Cycle Track Network One Year Old

[TSXCman]

Personally, I went from 1-2 very, very, dangerous crashes or close calls a month (cars on back tire, cut off into a construction pit, etc.) to only 1 incident in a whole year (myself blowing up my chain and crashing hard).

For me, that was the difference between having the track vs not, as a commuter.

[Zarley]

I'll preface this by saying that I'm an inner city dwelling cyclist and until recently I lived adjacent to the 12th Avenue bike lane.

In principle I'm a fan of the program - bike lanes are great for people like myself who aren't comfortable cycling on congested major routes. I've made extensive use of the network since it's implementation.

The problem however is the fact that the major boosters of this project appear to be driven by ideology rather than pragmatism, as evidenced by the chosen routes being high profile traffic arteries. The logical decision would have been to run north/south bike lanes along 1st and 8th Streets SW, which have lower traffic volumes and offer better connections to both Connaught and (in the case of 1st Street) Mission and the Elbow river pathway system. Also, 13th Avenue was initially chosen as the east/west link through the Beltline but this was abandoned without announcement.

Instead of this, they went with 5th Street, 12th Ave, and initially proposed another lane on Macleod which was wisely shot down by council. Obviously all of these are major vehicle commuter routes. Some people within the cyclist lobby in the city are intent of making a political statement rather than producing the best network possible. Had they chosen 1st, 8th, and 13th Avenue, the following things would have happened:
- Lower cost due to less signalized intersections
- We likely could have avoided the additional cost of even having a pilot project because there would have been minimal concern regarding traffic impact on these routes - the network would hence be ahead of the game
- Reduced opposition to future expansion of the network

The network we have is fine, but there are a few major issues that should have been foreseen:
- The idiotic lane jogs that occur along the west end of 12th Avenue
- The 5th Street lane ends abruptly at 17th, unable to continue into Cliff Bungalow thanks to the change from 1 way to 2 way traffic (would have been solved by using 1st Street with a connection to 2nd via Rouleauville Square)
- The lane on 8th Ave has resulted in a significant reduction in street parking availability (which is stupid because thanks to the extremely wide sidewalks on the west end of 8th, there is more than enough room for parking lanes and bike lanes on either side of the road if a few feet are ceded from the sidewalk)

In summary, the system we have is the definition of mediocrity. With a little bit of pragmatism and innovative thinking we could have had a better system with far less controversy - although I've learned to never expect either of those qualities from the planning department.

[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

I've driven large vehicles enough to feel your pain. Though one of the most nerve racking things about driving a big vehicle downtown was cyclists in your lane, which should be significantly reduced.

I was driving a gooseneck around one time (not downtown), and I thought for sure I was going to hit a cyclist that suddenly cut around a curb bulb while driving in my lane.

If there was someone on a bike, I can change a lane to get around them while moving, no problem, I cannot however, move the bike lane to work. Not only did it displace regular parking, but also loading zones. The City thinks those aren't necessary any more apparently.
Exiting an alley with a bike lane is the worst. I need 2 traffic lanes to make the turn and the mixed flow makes getting a gap hard. Its funny, I see people make a gap for cyclists, but cyclists have no patience for a tandem axle trying to get out onto 5th. Not so bad this week because the cycle traffic has been near zero, but in the warmer months.

[Fuzz]

They really did try to make 8th st work, but given it is narrow, and has central pillars they couldn't find a way to put lanes in and make it passable for the fire trucks coming form the 10th street station with a separated lane. That left 5th st as the only option. I do agree that it is not a perfect system, but a lot of the compromises were because of complaints before it was put in. The problem with 13st is that their is a stop sign at almost every crossing.

Personally, I thought they should have done a 2 way track on 10th st because it is less busy, has fewer intersections and parking losses could be kept to one street on one side.

[Slava]

My only annoyance with the cycletrack, or lanes in general is that cyclists don't use them. I don't mean that as in the lanes we have built are sitting there empty or not enough trips. I mean there is a perfectly good cycling lane to be used and instead cyclists are riding elsewhere.

I guess its not really part of the pilot, but the city just built and opened the lanes on Edmonton Trail, on the easterly lane (which I guess might be technically 4th street?) Instead of using that dedicated lane though, there are still cyclists heading down the westerly lanes. I find that shocking, because I know as a cyclist I would greatly prefer the safety and security of the dedicated lanes.

