Calgary Releases Cycling Strategy

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Now, I take up the lane, I stop at lights, wait my turn, etc. I seem to get way more respect from drivers that way.

If even half of cyclists rode like you did, many of the problems faced by cyclists on the road would be solved. Most drivers don't really get annoyed by cyclists until they do the ol' switcheroo and then act like they aren't part of traffic anymore. This grinds my gears like nothing else.

Four way stop? Doesn't apply to a cyclist anymore
Red Light? Pretend you're a pedestrian!

Frustrating.

[Lee of Red]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

When I am driving and I see somebody on a bicycle on the road I treat them like a vehicle. But when they start breaking rules I say the hell with them. I will block them every chance I get. I don't mean do something dangerous. I just mean I will try to block his access at the next set of lights. I shouldn't have to pass him after he runs a red light or blows through a stop sign.

Do you treat autos that break the rules the same way?

[Engine09]

Originally Posted by bossy22

I was riding on the shoulder and a lady in her escalade didn't turn her signal on, but did turn, right in front of me. I put a huge dent in her door, and ripped her mirror off with my shoulder.

Jusus Christ on a pony, I wish people would just use their damn signals. The easiest thing to do and one of the most important.


I've been riding to work for the past 2+ years, mainly to get my exercise in during commute time but it's also nice to jump in the truck on Fri night and still have a full tank of gas.

Access to the river and bike paths is pretty important to, that will be the #1 factor in deciding the next part of the city I move to. Great to hear the city is at least looking ahead.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by Coys1882

What was her reaction to you btw? Was she apologetic or pissed you hit her truck?

She was apologetic and offered to fix my bike. I was happy it wasn't worse and just my shoulder was sore.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I have walked my dog in that area for years. It was only in the last three years that I read the sign and saw the fine print about all paved paths being on-leash. Is this a city wide rule? I was not aware of it before and I am very sure most people aren't aware of it now. We just see the signs about it being an off-leash area.

Your buddy must have been going pretty fast to kill a dog.

My guess was about 30km/hr. Which is stupid on his part. That area should be more like 15km/hr. You have to be pretty attentive going through there. Lots of blind corners and the dogs running around. Ive had to hit the brakes quite a bit going through there. Crashing isn't fun and I've learned to just enjoy that part of the commute. Plus I need my energy to climb up to valley ridge.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

If even half of cyclists rode like you did, many of the problems faced by cyclists on the road would be solved. Most drivers don't really get annoyed by cyclists until they do the ol' switcheroo and then act like they aren't part of traffic anymore. This grinds my gears like nothing else.

Four way stop? Doesn't apply to a cyclist anymore
Red Light? Pretend you're a pedestrian!

Frustrating.

This annoys me too, even though it probably shouldn't.

Some cyclists are just dickheads. A few months ago I was driving south on McLeod under the tracks and just about at 10th st. A bike courier was bolting down the sidewalk and then just blasted across 10th st just as the guy in front of me was about to turn right. Obviously he didn't see the cyclist coming, since drivers don't expect pedestrian traffic to be moving at mach 2, so the vehicle almost hit the courier, and the courier made a big sedin-esque embellishment about going around the front of buddy's truck, and proceeded on his way.

That pissed me off so much that I gunned it and caught up to the courier to give him a piece of my mind. The d-bag was steadfast in his conviction that it was the vehicle's fault that HE almost became roadkill. Go figure.

[Lee of Red]

As long as we don't take any pointers from NYC we should be ok

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13730774

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Lee of Red

Do you treat autos that break the rules the same way?

Depends.

[robocop]

I'll ride by bike through a red light, but only if it's a completely visible intersection and nobody is around. It's the crazy guys who don't signal when they are turning, run through every intersection, fly around on the sidewalks and jump from the sidewalk to the street that cause mayhem.

Most people who never ride their bikes for long distances in the city have no idea how tempting it is to just not stop, stopping and starting a whole bunch on a bike can get quite tiresome.

[Lee of Red]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

Depends.

Depends on what?

[bizaro86]

Wow. So, basically, I was wrong.

My comments were illadvised, and I'll back slowly out of the thread and leave it for an on-topic discussion of cycling...

[robocop]

Originally Posted by Lee of Red

Depends on what?

what time of the month it is

if he's on the rag

if his hormone's are acting up

if mother nature is paying him a visit

[Magnum PEI]

Originally Posted by GGG

One thing I am happy to see in the report is the idea of dedicated cycling along the LRT right of way. I have always thought that a bike path along the south LRT all the way down mcleod would be very efficient for the 20km ride in.

