Calgary Civic Election Poll #2: Who do you support for Mayor?

[You Need a Thneed]

The point is, that there is no one who decides whether an event is "good enough" or not. You or I could go apply to close the same portion of Memorial Drive any single Sunday we wanted, all we would have to do is go down to city hall and fill out the form, and pay for it.

Tying the Bow River Flow festival (and the related lane closures) in any way to city hall or to any alderman in a positive or negative way is just simply not accurate. There's nothing City Hall can do to prevent it - at least without opening a HUGE can of worms.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by getbak

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciclov%C3%ADa

The idea was started in Bogota, Colombia to help motivate people to go outside in a city that contained a lot of roadways and little park space. It's grown to a point where over 120km of roads are closed every Sunday in Bogota.

The problem with how it was decided to run it in Calgary was that they chose to hold it right beside one of the best cycle paths in the city, and it's so short, that there's really no reason for anyone who's using the pathways to leave the paths only to go back onto it a few blocks later.

If you look at a map of downtown Calgary, they chose to hold this at probably the worst location they could have. There is so much park space and extensive pathways in the immediate vicinity, that it's completely ridiculous to close a couple of blocks of Memorial for this event, which could easily be held on Prince's Island and the surrounding pathways.

It seems like someone saw a news story about the growing popularity of these Ciclovia events and thought, "we should do that in Calgary", without ever giving any thought as to why they're held in these other cities, if Calgary needs such a thing at all, and if we do, where the best place to hold it would be.

If it was decided that something like this would make sense in Calgary, they should have closed one or more of the north-south roads into downtown to make it easier for people to get to the very good pathways that already exist around Prince's Island, Eau Claire, and Kensington. A good road to choose would have been First St SW, close it from the area around the Talisman Centre and the Elbow River Pathway up to Riverfront Avenue, where it connects to the Bow River Pathway. They could have a Tai Chi demonstration in the park there by Chinatown, with other activities scattered around Prince's Island and Eau Claire. Calgary has the most extensive pathway systems in North America, with over 500km of paths and trails within the city limits. We don't need to close streets in order to create more paths, especially immediately beside better dedicated paths.

Great post. Lots of well thought-out points that the event organizers would do well to give some thought to.

One thing to add though about the idea behind a road closure (not necessarily the particular choice of Memorial Drive) for an event like this is that it could highlight the fact that roads are an important part of the cycling infrastructure. The pathway system is indeed awesome and growing (check out the Greenway project in Calgary if you get a chance), but is generally better suited for recreational cycling rather than commuter cycling. Bike lanes on roads, as well as dedicated paths suited more for commuting are important and is an area where Calgary is lacking, in spite of the current extensive pathway system. A road closure could also be used to promote a "share the road" message.

All that said however, in the interests of efficiency and fairness, I fail to see why any one particular road closure application should be politicized, which is what this boils down to. So long as the transportation department deems that lanes of a road can safely and reasonably be closed, based on black-and-white data like traffic counts, availability of alternate routes, length of detours, etc. then I am fine with that. That isn't to say that I sit there with a contented grin when I'm delayed a bit in traffic due to a road closure. It's good to know that whoever applied for that closure followed the same process as everyone else though, and wasn't just granted it because Joe Connelly thought it was good they weren't a latte-sipping communist.

[Neeper]

Nenshi has got my vote. I have already signed up to be a volunteer for his campaign. The first time I have ever volunteered for anything political. This guy is the best guy for the job, imo. We need someone fresh and new to put this city on the global map.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

The entire concept was poorly planned and a bad idea from the start. A community like Ramsay is dieing for an event like this (or Inglewood). Sticking it on Memorial just for the sake of doing so was silly.

Inglewood has Sunfest now. It's the kickoff for the Calgary Fringe Festival and is similar to Lilac Fest and Marda Gras.

I agree with you that the process behind the creation of the Bow River Flow was all wrong. It's not the case of a road closure for a festival. It's a festival for a road closure. Druh decided she wanted pedestrians and bikers on the road instead of cars before anyone had any inkling what they would do to incite the target audience to attend.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Is it? Why? My understanding is that both years people haven't even really spent much time on the road itself choosing to spend their time on the existing pathway that is nearby.

I can't speak for the event organizers, but I bet if you asked them, they'd say the road being closed is an integral part of their event and would be something completely different without it.