I've seen the same thing downtown around the cycletrack itself as well, where riders are literally right beside the track and in traffic or on the sidewalk as opposed to the dedicated lanes. I don't know if there is something wrong with the lanes we're building or whether people are just plain ignoring them or what the scenario is. But if we are spending the money and having to hear people whine about them (I like them), cyclists ought to at lest use them.

[Fuzz]

In the situations I have seen downtown with riders outside the tracks, they are either couriers, or people who end up turning half a block or a block down the road on the opposite side of the track. If they stay in the track ,at some point they would have to cross a few lanes so it is safer and easier if they exit the track earlier, or in some cases don't use it. I can't say I've ever seen someone travel several blocks outside the track without reason.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

If there was someone on a bike, I can change a lane to get around them while moving, no problem, I cannot however, move the bike lane to work. Not only did it displace regular parking, but also loading zones. The City thinks those aren't necessary any more apparently.
Exiting an alley with a bike lane is the worst. I need 2 traffic lanes to make the turn and the mixed flow makes getting a gap hard. Its funny, I see people make a gap for cyclists, but cyclists have no patience for a tandem axle trying to get out onto 5th. Not so bad this week because the cycle traffic has been near zero, but in the warmer months.

http://www.eco-public.com/ParcPublic/?id=4190

You can view the counts for the day prior on this page, funny thing is I don't see a single counter near zero. Lowest one is 73 at 12th avenue and 3rd street SE, not surprising as this is at the end of the track and doesn't really connect anywhere. It's usually one of the lowest ones on the network. I used to live down there and vehicle traffic is pretty light on 12th avenue heading east of 4th street.

5th street counters all showing pretty good numbers for winter season, the totem counter (at 5th street & 9th avenue) yesterday was at about 28.6% of the weekday average, I have heard it mentioned that in the winter well done cycle networks retain about 30% of the rider numbers from summer. So I think we are doing very well with room to tweak (for vehicles, peds, and bikes) and expand (5th street south into Cliff Bungalow-Mission right down to Elbow is needed).

[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

http://www.eco-public.com/ParcPublic/?id=4190

You can view the counts for the day prior on this page, funny thing is I don't see a single counter near zero. Lowest one is 73 at 12th avenue and 3rd street SE, not surprising as this is at the end of the track and doesn't really connect anywhere. It's usually one of the lowest ones on the network. I used to live down there and vehicle traffic is pretty light on 12th avenue heading east of 4th street.

5th street counters all showing pretty good numbers for winter season, the totem counter (at 5th street & 9th avenue) yesterday was at about 28.6% of the weekday average, I have heard it mentioned that in the winter well done cycle networks retain about 30% of the rider numbers from summer. So I think we are doing very well with room to tweak (for vehicles, peds, and bikes) and expand (5th street south into Cliff Bungalow-Mission right down to Elbow is needed).

Makes you wonder about the counters, doesn't it.
I've had no waits at all the last few weeks. In summer the waits there and other few spots stretch my route by an hour. The worst part is when a client fills their bins, has loads piled on push carts with small plastic wheels and the truck is 2 blocks away.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

Makes you wonder about the counters, doesn't it.
I've had no waits at all the last few weeks. In summer the waits there and other few spots stretch my route by an hour. The worst part is when a client fills their bins, has loads piled on push carts with small plastic wheels and the truck is 2 blocks away.

No, it ####ing doesn't! Goddamit.

[Bigtime]

You're right GaiJin, the counters are fully functional and in the dead of night the bike lobby rides over all the counters to inflate the numbers.

[GaiJin]

Yeah what do I know, I only go through there 5 times a week.

[Bigtime]

And the machines are there 24 hours a day 7 days a week, and all the historical data is there since they went active for you to go through.

[GaiJin]

If I could switch to another route, I'd go in a heartbeat.

[Ashartus]

I'm actually a bit surprised how many cyclists I've seen on my drive to work even through the worst days of this cold period. I think they must be at least a little bit crazy, but good for them.

[Bigtime]

We're not crazy, chances are we are actually very warm and comfy. I still find with minimal extra layers I am sweating when I get to work.

I drove into work yesterday, I was colder on that commute than any bike ride in the last few weeks. Car doesn't have enough time to warm up, and I'm not layered like when I ride.

