Open Letter to Cyclists.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Thanks for that...I know what a bylaw is but it differs greatly from a law which is passed by a Federal or Provincial Government in it's scope and most importantly in the ramifications for breaking the law. It is easy to say a law is a law is a law.... but in reality it isn't nearly that simple.

Tell that to the bar owners who have been fined under the new anti-smoking BYLAWS. Justify it however you have to but in the end it's a law that has been passed by our municipality to help deal with any issues that may be having adverse effects on the community. In this specific case the bylaw was passed to keep slow moving vehicles, like yourself, off of major arteries during rush hour. You have chosen to ignore it, that doesn't make it any less illegal. All it does is prove that you are an irresponsible cyclist that only follows bylaws that benefit you.

[Kerplunk]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Thanks for that...I know what a bylaw is but it differs greatly from a law which is passed by a Federal or Provincial Government in it's scope and most importantly in the ramifications for breaking the law. It is easy to say a law is a law is a law.... but in reality it isn't nearly that simple.

While they do have a different scope (municipal) and consequences, they are still enforceable laws and as such should be followed.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Thanks for that...I know what a bylaw is but it differs greatly from a law which is passed by a Federal or Provincial Government in it's scope and most importantly in the ramifications for breaking the law. It is easy to say a law is a law is a law.... but in reality it isn't nearly that simple.

First you say that a bylaw does not equal a law and now when the truth has been shown you try to spin it.....

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by Dion

First you say that a bylaw does not equal a law and now when the truth has been shown you try to spin it.....

Yeah because a bylaw which really isn't enforced and the worst that can be done is a fine levied against an individual with no potential of criminal charges... that should be distinguished between a law where there is the potential to get charged in a criminal court...

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Yeah because a bylaw which really isn't enforced and the worst that can be done is a fine levied against an individual with no potential of criminal charges... that should be distinguished between a law where there is the potential to get charged in a criminal court...

You'd make a good politician by the way you answer questions. Instead of admitting it is a law, you spin the argument to further obfuscate the issue.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Yeah because a bylaw which really isn't enforced and the worst that can be done is a fine levied against an individual with no potential of criminal charges... that should be distinguished between a law where there is the potential to get charged in a criminal court...

Agreed. Hear that REDVAN? MMM is giving us the green light to speed.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Agreed. Hear that REDVAN? MMM is giving us the green light to speed.

Ok good example to an extent....

People speed, in fact I would bet that everyone on this board who drove today was speeding at one time or another... Just because a law exists doesn't mean that people always follow it or follow it at all. In a perfect world people would follow every law set forth by a provincial or federal government as well as any bylaws put forth by municipal governments. Things don't work like that though and laws and bylaws get pushed aside. People in general don't care about bylaws and there is no real force behind them except for some fines which generally don't amount to much.

Speeding however might not be the best example as it can lead to more serious consequences such as a loss of a licence or in some regions in Canada the loss of an automobile completely.

[OilersBaby]

on your streets in Calgary, between the lane on the right and the shoulder, isnt there a designated bike path?

I think San Jose (and most places in the San Francisco area) are VERY bike friendly since parking sucks (expensive and hard to find parking spots sometimes)

[The Ditch]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

on your streets in Calgary, between the lane on the right and the shoulder, isnt there a designated bike path?

I think San Jose (and most places in the San Francisco area) are VERY bike friendly since parking sucks (expensive and hard to find parking spots sometimes)

Calgary is extremely bike unfriendly in regards to bike lanes/paths.

[macker]

Originally Posted by The Ditch

Calgary is extremely bike unfriendly in regards to bike lanes/paths.

I don't agree with this. I think Calgary has some of the best bike access anywhere in North America. Take for example from where I live in the extreme SW corner of the city....I can ride my bike from my place to Eau Clarie in 1 hour 20 minutes. It takes me 45 minutes to 1 hour to drive this. I can take bike paths the entire way and the elbow river pathway is extremely quick (no red lights!)....I don't do it very often but when I do I am always amazed how great Calgary's bike access is. Even when you get close to downtown you can take 2nd Street which has big posted signs saying share the road with bikers and has white painted bike symbols on the street to create awareness that bikers are also sharing the road same thing on 4th street to name a couple. Calgary is known for its great bike paths. Have you been on the pathways in this city?

this is from WIKI :

As an alternative to the over 260 kilometres (162 mi) of dedicated bikeways on streets, the city has a large interconnected network of paved multi-use (bicycle, walking, rollerblading, etc) paths spanning over 635 kilometres (395 mi).[32]

[The Ditch]

Originally Posted by macker

stuff

Maybe I'm wrong, how does the distance of Calgary's paths compare to cities of similar size/population?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Mean Mr. Mustard

Ok good example to an extent....