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So what exactly does the Bow River Flow want to be then? Perhaps I don't understand what it is supposed to be - which if true - is still their failing for not getting their message out.

Or just you failing to understand it (please don't take that as an insult, it wasn't meant to be). Perhaps a combination of both. Which is fine.

The point is, whether or not you or I understand or agree with why groups organize events, that shouldn't enter into why they are granted a road closure so long as they have met the criteria necessary to have that road closed. They don't have to justify their desire to have lanes closed to you, me, council, or City administration in order to have the road closed. To have a well-attended and successful event perhaps, but not to close a road. Pick the road, pick the endpoints, pick a date and times, fill out some forms and pay a fee (I think?) and that's it. If it is approved, great, if not, go to plan B, whatever that is.

Why should the Bow River Flow organizers, Dominion Construction, the Stampede Board or anyone else have to write a thousand word essay on what the deeper meaning behind their festival, concrete pour or construction project is in order to have lanes closed?

[kermitology]

nm

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

I can't speak for the event organizers, but I bet if you asked them, they'd say the road being closed is an integral part of their event and would be something completely different without it.

Or just you failing to understand it (please don't take that as an insult, it wasn't meant to be). Perhaps a combination of both. Which is fine.

The point is, whether or not you or I understand or agree with why groups organize events, that shouldn't enter into why they are granted a road closure so long as they have met the criteria necessary to have that road closed. They don't have to justify their desire to have lanes closed to you, me, council, or City administration in order to have the road closed. To have a well-attended and successful event perhaps, but not to close a road. Pick the road, pick the endpoints, pick a date and times, fill out some forms and pay a fee (I think?) and that's it. If it is approved, great, if not, go to plan B, whatever that is.

Why should the Bow River Flow organizers, Dominion Construction, the Stampede Board or anyone else have to write a thousand word essay on what the deeper meaning behind their festival, concrete pour or construction project is in order to have lanes closed?

Agreed 100%. This is what it comes down to for me: as someone who lives a block from Memorial, I know that it's been at least partially closed down for events four times this summer that I've been aware of, and very likely it's been closed down additional times. If you eliminate the Bow River Flow on the grounds of the inconvenience that it causes, then you also need to close down the many other events (some of which are for very worthy charities) that close down Memorial on Sundays throughout summer. Personally, I like Memorial being the default route where all these events happen, and it makes a lot more sense then scattering them through the city.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by SebC

I agree with you that the process behind the creation of the Bow River Flow was all wrong. It's not the case of a road closure for a festival. It's a festival for a road closure. Druh decided she wanted pedestrians and bikers on the road instead of cars before anyone had any inkling what they would do to incite the target audience to attend.

Exactly. Remember that when this was first announced there was no "Bow River Flow" in the plan. There was no plan beyond "let's close two lanes of Memorial every Sunday in August."

It wasn't until people started asking why they were going to close the road that someone actually came up with a plan for an event surrounding the closure, and it was also reduced to one Sunday afternoon rather than every Sunday afternoon.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Why should the Bow River Flow organizers, Dominion Construction, the Stampede Board or anyone else have to write a thousand word essay on what the deeper meaning behind their festival, concrete pour or construction project is in order to have lanes closed?

Because it impacts the rest of the city - and someone should be asking hard questions when a major road is being shut down.

You seem to think that we can't question the decision at all. That since it was approved it must be ok.

This doesn't make sense to me.

The decision, made by whoever, was a poor one and should be second guessed.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

Or just you failing to understand it (please don't take that as an insult, it wasn't meant to be). Perhaps a combination of both. Which is fine.

Could be both but as the marketers of the event it is up to them to make sure I understand. As a member of the target audience - if I don't get it - their marketing efforts have failed.

[Knalus]

Here's my take on the "Bow River Flow". Is it a silly festival that really doesn't have a lot of people going to it? Yes. Does it make sense to close down that road for a festival in it's infancy when there is a huge park right beside it? No. Is it really a big deal to people driving down that road? No. Does it really cost much, both in time and in money? No.

