Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Besides, and full disclosure that this argument is a bit shaky, but the LRT, in and of itself, is revenue positive.

I'm not condoning a personal attack at all, but this interests me. Is there a study somewhere available supporting this? I'd be especially interested in how they apportioned fares received from riders who used a combination of bus/train services, and how they apportioned revenue received from monthly/daily/senior/upass holders. I also assume that is on an operating cost basis, ie, without consideration of the capital costs of building the system/buying the train cars, but I'd be happy to hear otherwise.

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I don't disagree with your point especially, as I think Calgary should be more walkable for the season(s) when that's reasonable. But our climate isn't really similar to Stockholms.

Example:
Average January Low Stockholm: -5 degrees C
Average January Low Calgary: -15 degrees C

I'll make a reasonable distance walk at -5. At -15 or lower, I'm seriously considering an alternative.

**http://www.calgaryarea.com/calgary_weather.htm
**http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/foreca...&region=world#

I used wikipedia's entry on Stockholm to gauge its climate. Obviously it's not exactly like Calgary (no two cities will have identical climates), but this sounded roughly similar:

Summers are warm and pleasant with average daytime high temperatures of 20–22 °C (68–72 °F) and lows of around 13 °C (55 °F), but temperatures could reach 30 °C (86 °F) on some days. Winters are cold, and sometimes snowy with average temperatures ranging from -5 to 1 °C (23 to 34 °F), and sometimes drop below −15 °C (5 °F). Spring and autumn are generally cool to mild.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockholm#Climate

In any event, I reject the notion that outdoor commuting is only possible in Calgary for 4-5 months (per THE SCUD above); I've been walking to work year-round ever since I moved here in 2002.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by THE SCUD

This city is comfortably 'outdoor-commutable' 4-5 months out of the year.

That is simply not true:
Average high °C (°F) −2.8
(27) −0.1
(31.8) 4.0
(39.2) 11.3
(52.3) 16.4
(61.5) 20.2
(68.4) 22.9
(73.2) 22.5
(72.5) 17.6
(63.7) 12.1
(53.8) 2.8
(37) −1.3
(29.7) 10.5
(50.9) Daily mean °C (°F) −8.9
(16) −6.1
(21) −1.9
(28.6) 4.6
(40.3) 9.8
(49.6) 13.8
(56.8) 16.2
(61.2) 15.6
(60.1) 10.8
(51.4) 5.4
(41.7) −3.1
(26.4) −7.4
(18.7) 4.1
(39.4) Average low °C (°F) −15.1
(4.8) −12
(10) −7.8
(18) −2.1
(28.2) 3.1
(37.6) 7.3
(45.1) 9.4
(48.9) 8.6
(47.5) 4.0
(39.2) −1.4
(29.5) −8.9
(16) −13.4
(7.9) −2.4
(27.7)

I'd say there are 2-3 months there that get out of the average persons comfort zone. 9-10 months it's perfectly fine to be outside most days.

[Coach]

^^ Agreed with hulkrogan. After working downtown and going to school over the past 2 years and travelling by train everyday I can say that there were only a few times I considered other options, but really it would have to be pretty cold for me to chicken out on a 10-15 min walk. A walk which can easily turn into a 5 min jog.

[Tinordi]

When I first moved to Ottawa the bus drivers went on strike, in December.

I walked 50 minutes to work in -10 to -30 for a month. It's actually not bad at all. Got in great shape and then never game up walking 50 minutes to work. A great way to start the day.

So yeah, the point is that you'd be surprised how easy it is to walk in the cold. Just bundle up and quit being a baby. My wife did the walk with me everyday and she's one of those cold people. (as in always feeling cold)

[Ducay]

Nothing to add to this useless debate right now, but just wanted to give a big virtual high five to Frink for giving the proverbial slap in the face right back at Shazam. His personal attacks and "facts" were getting harder to ignore (which is what most of us try to do with trolls).

Hopefully people like Shazam don't deter you from posting on this forum, as myself and countless others appreciate your insider takes on infrastructure and the city!

[darksilver]

Giant chinese finger trap. For 22 million dollars????some good drugs in Alberta government.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by darksilver

Giant chinese finger trap. For 22 million dollars????some good drugs in Alberta government.

2009 is that way, buddy. Good try, though!

[darksilver]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

2009 is that way, buddy. Good try, though!

Buddy???I'm not your buddy...

[Huntingwhale]

He meant bro.

[THE SCUD]

Originally Posted by darksilver

Buddy???I'm not your buddy...

Chill out buddy.

[darksilver]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

He meant bro.

That would make sense if I was a guy.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by MarchHare

In any event, I reject the notion that outdoor commuting is only possible in Calgary for 4-5 months (per THE SCUD above); I've been walking to work year-round ever since I moved here in 2002.

I said season(s). Outdoor commuting is reasonable more than 4 months a year, but less than 12 in Calgary. The problem is dual infrastructure. The costs of owning/insuring/fueling a commuter car are significant. The costs of living within a reasonable walking distance of downtown are also significant. It's not logical for many people to do both.

There are many people on this thread claiming to commute outdoors year round, and that's commendable. But it's not representative of the wider population. Count the number of bikes in a downtown bike cage in June, and the number in January. The huge difference is the people who are willing to commute outdoors in nice weather but not bad weather.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Mazrim

2009 is that way, buddy. Good try, though!

The question is - is 2009 in reference to the joke or the assumption of the bridge's cost?

[Table 5]

Probably in reference to the fact that it's a tired and lazy inference that was already made about a thousand times in this thread.

[Yasa]

Originally Posted by darksilver

That would make sense if I was a guy.

Woah, man. Calm down dude.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Probably in reference to the fact that it's a tired and lazy inference that was already made about a thousand times in this thread.

I was going to comment on your hyperbole, then I saw there have been over 1300 posts in this thread. 1000 is probably a close estimate.

[Mazrim]

Originally Posted by darksilver

Buddy???I'm not your buddy...

Originally Posted by darksilver

That would make sense if I was a guy.

Roger that, brostella.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by darksilver

That would make sense if I was a guy.

Chill out Brarome Iginla

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Well, you do like to brag a lot.

You know what? I'd agree with everything you and the other new-urbanist posers on here write about if you guys actually bothered to live the way you claim modern first world living should be.

But man, you have guys like Flames in 07 on your side, who whines constantly about the suburbs, and yet owns a house in Shawnessy that he rents out.

So yeah, forgive me for being just a bit skeptical. It seems to me that you believe in your drivel only insofar as it doesn't affect your ability to earn money. So basically you're like Ferengis in the closet.

I don't own a home in shawessy. You are an exceptionally large liar.

It's probably been 10 years since I've been there. Picking that area of the city for a rental would be insane.