I don't really see a way that this could be done. There's too many level crossings (Heritage Dr, a bunch by Chinook Ctr) along the way for it to work. You would have to either wait for a gap in traffic or a train to come in order to cross these roads. Unless they put in new traffic lights at every crossing, which would be impractical on most roads.

There are also a couple of long tunnels with minimal lighting that likely dont have enough room to fit a two-lane bike path.

I think the only possible route from the South would be a bike lane on McLeod or Elbow. It will probably never happen, but if the city wants to encourage cyclists thats the way to go.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Originally Posted by Lee of Red

Depends on what?

I actually meant it depends on me having the energy to get sucked into an argument from you. But I didn't have the energy. So shove off with the stupid question.

[Matata]

What I've learnt in this city, is if you're on a bike and come to a pedestrian crossing, drivers get pissed off if you don't get off your bike and walk it across. Once I've seen that all the drivers have noticed me and are stopped or stopping, I'd assume the courteous thing to do would be to hop on my bike and get out of everyone's way asap.

I've had people point at me, make scowling faces, etc. I once had this middle aged guy in his shiny new acura, who was at a complete stop and clearly waiting for me to cross, honk his horn and give me the finger after I rode by. He probably didn't think I was going to catch him at the next stop light, here was our exchange (note: I'm jacked up on adrenaline and pissed):

Me: What the **** is your problem?!
(lecturing tone) when you get to pedestrian crossing, you have to....
Me: What the **** do you care?! I got out of your way faster didn't I?!

Me: *more expletives regarding his masculinity and priorities*
*drives away without a word

Riding a bicycle, you are a vehicle and a pedestrian at the same time, it's stupid to think that a cyclist should always behave like a vehicle. I think drivers get mad because their are a lot of perks to cycling (cheap, best parking spots, not confined to roads, sexy legs) that they don't get. It reminds me of a farside comic where a caveman see's a bird fly overhead, flaps his arms and realizes he can't fly, so he builds a bow and shoots down the bird. I don't mean to forgive reckless bikers, but there's more reckless drivers who are exponentially more dangerous out there. It seems to me drivers are doing a lot of hand wringing over nothing, because cyclists have something they want and can't have.

[Bill Bumface]

My motto when I ride is "ride like a dickhead, but only when it doesn't affect traffic or pedestrians negatively". If I'm coming up to a 4-way stop and it's timed so I'll be arriving just when a car in my lane is about to go through, I'll go with them. If there is a car that is about to cross my path, but is waiting nervously to see if I'm going to stop, I stop.

I move over to whatever part of the lane will let cars turn on red lights without me blocking their way, and I jump the green, not to get a head start on traffic, but so I can get up to speed and out of the way of traffic as much as possible. I don't like riding on the road with you any more than you like driving with me on the road.

Winter is terrible because you are constantly having to ride in the wheel ruts to get anywhere and always in the way. I'll pull over for a second if there is traffic getting stuck behind me on a single lane road.

Separated bike lanes would make everyone much happier I think. Win/win.

[Lee of Red]

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I actually meant it depends on me having the energy to get sucked into an argument from you. But I didn't have the energy. So shove off with the stupid question.

Didn't want an argument. I just like the hypocrisy of demanding that everyone using the road should stick to the rules but then only victimizing the smallest percentage of road users for breaking them. Possibly because they're an easy target.

You seem to be one hell of a guy.

[Slava]

No, he's just another guy!

[Bunk]

Riding today I realized that some people simply don't know how to deal with cyclists on the road. I was riding from Sunalta into the Beltline via 13th Avenue (the designated bike route through this area). Stopped at 14th Street. I was waiting at the intersection just as if I was a car waiting for a break in traffic in order to cross 14th. Most did the right thing and just kept driving by. One guy though going southbound screached to a halt and waived me to go. However, there was still other drivers going through including the other southbound lane and northbound. People behind him were getting pissed, he was honking and waiving at me. I yelled that I am NOT a pedestrian. Eventually a bunch of other drivers ended up stopping. So I went through. Everyone pissed off. People really do need to be educated about the rules.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by Matata

I think drivers get mad because their are a lot of perks to cycling (cheap, best parking spots, not confined to roads, sexy legs) that they don't get. It reminds me of a farside comic where a caveman see's a bird fly overhead, flaps his arms and realizes he can't fly, so he builds a bow and shoots down the bird.

This is stupid, reaslly stupid.

Do you honestly believe this, or are you just trolling drivers iin this thread?