Traffic delays up to 20% alongside downtown cycle lanes, city predicts

[bizkitgto]

Can anyone 'normal' realistically afford to park downtown anyway? Those that can should just start chartering helicopters and avoid the ongoing gongshow mess of downtown traffic. Meanwhile, the rest of us will continue to suffer the daily cattle train

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Well at least these people will be a lot safer during rush hour.

Excellent point. Our main priority, as Calgarians, should be to make the daily commute quicker for these people.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I would say the 20% figure is highly suspect (not to mention that your numbers are a 5% increase, not 20%).

I was just surprised that the end result of adding bike lanes in certain areas is going to be a slower commute for 99.9% of people. Maybe I'm just not aware of the cyclist safety issues that exist downtown? Regardless, it doesn't seem very logical to me to slow down the commute for the majority of people unless there is a large safety issue at play.

You're missing a big part of the point. This isn't simply to make it safer for the people on bikes, it's to encourage others to use them as well. Reduce the cars on the road, reduce the congestion, etc.

Interestingly though, I would challenge the 99.9% numbers (which I realize wasn't intended as scientific). The building I work in has ~300 bicycles in the lock-up each day (not counting those who lock up outside and/or elsewhere). For a building with ~30 stories and a couple thousand people in it, that's gotta be in that 10-20% range.

People don't seem to realize just how many cyclists are on the road each day. Probably because they use a 10th of the space and (in the core) move twice as fast.

[Bill Bumface]

In my current building, which is located very close to a pathway which means low car interaction and a cleared spot to ride all year, I'd say about 20% of people bike through the winter.

At my old building, that required riding right into the heard of downtown on snowy and slushy roads, I'd say about 5% of people rode in the winter.

Totally anecdotal, but I'm certain some people are scared out of biking in the winter. You basically have to ride in the tire tracks after a huge snow dump, and you are now in the way of traffic, which isn't a comfortable feeling.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Interestingly though, I would challenge the 99.9% numbers (which I realize wasn't intended as scientific). The building I work in has ~300 bicycles in the lock-up each day (not counting those who lock up outside and/or elsewhere). For a building with ~30 stories and a couple thousand people in it, that's gotta be in that 10-20% range.

People don't seem to realize just how many cyclists are on the road each day. Probably because they use a 10th of the space and (in the core) move twice as fast.

I'll often hear from people that say they watch the bike paths during the work day and they are always empty. I get that it's a hyperbole by them, but it would make sense that they have less people in them during the work hours. Cyclists pedal to work, and instead of riding around in bike lanes, are actually working. It's the same as the drivers, where there are more cars on the road right before and right after work hours, than there are during the day. There are also less cars on the road between midnight and 6 am, as many of those same people are sleeping.

Instead of those people complaining about an empty bike lane, why wouldn't they think to themselves that there is a bike lane that I could use, go faster than cars, get a workout in, and have it all to myself? I get it doesn't work for everyone, but people wanted a faster commute, they should try convincing everyone else to bike to work, and getting cars off the road. If cities don't make cycling safe to work, there are cyclist, like myself, that would drive. These are more cars on the road that would be creating more traffic for the drivers who are already complaining about traffic. In the bike cages I go to, they are often full (100 ish bikes) and in the summer there is overflow. There are cyclists, even if drivers don't always see them

[calumniate]

Bump - it's happening! Anyone notice the changes on 12th ave and on 5th st yet?

It's more amazing because they've closed down entire lanes already on 5th due to building construction on 5th st and 7th ave, and 5th st and 13th ave.

[FlamesKickAss]

So is 5th between 7th and 9th one lane?

12th appears it will be one lane of driving with parking on both sides from 11th - 8th....

[Robbob]

This morning I noticed cars were having issues (really backed up) turning from 4th ave south onto 5th street (was dual turning before). Rush hour getting out of downtown just got more interesting.

[Stud_McCool]

The problem with these bike lanes is that 50% of the cyclists don't even use them! Why are they always riding along 1st street SW?

[Fuzz]

^
Are there bike lanes along 1st SW? Or anywhere near there? And cyclists are not required to use any of them, they have a right to any vehicle lane, just like a car.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

So is 5th between 7th and 9th one lane?

12th appears it will be one lane of driving with parking on both sides from 11th - 8th....

5th is down a lane through 11th or 12th Avenue, at least. They were still painting or putting up signs this morning, so no actual bike traffic yet.

[The Ditch]

the west end of downtown will be brutal traffic wise when they're converting 8th ave to a cycling lane and probably after it's done as well.

[AcGold]

As a cyclist I've never almost caused an accident on the road nor have I ever even come close to hitting a pedestrian when I ride on the sidewalk when it's sketchy.

I've had cars road rage at me and even been hit by a car when someone ran a stop sign. Lesson here is just be smart and pay attention, the only one that's ever been in danger has been me so I'll do what it takes to not get hit again.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Stud_McCool

The problem with these bike lanes is that 50% of the cyclists don't even use them! Why are they always riding along 1st street SW?

If there are enough routes, most cyclists will gravitate to them. This happened with 7th street, where the vast majority of those who were on 6th and 8th now take 7th.

On the east end of downtown, a north-south route on 1st Street SE was proposed, but most of Council couldn't swallow it. But there are good east west routes on 9th/8th Ave and 12th Ave, not to mention the river pathway and a future 3rd ave bike lane. There will always be cyclists on other streets because the lanes don't deliver many people directly to their final destination - that would only happen if every street had a bike lane.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by FlamesKickAss

So is 5th between 7th and 9th one lane?

12th appears it will be one lane of driving with parking on both sides from 11th - 8th....

5th Street - two lanes until the construction is done, then 3.

12th Ave - two through lanes the entire length. Keep in mind that 95% or so of traffic flows currently in the middle two lanes. The curb lanes are mostly parking. Even when parking is restricted, there is very, very little volume in the curb lanes.

[Stud_McCool]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

^
Are there bike lanes along 1st SW? Or anywhere near there? And cyclists are not required to use any of them, they have a right to any vehicle lane, just like a car.

Why bother building dedicated bike lanes then if cyclists are just gonna end up using vehicle lanes? Can I drive my car on a bike lane because it's more convenient for me?

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Stud_McCool

Why bother building dedicated bike lanes then if cyclists are just gonna end up using vehicle lanes? Can I drive my car on a bike lane because it's more convenient for me?

Yes, and you can also drive down the sidewalks as long as you honk loud enough that pedestrians have time to get out of the way. Elevator too slow? Drive up the stairs!

[Matata]

Originally Posted by Stud_McCool

Why bother building dedicated bike lanes then if cyclists are just gonna end up using vehicle lanes? Can I drive my car on a bike lane because it's more convenient for me?

Riding in downtown rush hour traffic and riding in a designated bike lane are very, very different experiences. Making it illegal to ride bikes on roads would be impossible and sort of crazy.

[The_Penguin]

12th ave is a clusterblank. It's bad enough to lose a lane, but they've also done a forced left turn in the now leftmost lane at 1st st. W and a forced right in the right lane at McLeod.

I park in a lot on 12th, and leave at 3 PM and it was a PITA getting out this afternoon.

[calumniate]

I think I'm going to try it when it opens up! As my commute is from cliff bungalow to the core. Pray for my safety though. I've witnessed many dangerous red light happenings, to do with both drivers and pedestrians. Walkers starting to go on a yellow full of entitlement. Blatant red light runs by drivers.

Should be interesting.. :-(