that up.

I would say that the bridge gets used.

edit: whoops, someone beat me to this.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

I can't stand ignorance for the most part. The bridge is being used, a lot. You should know if all you have is anecdotal evidence you should just disregard yourself. Hell even going by anecdotal you'd be the only one who thinks he can get away with saying you thought it wasn't being used.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...counts-tell-us

Here is a usage chart, just for cyclists.
http://peacebridge.visio-tools.com/

I didnt say it wasnt being used at all and was responding to anecdotal observations with my own.....hope that's allright with you, and if it isnt...oh well.

For the record, i think the thing looks cool, particularly at night. I still am not convinced that the existing infrastructure wasn't enough to handle what was needed, but no question none of it was as appealing to look at as this one is.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[pylon]

Originally Posted by RedMileDJ

I just have a hard time believing that it was necessary to get a designer from overseas to get a beautiful design. They really couldn't find a local or national talent? Come on.

Add on the ridiculous price...and people are gonna be pissed.

It didn't need to or have to cost that much. Are we in competition with other cities to have a beautiful bridge?

This is what bugs me about the cost argument. They were still going to build a bridge there no matter what.

A 1970's style, concrete and steel bridge that resembled pretty much every overpass in SE calgary, would have cost around 15 million give or take. The peace bridge designed by a world renown architect, and is a stunning piece of architecture that is internationally recognized....cost 25 million give or take.

I hear so many people say "Silly Hall blew 25 million dollars on a bridge!" No they didn't. They spent an extra $10 million dollars to build a nice bridge, along our most scenic road, as opposed to something that looks like it belongs in an Edmonton suburb.

If you watch pretty much any recent video montage of Calgary, local or foreign, videographers flock to the bridge for signature shots, because it is such an interesting piece of architecture. It is getting more coverage than the Calgary Tower in most of them. The bridge was an excellent investment for the image of the city.

I get some people are pissed because it doesn't have cowboys, horses or hay bales lining it, but thank god they aren't the people in charge of these decisions.

[RedMileDJ]

nm

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by pylon

This is what bugs me about the cost argument. They were still going to build a bridge there no matter what.

A 1970's style, concrete and steel bridge that resembled pretty much every overpass in SE calgary, would have cost around 15 million give or take. The peace bridge designed by a world renown architect, and is a stunning piece of architecture that is internationally recognized....cost 25 million give or take.

I hear so many people say "Silly Hall blew 25 million dollars on a bridge!" No they didn't. They spent an extra $10 million dollars to build a nice bridge, along our most scenic road, as opposed to something that looks like it belongs in an Edmonton suburb.

If you watch pretty much any recent video montage of Calgary, local or foreign, videographers flock to the bridge for signature shots, because it is such an interesting piece of architecture. It is getting more coverage than the Calgary Tower in most of them. The bridge was an excellent investment for the image of the city.

I get some people are pissed because it doesn't have cowboys, horses or hay bales lining it, but thank god they aren't the people in charge of these decisions.

If your $15 million estimate for a traditional bridge is accurate an additional $10 million is only 66% more. That is practically nothing.