[REDVAN]

How much time did this add to the average automobile commute time? How many vehicles are being driven into downtown on a daily basis that have been affected by this change?

Wants of the few are for some reason more important than the good of the many.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by REDVAN

How much time did this add to the average automobile commute time? How many vehicles are being driven into downtown on a daily basis that have been affected by this change?

Wants of the few are for some reason more important than the good of the many.

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...t-nov-2016.pdf

2014 times versus 2016 with the tracks installed.

Peak period time travel for 5th street: 6:00 to 6:10

12th avenue eastbound am peak: 5:40 to 7:10
12th avenue eastbound pm peak: 11:30 to 7:20

8th avenue eastbound am peak: 5:30 to 5:15
8th avenue westbound pm peak: 5:30 to 5:30

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Slava

My only annoyance with the cycletrack, or lanes in general is that cyclists don't use them. I don't mean that as in the lanes we have built are sitting there empty or not enough trips. I mean there is a perfectly good cycling lane to be used and instead cyclists are riding elsewhere.

I guess its not really part of the pilot, but the city just built and opened the lanes on Edmonton Trail, on the easterly lane (which I guess might be technically 4th street?) Instead of using that dedicated lane though, there are still cyclists heading down the westerly lanes. I find that shocking, because I know as a cyclist I would greatly prefer the safety and security of the dedicated lanes.

I've seen the same thing downtown around the cycletrack itself as well, where riders are literally right beside the track and in traffic or on the sidewalk as opposed to the dedicated lanes. I don't know if there is something wrong with the lanes we're building or whether people are just plain ignoring them or what the scenario is. But if we are spending the money and having to hear people whine about them (I like them), cyclists ought to at lest use them.

I don't work downtown anymore, so I haven't used the cycle tracks. But when I did cycle downtown, I cared about the same thing car commuters care about - getting to work as fast as possible. So I rode hard, took a lane, kept up with traffic, tried to hit all the lights.

If I couldn't safely and courteously ride at that speed in the cycle tracks, I'd take the roads. And as long as I'm not impeding traffic, that's my right.

The variance in cycling speeds is tremendous, probably a factor of 4x. It may be better for safety and for traffic flow for a cyclist doing 30 km/hr to ride on the road* than on a cycle path where many other cyclists are doing 10 km/hr.

* Downtown roads at rush hour, anyway, when cars rarely get above 30 km/hr.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I don't work downtown anymore, so I haven't used the cycle tracks. But when I did cycle downtown, I cared about the same thing car commuters care about - getting to work as fast as possible. So I rode hard, took a lane, kept up with traffic, tried to hit all the lights.

If I couldn't safely and courteously ride at that speed in the cycle tracks, I'd take the roads. And as long as I'm not impeding traffic, that's my right.

The variance in cycling speeds is tremendous, probably a factor of 4x. It may be better for safety and for traffic flow for a cyclist doing 30 km/hr to ride on the road* than on a cycle path where many other cyclists are doing 10 km/hr.

* Downtown roads at rush hour, anyway, when cars rarely get above 30 km/hr.

Yeah and I get that. But we've built this infrastructure for cyclists. If they can't use it effectively to commute, or we need to tweak it then we should address that concern? I've been on both roads with traffic and dedicated lanes and frankly I feel a lot better on the dedicated lanes. I know that is personal preference to some extent, but I think its great.

I don't think its great when we have this great new cycling infrastructure and people are riding on sidewalks and roads adjacent to it though. Regardless of why, that is concerning. Is it a design problem, or enforcement problem or what is it? I just don't think that is safe for cyclists, drivers or pedestrians.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation...t-nov-2016.pdf

2014 times versus 2016 with the tracks installed.

Peak period time travel for 5th street: 6:00 to 6:10

12th avenue eastbound am peak: 5:40 to 7:10
12th avenue eastbound pm peak: 11:30 to 7:20

8th avenue eastbound am peak: 5:30 to 5:15
8th avenue westbound pm peak: 5:30 to 5:30

Interesting results, thanks for helping me find the info.

Looks like the times are pretty even, and not as much of an issue as I thought. I'd be interested to know the volume of vehicle traffic to find out if some of this is influenced by a sharp decrease in the number of cars going downtown due to the energy downturn?

I didn't see the vehicle numbers in that report, so sorry if I missed it.