People speed, in fact I would bet that everyone on this board who drove today was speeding at one time or another... Just because a law exists doesn't mean that people always follow it or follow it at all.

You would be wrong. I don't speed. Squeaky clean record.

In a perfect world people would follow every law set forth by a provincial or federal government as well as any bylaws put forth by municipal governments. Things don't work like that though and laws and bylaws get pushed aside. People in general don't care about bylaws and there is no real force behind them except for some fines which generally don't amount to much.

Most people follow the laws/bylaws set forth. It's the few rebel rousers that think they're above the law that like to thumb thier noses at those who make and try to enforce it.

Frankly i haven't met a person who likes paying fines. It's money people have better uses for.

[macker]

Originally Posted by OilersBaby

on your streets in Calgary, between the lane on the right and the shoulder, isnt there a designated bike path?

I think San Jose (and most places in the San Francisco area) are VERY bike friendly since parking sucks (expensive and hard to find parking spots sometimes)

Calgary's not far behind San Francisco for parking (scarcity/cost) as we are the most expensive in Canada and average $330 per month vs San Francisco's $350 per month. New York is the most expensive parking in North America at $630 per month. That's why so many are adapting by biking or taking the LRT in Calgary.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Dion

You would be wrong. I don't speed. Squeaky clean record.

I'm sure you never drove even one kilometer over the speed limit.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Fire

I'm sure you never drove even one kilometer over the speed limit.

Sure i have but that wasn't the point. I don't make a habit of speeding as MMM suggests

[stuck_in_chuk]

Originally Posted by Rhettzky

What about the spirit of the law that says no cyclists permitted on Memorial drive? I guess that one is a technicality in your books too?

Keep breaking the law and bitching about motorists pissing you off while you do it... you'll get no sympathy from me.

Riding a bike on Memorial Drive is not smart, but as far as I can tell it is also not illegal. The provincial traffic act states:

A person shall not operate a cycle on a roadway where signs prohibit its use.

As for the city of Calgary, the only roads banned are:

Deerfoot Trail from 64 Ave N to 22X in the south
Stephens Avenue Mall from 1 St SE to 3 St SW - 6am to 6pm only

Link

[macker]

Originally Posted by stuck_in_chuk

Riding a bike on Memorial Drive is not smart, but as far as I can tell it is also not illegal. The provincial traffic act states:

A person shall not operate a cycle on a roadway where signs prohibit its use.

As for the city of Calgary, the only roads banned are:

Deerfoot Trail from 64 Ave N to 22X in the south
Stephens Avenue Mall from 1 St SE to 3 St SW - 6am to 6pm only

Link

Riding your bike on Macleod trial, Deerfoot, Crowchild, Memorial etc. is crazy imo. Why would you risk your life on the roads when there are soo many bike paths in this city. Its different downtown on 2nd Street or 4th Street etc. where vehicles don't get going much faster then 50k's but riding your bike on any road where vehicles are going any faster then 50k's is asking for it imo. They should actually make a law that you can't ride your bike anywhere where the speed limit is over 50k's within the city. I will ride on 22x but there is a very wide shoulder and I am not interfering with traffic. Within the city there is no reason not to use the bike paths and keep the busy roads free of bikes as there are enough slowdowns in this city as it is!

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by stuck_in_chuk

Riding a bike on Memorial Drive is not smart, but as far as I can tell it is also not illegal. The provincial traffic act states:

A person shall not operate a cycle on a roadway where signs prohibit its use.

As for the city of Calgary, the only roads banned are:

Deerfoot Trail from 64 Ave N to 22X in the south
Stephens Avenue Mall from 1 St SE to 3 St SW - 6am to 6pm only

Link

I posted the link to the traffic bylaw, it is illegal. Check back a few pages.