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

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Kavvy

To be fair, one could argue that a huge percentage of those who currently live in the belt line, moved there knowing full well what the purpose of the road in front of their house was for - to get people out of downtown.

The City is actively trying to revive inner city communities and attract both redevelopment and residents. Consequently, incoming residents and business owners are led to believe they are moving to a community rather than a transportation corridor. In reality, locals are simply waiting for the implementation of Council approved or City made plans such as the Beltline ARP and City Centre Plan.

[Igottago]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

Which route is that? Aren't all the new ones still closed for construction?


On another note, there's a good article in the Herald this morning about a lesser heard voice in the bike lane debate - Beltline residents.
http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...ke-lanes-think

I live in the beltline and think its great. Haven't really biked since I was a kid so I'm not a cyclist in any way, but I am totally considering getting a bike simply to zip around when the weather is nice. Could even start biking to work.

Being mixed with rush hour traffic has always been deterrent for me before, just never seemed safe.

I think ultimately this is a great move for the city.

[Flash Walken]

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Remember all the controversy when the city started installing bike lanes downtown five years ago?

At the time, the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association spoke out against the lanes, backing up its members who claimed lost parking would affect their bottom lines.

But the group that represents many merchants in the area is now singing a different tune.

“Times have changed, and it’s obvious that separated bike lanes [are] working in the downtown area and I don’t think any politician, regardless of what political party they’re with, would ever dare take them out. So they’re here to stay and we need to adapt. From an organization perspective, there are other pressing priorities for the organization than fighting separated bike lanes,” says DVBIA Executive Director Charles Gauthier.

He says the lanes seem to be bringing in an ever-growing number of people who choose two wheels.

“We want downtown to be accessible by all modes of transportation and I think if we say, ‘Well, we’re not interested in separated bike lanes because of this and that, we’re going to basically exclude ourselves from a growing market of people that commute to work by bike as well as people that are living downtown and travelling throughout the Vancouver area by bike.”

“We’re seeing obviously a greater demographic of people of all ages and abilities in the separated bike lanes because they’re obviously more safe and providing more comfort. At the end of the day, we don’t want to tell employers that we’re not accommodating maybe a portion of their employees that are coming to work by bike, nor do we want to turn away customers that are making that decision as well,” adds Gauthier.

He wants people to be able to get downtown by all modes of transportation.

http://www.news1130.com/2015/05/27/d...st-five-years/

[chemgear]

Seems like fewer and fewer people using the lane these days (nevermind that it started to snow today). Are we paying for people to separately plow/clear the snow from the lane this winter?

[Ducay]

Reminds me to complain to my councillor about these lanes again. What a cluster-fata.

[Bill Bumface]

Reminds me of how excited I am to feel safe biking through downtown this winter.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Seems like fewer and fewer people using the lane these days (nevermind that it started to snow today). Are we paying for people to separately plow/clear the snow from the lane this winter?

Yes, we will be paying for people to separately plow the bike lanes for the five people a day that will use them.

[Ozy_Flame]

I see relatively good use of the 12th avenue bike lane, but it could stand to use more.

I think people need to time to adopt to alternative modes of transportation. It isn't an overnight process.

[Weitz]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yes, we will be paying for people to separately plow the bike lanes for the five people a day that will use them.

And if its anything like last year they will be clearing the bike routes before the actual roads where the people are

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I see relatively good use of the 12th avenue bike lane, but it could stand to use more.

Personally, I see less than a handful of people in total using it while I go down the avenue in the morning. I don't go there every day (small sample sizes) but maybe you go a different time or have an office there.

Tin foil hat me but I wouldn't be surprised if the city somehow counts and claims some crazy usage numbers in the snow/winter regardless.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yes, we will be paying for people to separately plow the bike lanes for the five people a day that will use them.

I'm surprised that that the city didn't decide to underground heat the bike lanes in winter to melt the snow considering how important bike lanes are to Calgary, according to city hall.

[shermanator]

Those damn bike lanes slept with my wife and shot my pa! Rabble rabble...

