Does Calgary Do Enough on The Roads In Winter?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

And everyone in the inner city is paying for it, right fotze?

The roads are fine. People just need to realize that "All season tires" are only designed for fall, spring, and summer. They are not four season tires. If everyone bought winter tires like you should anywhere in Canada east of Vancouver, we would have no problem.

I'm not sure how winter tires are going to help me from sheer ice though, which is what much of the city was covered in yesterday.

I have had winter tires for the past five years (I never drove to work before then) and although they're great, I would appreciate the ice at least being taken off roads, especially on hills.

[Jayems]

do calgary drivers do enough, or take responsibility for driving carefully during snowy road conditions?

do SUV, 4x4's, or truckers do enough to slow down in their mighty vehicles?

I admit the city could do more, but the drivers in this city are idiots, and could probably prevent most of the accidents if they'd just slow the hell down and maybe think about stopping in advance, not at the stop sign.

drives me crazy.

[Hakan]

Calgary. The only city in North America where roads are consistently the most salient issue among voters.

Disgraceful.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

The roads are fine. People just need to realize that "All season tires" are only designed for fall, spring, and summer. They are not four season tires. If everyone bought winter tires like you should anywhere in Canada east of Vancouver, we would have no problem.

###

[Hakan]

I hear you fotze on the whole parallel parking idiocy. Try to park in Vancouver without parallel parking on busy streets. You can always see the Calgarians miles away as they ##### their pants when the try to parallel. /drift

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I'm not sure how winter tires are going to help me from sheer ice though

Although sheer ice sucks, that's what happens when you have snow hitting the road at temperatures around zero that then go into the negatives soon after. You get melting snow turning to sheer ice, with a bunch of snow on top. Thats pretty much the worst case, not the norm for winter.

Even though this will be slippery no matter what, winter tires still help because summer tires are hockey pucks when you get near freezing temperatures, where as your winter tires are soft until much lower temperatures so you get quite a bit more traction on the ice.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by fotze

And don't worry I hope to move soon, then I can hope they bulldoze all the neighborhoods within a 5 km radius of downtown. My dream is that people will someday be able to drive two cars downtown everyday, and the city will pay you 10 dollars to park them. Do you think we could maybe get golf carts that could be used on the bike paths?

Can they be coal powered golf carts?

In all seriousness, I know what your saying but I thought the pay per kilometer thing is best left to gas taxes. That helps environmentally while still nailing the people that drive in from Airdrie every day.

[Cube Inmate]

I don't have a problem with the city's snow removal (or lack thereof). It's frickin' Canada and if you can't drive through 4" of snow, then you shouldn't attempt to do so.

I have a problem with drivers who forget how to drive in winter.

Regarding insurance cost...there's no doubt that winter collisions cost insurance companies (and therefore customers) far, far more than the meagre snow removal budget. So, in short, why don't the insurance companies pay for a private fleet of snow removal vehicles? The insurance industry is actively involved in "cloud seeding" to prevent major hail storms, so why not this?

Better start lobbying your insurance company.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

Although sheer ice sucks, that's what happens when you have snow hitting the road at temperatures around zero that then go into the negatives soon after. You get melting snow turning to sheer ice, with a bunch of snow on top. Thats pretty much the worst case, not the norm for winter.

If, as you state, those conditions aren't the norm, they why does the city have such a hard time dealing with them? I realize they only happen once or twice a year, so what's the deal with them?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Cube Inmate

Regarding insurance cost...there's no doubt that winter collisions cost insurance companies (and therefore customers) far, far more than the meagre snow removal budget. So, in short, why don't the insurance companies pay for a private fleet of snow removal vehicles? The insurance industry is actively involved in "cloud seeding" to prevent major hail storms, so why not this?

Better start lobbying your insurance company.

Because the city would throw a hairy fit if somebody else started to do their work. It's hard enough just getting a plow installed on a vehicle in this city due to bylaws.

No one else seeds clouds except the insurance companies.

[Barnes]

Originally Posted by White Doors

Stop expecting the government to do everything for you.

Your right. I should get off my ass and plow the roads myself.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by fotze

I'd prefer natural gas powered (preferably coalbed methane), better for me.

I didn't say it was in the least bit feasible , especially with Dave Spendyspenderton Bronconnier.

It would be great to hear habernac post about "the goddam golf cart" that didn''t let him pass on his way to work today.

I'd run the mofo off the path. Just like those damned seniors on their scooters.

[Thunderball]

Here's an idea... why doesn't the provincial government just kick in a few more million per city to upgrade snow removal. Why not better allocate the taxes we do pay than to tack on some more....

The roads really aren't that bad... but community arterial roads and turning lanes really need to be better addressed. Some are glare ice, and especially the turning lanes, represent a serious safety issue. Cause lets face it, the average driver isn't fantastic.

[browna]

Roads today were great. Thankfully the snow was yesterday, but this morning, the city had plowed and salted all the major rotues. Nice work.

Of course, didn't stop those who see the first snow in 7 months and assumed it meant an ice skating rink, (you know the type, complete with touque, down parka, and Kamik boots....in -5C weather) to be tapping th brakes every 5ft because they're snow way up on Nosehill Park 8km away...and those who pull manuevers in snow that they wouldn't dare try in optimal conditions (like a 4 lane change), causing even more people to (legitimately) put on the brakes.

[azzarish]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

It's bloody Sunday, expecting the city to have all its winter road crews out on the night of a sudden snow storm on Saturday night so all the roads are clear is unrealistic.

But it should be done by Monday morning.

OK. So what exactly do they do with their $2 million budget. They should be out there no matter what day it is. The fact is that they only are when they want to.

[LK34]

You think it's bad in Calgary? Try Grande Prairie.

I swear my shocks are going to break in the next few weeks.
My van wasn't meant to go over huge moguls.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by azzarish

OK. So what exactly do they do with their $2 million budget. They should be out there no matter what day it is. The fact is that they only are when they want to.

Are you saying that you believe that there were no road crews out on Sunday?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by browna

Of course, didn't stop those who see the first snow in 7 months and assumed it meant an ice skating rink, (you know the type, complete with touque, down parka, and Kamik boots....in -5C weather) to be tapping th brakes every 5ft because they're snow way up on Nosehill Park 8km away...and those who pull manuevers in snow that they wouldn't dare try in optimal conditions (like a 4 lane change), causing even more people to (legitimately) put on the brakes.

These people are called "Torontonians"

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Sure, I'll just go to work at 4am. That should get me there by 8am. And I'll leave at 7pm. Maybe everybody else should too.

Correct but you chose to live out in the booneys for the affordability of a home and a yard, those of us who live within walking distance to the downtown core or a short - 5-10 minute drive have no sympathy for you - sorry.

MYK

[Robbob]

As large as this city is I think they do a half decent job. I don't know how many trucks the city owns but even if they were all on the streets it would still take a few days to sand all the major/semi major road ways.