You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

I could get behind this, but it would be nice if they had large parking lots on the edge of town. Pretty simple to do. Cut some tress and chuck down some gravel.

Maybe throw in a free shuttle to Downtown Banff for good measure

They already have the large parking lot at the train station which they encourage people to use and walk from (or take the bus from.) Everytime I have used it, even on busy long weekends, there are lots of spots available.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

They already have the large parking lot at the train station which they encourage people to use and walk from (or take the bus from.) Everytime I have used it, even on busy long weekends, there are lots of spots available.

Yeah you are right.

I completely forgot about that lot, I always forget about that lot.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by Shazam

What weird takes on Banff.

There's still plenty of times when it's not busy.

There's still plenty of parking, even when it's "busy".

There's still parts of Banff that are very quiet, even when it's busy.

The complaints always come on a nice warm sunny Saturday of a summer long weekend.

Anecdotally, I've never found Banff busy when I've been there on a cold snowy windy winter weekday.

[Bigtime]

We gotta get that passenger train to Banff.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

We gotta get that passenger train to Banff.

Yeah the Grizzly House could have their own meal car and we can just make the whole thing an unmitigated nightmare on tracks!

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

The complaints always come on a nice warm sunny Saturday of a summer long weekend.

Anecdotally, I've never found Banff busy when I've been there on a cold snowy windy winter weekday.

I've been there when it's nice and although busy, there's always parking somewhere. Usually I just park in the parkade by the IGA.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

We gotta get that passenger train to Banff.

And while we're at it, let's rebuild that Frank Lloyd Wright pavilion. It's got nothing to do with trains or parking, but hey, it would be neato.

[Cappy]

Zary in 10 years after the Town of Banff grows:

"Banff sucks, it used to be this cool small town in the mountains. Now it is soulless and has way too many people. It's like a shopping mall!"

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by GGG

I want to get rid of cars so that Banff is more walkable. There will be a plebiscite in August on the pedestrian zone on Banff ave in the summers. Essentially the town council passed a motion to make it permanent and then a group petitioned to undo that decision so now there will be a plebiscite.

If it were me I’d further expand the car free zones and restrict external car access. It would make Bamff better

I don't think it'd make any difference at all.

Banff is already walkable. It's tiny. You can walk from one end of Banff to the other in about an hour. What more do you want?

Banff has one main road.

The "group" that undid the ped zone was Parks Canada.

Do you even go anywhere? You seem to have absolutely no idea how things really are.

[SutterBrother]

Originally Posted by bc-chris

i rgmg that we have a limit on 'thanks' to give out when the oilers just lost game 7!

Any received thanks should go into a "thank bank" so you can have additional thanks if you are posting messages that are well received.

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by GGG

I want to get rid of cars so that Banff is more walkable. There will be a plebiscite in August on the pedestrian zone on Banff ave in the summers. Essentially the town council passed a motion to make it permanent and then a group petitioned to undo that decision so now there will be a plebiscite.

If it were me I’d further expand the car free zones and restrict external car access. It would make Bamff better

100%. Whistler is a chic and soulless hellhole (similar to Banff...), but it's awesome. Because there are no ####ing cars.

Originally Posted by Shazam

I don't think it'd make any difference at all.

Banff is already walkable. It's tiny. You can walk from one end of Banff to the other in about an hour. What more do you want?

Banff has one main road.

The "group" that undid the ped zone was Parks Canada.

Do you even go anywhere? You seem to have absolutely no idea how things really are.

IIRC Parks Canada just said the ped zone could not be used for commercial purposes, like patios. Which I understand to some degree, though I'm not convinced it's the best way to throttle visitors compared to pricing mechanisms on vehicles/parking.

Banff has several streets. It only has one bridge for vehicles to get to the south side. The fatties are still going to have to walk a couple hundred meters if they manage to get a spot at the Gondola/Springs...they'd be better off getting dropped right at the doorstep.

[8 Ball]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Is it?

I mean don't get me wrong it's pretty cool setting and the building in parts look cool.

But unless you get a room in the original building, it is just a hotel & room.

I should have added an IMO. I have only been a few times for my anniversary and my wifes birthday. We upgraded both times, so the room was very nice both times. The fondue/Swiss restraunt was excellent both times as well.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

100%. Whistler is a chic and soulless hellhole (similar to Banff...), but it's awesome. Because there are no ####ing cars.




