Edmonton Freezeway

[Swift]

"Why don't we just crack the fire hydrants open, flood the streets and let people skate to work in the winter?" teased city councillor Tooker Gomberg, in the 1990s.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31581592

[Ozy_Flame]

I like how the guy how invented the idea appears to be living in Vancouver now.

[anyonebutedmonton]

On reddit frontpage.

[MoneyGuy]

Tooker was a hippie councillor. He rode his bike to meetings and dressed sloppily .He was arrested at least once and had mental health issues. He killed himself by jumping off a bridge in Halifax. I wouldn't take him too seriously anyway.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Tooker was a hippie councillor. He rode his bike to meetings and dressed sloppily .He was arrested at least once and had mental health issues. He killed himself by jumping off a bridge in Halifax. I wouldn't take him too seriously anyway.

According to the article, all that guy did was make a flippant remark about opening fire hydrants and freezing the streets. I don't think that he proposed an actual freezeway like this, but someone since then has.

I don't mind the idea, I suppose. I couldn't see myself skating to work, but on a weekend it would be fun to skate from A to B instead of just circling around a frozen lagoon.

I like the overall premise behind it : embracing winter. For living in a cold climate, Canadians are pretty soft when it comes to winter. Every snowfall or cold snap brings a sense of surprise and despair, as if we are in a permanent denial about our climate. "A snowflake hit my face. In February. In Canada. This is so unfair!" I'm not suggesting that everyone should love winter unconditionally, but half of the year is a long time to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities.

[Robo]

i doubt this ever gets out of the planning stage

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Robo

i doubt this ever gets out of the planning stage

Agreed. I think that once the logistics of it are closely considered (level crossings, for example, and the actual flooding of the rail corridor to ensure safe skating), it probably won't be feasible. Especially if the costs are unreasonable.

[Nufy]

Lawyers will be lining up to file injury claims on Day 1 of opening...

[#-3]

Honestly if I could skate 5 or 6 km to work I think it would be great.

But, I live further than 5 or 6 km away. Maintenance on the freezeway would be too expensive. Crossings would be dangerous for pedestrians & Cars. Crossings would be hard on skates. What do you do with the space for 8 months of the year, if a bike path is the answer where do you send the bikes for 4 months of the year. Where would the space come from.

From a commuter stand point there is no way that it would work.

I don't know Edmonton well enough, but doing it in a large park like the memerial river walkway in Calgary, as a recreational program might work