[J pold]

One thing I noticed is that bikers are still abundant on road without bike lanes, mainly 2nd Street SW. I want to ask these people why they are using the road when there is a perfectly good bike lane 3 blocks down? I heard on CBC radio people who used bikes before the bike lanes don’t like them, don’t feel they should be required to use them and that there main purpose is to encourage new people to use their bike. Personally I think that’s BS.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by J pold

One thing I noticed is that bikers are still abundant on road without bike lanes, mainly 2nd Street SW. I want to ask these people why they are using the road when there is a perfectly good bike lane 3 blocks down? I heard on CBC radio people who used bikes before the bike lanes don’t like them, don’t feel they should be required to use them and that there main purpose is to encourage new people to use their bike. Personally I think that’s BS.

2nd is a bike route as well, just not protected lane. Using 5th or 2nd depends on your origin and destination.

Here's an excellent article on why some of the hardcore spandex set don't like cycle tracks:

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...w-cycle-tracks

[calf]

I drive down the first 2 blocks of 12th Ave's cycle track to get to work in the morning. The biggest annoyance is people that park outside of the allowed hours right next to the track, blocking a perfectly good traffic lane. The city is good about tag & towing, and the allowed hours are well marked...just a lot of people not paying attention when they park.

9th street's intersection could be improved as well. The left driving lane has an advance turn in order to go north on 9th, which is good. But the light is red when you can't turn north/cross the cycle track (which is fine), except that there is a perfectly good lane in front that people could continue to proceed eastbound through if they so choose, or happen to need to go that way. I've seen a lot of people run the red to continue down 12th ave because the red light only seems to make sense if you're turning.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Bunk

2nd is a bike route as well, just not protected lane. Using 5th or 2nd depends on your origin and destination.

Here's an excellent article on why some of the hardcore spandex set don't like cycle tracks:

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...w-cycle-tracks

Some cyclists are perfectly comfortable with vehicular cycling (taking a lane of the road just like you're a car). I'm one of them. I keep up with traffic, I'm not intimidated by cars, and I want to get where I'm going as fast as I can.

But most potential bicycle commuters are not. Riding in traffic stresses them out. They're not confident. They're not concerned with getting from A to B as fast as possible so much as they want their ride to be as safe and secure as possible. That's who bicycle lanes are for. And that's why the speed on bike lanes is far slower than experienced vehicular cyclists are accustomed to.

It's a mistake to regard cyclists as a monolithic group. The expertise, riding speed, and expectations of cyclists vary far more dramatically than those of motorists. Many will continue to ride on roads and take a lane, as they have every right to do.

[Bill Bumface]

This is also winter #1 of the bike lanes. It will take time for more people to take up winter biking than 1 day of snow.

Looking at the following image, one of these transportation modes is significantly cheaper to provide than all the rest, and among the most space efficient. Financially, you should do everything you can to encourage it.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

Looking at the following image, one of these transportation modes is significantly cheaper to provide than all the rest, and among the most space efficient. Financially, you should do everything you can to encourage it.

Ahhh maybe that is why some people voted NDP. Your image is just missing a snapshot of a completely empty street with no people at all.

"Here are 200 people who no longer have a job. Problem solved."

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Some cyclists are perfectly comfortable with vehicular cycling (taking a lane of the road just like you're a car). I'm one of them. I keep up with traffic, I'm not intimidated by cars, and I want to get where I'm going as fast as I can.

But most potential bicycle commuters are not. Riding in traffic stresses them out. They're not confident. They're not concerned with getting from A to B as fast as possible so much as they want their ride to be as safe and secure as possible. That's who bicycle lanes are for. And that's why the speed on bike lanes is far slower than experienced vehicular cyclists are accustomed to.

It's a mistake to regard cyclists as a monolithic group. The expertise, riding speed, and expectations of cyclists vary far more dramatically than those of motorists. Many will continue to ride on roads and take a lane, as they have every right to do.

It is interesting that the article indicates that the European cycling community "openly mocks" the vehicular cycling strategy. I assumed that the larger number of riders in, say, Copenhagen, was at least in part due to cyclists on the road. Sounds more like the fact that they have the separate infrastructure is what allows for greater number of cyclists. While not a huge fan of the bike lanes, I do hope that they are utilized more fully, taking cars off the road and separating bikes/cars/pedestrians.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by chemgear

Ahhh maybe that is why some people voted NDP. Your image is just missing a snapshot of a completely empty street with no people at all.

"Here are 200 people who no longer have a job. Problem solved."

Is this really a "Thanks NDP" for a civic issue introduced prior to them being elected to our provincial government?