IIRC Parks Canada just said the ped zone could not be used for commercial purposes, like patios. Which I understand to some degree, though I'm not convinced it's the best way to throttle visitors compared to pricing mechanisms on vehicles/parking.

Banff has several streets. It only has one bridge for vehicles to get to the south side. The fatties are still going to have to walk a couple hundred meters if they manage to get a spot at the Gondola/Springs...they'd be better off getting dropped right at the doorstep.

No, Parks Canada said that the pedestrian zone of Banff Ave was a temporary COVID related measure to allow for social distancing but the unprecedented times which required that measure are over.

The superintendent's letter opens with Parks Canada stating it supports the pedestrian-friendly and public space elements of the pedestrian zone. But, Rasheed writes, the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone was first implemented as a pandemic measure, to allow for proper social distancing during the global pandemic. Those unprecedented times, he wrote, are over.

"The proposed ongoing commercial use (e.g., restaurant patios, outdoor merchandise displays) of public space, is contrary to the laws which ensure this special place is protected," Rasheed wrote.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...nada-1.7079525

In addition, there are regulations against using public space in the park by commercial establishments which refers to the patios on the pedestrian area.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by 8 Ball

I should have added an IMO. I have only been a few times for my anniversary and my wifes birthday. We upgraded both times, so the room was very nice both times. The fondue/Swiss restraunt was excellent both times as well.

No, you're right - the Springs is spectacular. Sure, some of the rooms are a little dated, but I feel that's just a function of being a large, old hotel - they can only renovate so many rooms and do it only so often. But besides that, the scale, the amenities and the service are all fantastic.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by you&me

No, you're right - the Springs is spectacular. Sure, some of the rooms are a little dated, but I feel that's just a function of being a large, old hotel - they can only renovate so many rooms and do it only so often. But besides that, the scale, the amenities and the service are all fantastic.

The old rooms aren't the issue for me, it when you go into the new building the hotel loses something.

Staying in the old building is cool and worth the cost.

The newer part isn't cool, IMO

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

No, Parks Canada said that the pedestrian zone of Banff Ave was a temporary COVID related measure to allow for social distancing but the unprecedented times which required that measure are over.


https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calga...nada-1.7079525

In addition, there are regulations against using public space in the park by commercial establishments which refers to the patios on the pedestrian area.

Ummm...did you not read what you quoted?

The superintendent's letter opens with Parks Canada stating it supports the pedestrian-friendly and public space elements of the pedestrian zone. But, Rasheed writes, the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone was first implemented as a pandemic measure, to allow for proper social distancing during the global pandemic. Those unprecedented times, he wrote, are over.

Of course there are a lot of practical issues this raises, but PC did not ban the ped zone. They banned commercial uses. Allowing those commercial uses was the Covid exception...

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by Locke

Yeah the Grizzly House could have their own meal car and we can just make the whole thing an unmitigated nightmare on tracks!

Someone is clearly traumatized by the Grizzly House. You should seek some help. And a degreaser.

[Titan2]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

Any received thanks should go into a "thank bank" so you can have additional thanks if you are posting messages that are well received.

I do have a personal thank bank that I access in my private time when I reflect on the great posts on CP.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by powderjunkie

Ummm...did you not read what you quoted?



Of course there are a lot of practical issues this raises, but PC did not ban the ped zone. They banned commercial uses. Allowing those commercial uses was the Covid exception...

Yeah, as it is written and being reported I'm seeing that Parks Canada has said that they support the idea of a pedestrian zone but also that it was established as a temporary measure, essentially not part of the current long term plan.

[you&me]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

The old rooms aren't the issue for me, it when you go into the new building the hotel loses something.

Staying in the old building is cool and worth the cost.

The newer part isn't cool, IMO

When you say "new building", do you mean the Gate House wing (over the 'bridge', with Castello, etc)?

If that's the case, I suppose I see what you're saying, but I find it difficult to separate the two, as I imagine a lot of time not spent in the room would be spent in the older, more spectacular part of the hotel.

FWIW, supposedly the medium-term plan for the hotel is to convert the Gate House wing into a sort of "family" wing, with larger renovated rooms to include things like bunk beds, etc... Though I'd assume this work will wait until the renovation at the Rimrock is complete.