The big deal regarding this festival is the fact that people are making it a big deal. Both the attackers and defenders. I find it hard to believe how much time, energy, political capital, and discussion is being taken up by something relatively minor. It reveals a much larger issue that I have. It's an issue I have with this culture in general, but with this city in particular. People seem to lose track of what's really important. This city is bleeding red ink, and aldermen are sniping at each other about absolutely trivial things. And the aldermen are doing it because the public does it, too. Do I care about if Memorial Drive is only half closed on a Sunday in August? No. Do I care if the roads behind Memorial don't get plowed in winter, because city hall can't spend their time and energy figuring out that budget properly, because they spend too much time worrying about what a community association is doing and how that affects them politically? Yes, I care about that. It's absurd. I mean it's one thing if McIver opposes it and doesn't show up, but for him to "Boycott" it makes it seem far, far more important than it really is. It's the bridge discussion all over again - a sideshow that seems to "matter" far more than the real issues.

Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting discussion, just not that important.

[Bunk]

^ That's the real problem, the amount of time and attention paid to such a non-issue. Council members wasting breath on something as insignificant as a lane reduction on one sunday a year, while as Nenshi points out "the City went over budget on 100% of their contracts".

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Bunk

^ That's the real problem, the amount of time and attention paid to such a non-issue. Council members wasting breath on something as insignificant as a lane reduction on one sunday a year, while as Nenshi points out "the City went over budget on 100% of their contracts".

I'd throw the Peace Bridge (i.e. it's price not bidding process) into this non-issue category as well. People are focusing on a $25 million dollar bridge yet ingnoring the $1.5B deficit accrued from the current Subdivision SDA.

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Inglewood and Ramsay already have their own festivals. They're Sunfest and Ramsay Rocks. Sunfest is mildly busy and Ramsay Rocks attracts about as many people as The Bow Flow. Mind you, that's without City sponsored advertising.

Did you attend this year? I didn't see any pics.

[Flames in 07]

Originally Posted by Knalus

Here's my take on the "Bow River Flow". Is it a silly festival that really doesn't have a lot of people going to it? Yes. Does it make sense to close down that road for a festival in it's infancy when there is a huge park right beside it? No. Is it really a big deal to people driving down that road? No. Does it really cost much, both in time and in money? No.

The big deal regarding this festival is the fact that people are making it a big deal. Both the attackers and defenders. I find it hard to believe how much time, energy, political capital, and discussion is being taken up by something relatively minor. It reveals a much larger issue that I have. It's an issue I have with this culture in general, but with this city in particular. People seem to lose track of what's really important. This city is bleeding red ink, and aldermen are sniping at each other about absolutely trivial things. And the aldermen are doing it because the public does it, too. Do I care about if Memorial Drive is only half closed on a Sunday in August? No. Do I care if the roads behind Memorial don't get plowed in winter, because city hall can't spend their time and energy figuring out that budget properly, because they spend too much time worrying about what a community association is doing and how that affects them politically? Yes, I care about that. It's absurd. I mean it's one thing if McIver opposes it and doesn't show up, but for him to "Boycott" it makes it seem far, far more important than it really is. It's the bridge discussion all over again - a sideshow that seems to "matter" far more than the real issues.

Don't get me wrong, it's an interesting discussion, just not that important.

Your flat out wrong about this festival, but it may be comforting to know you are in good company.

The problem is people use the roads in sunnyside best they can to bypass memorial traffic, and already pissed off by a major artary being removed, they fly through the neighbourhood at twice the speed limit.

Festivals are fine, on 4th street is one thing, but on memorial drive is just assinine.

Yes there are bigger problems in city hall and you are right about all the sniping and how awful McIver is, but when some kid gets smoked by some moron flying around sunnyside come back and say what a small deal this is.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Did you attend this year? I didn't see any pics.

I attended both festivals and brought my camera, but only took a handful of photos. The below shot was taken at Sunfest and technically it isn't part of the festival.


What Was Bukowski? by Ramsayfarian, on Flickr

[Regulator75]

Ah yes, I remember this one.

Great shot.

[Ramsayfarian]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

Ah yes, I remember this one.

Great shot.

Thanks, although for somer reason it's kind of looking like I cropped it with an etch-a-sketch.

[Slava]

Kent Hehr became the first mayoralty candidate to actually release his list of donors yesterday. This is something that other candidates said they would do, but never actually followed through.

I think that this type of transparency is critical. Couple this with Kents announcement of a lobbyist registry and you have an incredibly open and accountable mayor who will not be bought by developers behind closed doors!
http://kenthehr.ca/index.php?a=news&n=18
Edit: forgot the link!

[fredr123]

Another voice mail at the office from RoboHawkesworth last night, this time about airport tunnel. Demon dialing? Not. Getting. My. Vote.