Calgary Civic Election Poll #3: The race heats up

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

Make way for the social engineers!

I better go buy a bike helmet!

;-)

Governments + laws (or bylaws as it were) = social engineering.

You could conceivably make living in a dumpster and walking on your hands to and from work attractive with the right incentives.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

I better go buy a bike helmet!

Yup, because providing proper cycle lanes is all about getting you out of your car rather than providing people who would like to cycle safely with the means to do so.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by Flames0910

you're assuming it's an either/or decision. maybe the road gets built to the same size and the extra money goes to parks and recreation instead.

Fair. My assumption was that this is for commuter lanes, not new roads.

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by Addick

Yup, because providing proper cycle lanes is all about getting you out of your car rather than providing people who would like to cycle safely with the means to do so.

I am sure citizen's of Calgary would love to pay for snow removal on your bike lane/paths.

[Ashartus]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

I am sure citizen's of Calgary would love to pay for snow removal on your bike lane/paths.

Well the cyclists are paying for snow removal on the roads, not to mention overpasses. I don't commute by bike myself, but I recognize that overall it would benefit the city (and health system) if more people did.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Copenhagen:
November Avg low: 3° Avg hi: 7°
December Avg low: 0° Avg hi: 4°
January Avg low: -1° Avg hi: 2°
February Avg low: -2° Avg hi: 3°


Calgary:
November Avg low: -8 Avg hi: 4°
December Avg low: -12° Avg hi: -1°
January Avg low: -13° Avg hi: -1°
February Avg low: -12° Avg hi: 0°

For God's sake.

Look here:

http://www.worldweather.org/173/c00190.htm

Look at the rainy days. It rains every month there.

Now, if you claim you live in Calgary, you would know that it rains very rarely from November-March.

When it rains, it's above zero. That should give you a clue as to the typical weather Copenhagen receives.

Averages are misleading. Calgary has an extremely variable climate.

Look, it's great you think putting more bike paths everywhere is beneficial. Calgary already has a very extensive bike path system and it is constantly adding to it. But for the vast majority of the population, they won't be bicycling in the middle of January to work, no matter where they live in relation to their work.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by 1stLand

I am sure citizen's of Calgary would love to pay for snow removal on your bike lane/paths.

Originally Posted by Ashartus

Well the cyclists are paying for snow removal on the roads, not to mention overpasses. I don't commute by bike myself, but I recognize that overall it would benefit the city (and health system) if more people did.

The city currently clears snow on bike paths. Not sure if all, but I know that many are cleared.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Shazam

When it rains, it's above zero. That should give you a clue as to the typical weather Copenhagen receives.

Averages are misleading. Calgary has an extremely variable climate.

Look, it's great you think putting more bike paths everywhere is beneficial. Calgary already has a very extensive bike path system and it is constantly adding to it. But for the vast majority of the population, they won't be bicycling in the middle of January to work, no matter where they live in relation to their work.

Once again, although it is above zero, it can feel just as cold as, or even colder than, Calgary. Nonetheless, there are numerous days and a couple of spells where the vast majority of Calgarians would not cycle to work but: i) there are many more days when they can ride; and ii) just as cycling needs to be an alternative to driving/taking transit, driving/taking transit can be an alternative to cycling during the bitterly cold days/spells. Also, the current cycle path system is recreational and functions well as a recreational system but not so well as a commuter system and convenient alternative to driving/taking transit.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Addick

Once again, although it is above zero, it can feel just as cold as, or even colder than, Calgary.

When it's -25 in Calgary and 2 in Copenhagen, it feels warmer in Copenhagen.

The main problem is that rain washes away whilst snow and the accumulated ice from our freeze/thaw cycles makes cycling rather precarious during the winter.

Nonetheless, there are numerous days and a couple of spells where the vast majority of Calgarians would not cycle to work but: i) there are many more days when they can ride; and ii) just as cycling needs to be an alternative to driving/taking transit, driving/taking transit can be an alternative to cycling during the bitterly cold days/spells. Also, the current cycle path system is recreational and functions well as a recreational system but not so well as a commuter system and convenient alternative to driving/taking transit.

What would make it more functional?

I would say that weather is the main motivation for people not bicycling.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Shazam

When it's -25 in Calgary and 2 in Copenhagen, it feels warmer in Copenhagen.

Obviously I'm not talking about every bloody day of winter. Furthermore, those are usually overnight lows and how many days a year does it actually get that cold during the day? Enough not to invest in an adequate amount of cycle infrastructure.

Originally Posted by Shazam

What would make it more functional?

1. Safer environment.
2. Faster speeds.
3. Direct routes.

Originally Posted by Shazam

I would say that weather is the main motivation for people not bicycling.

From my experience and research, I conclude that it is inconvenience and fear.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Addick

Obviously I'm not talking about every bloody day of winter. Furthermore, those are usually overnight lows and how many days a year does it actually get that cold during the day? Enough not to invest in an adequate amount of cycle infrastructure.

There are lots of days where it's that cold. If you're biking to work, then it will be in the early morning, often before the sun is up, and after work, after the sun's gone down.

I think you underestimate, by a fair margin, just how long and brutal our winters are. Not surprising. You're in London.

1. Safer environment.

1. Faster speeds.
2. Direct routes.

Those are results. Tell me how you're going to implement them.

From my experience and research, I conclude that it is inconvenience and fear.

What research and experience is that? It counters my experience and research.

I used to live downtown. I used to bike to work. I had a few co-workers that also biked. When it was cold and snowy out, all but one of us still biked to work. I would usually walk or take the bus if I happened to be out while it came by.

[jdso]

Interesting article about Kassam's dropout. Seems like he endorsed Higgins out of spite to Nenshi and McIver for rejecting his proposal to become city manager.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Ka...497/story.html

[worth]

lol, what a dbag

[CM ONE]

So he wants something from Mcivor and Nenshi and settles for nothing from Higgins? That makes no sense.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I think you underestimate, by a fair margin, just how long and brutal our winters are. Not surprising. You're in London.

I think you overestimate the harshness of our winters, which I experienced first hand for the first 23 years of my life.

Originally Posted by Shazam

Those are results. Tell me how you're going to implement them.

The functionality comes from separating commuter cyclists from the users of recreational paths and vehicular traffic.

Originally Posted by Shazam

What research and experience is that? It counters my experience and research.

Numerous research projects for University and local government and discussions with fellow Calgarians.

[Bunk]

My father cycled to work for almost 10 years during his 50s from Silver Springs in the NW to a business park east of Chinook Centre - a total of 17km I think and about a 50 minute ride. He did so year round and only didn't in extreme weather days. His complaint was never the weather, but feeling safe on certain city streets - he got hit by cars a couple of times.

The fact is that if we make cycling a safe, convenient and attractive mode of transportation, more people will take it up and this will reduce dependence on automobiles - there is proof of this from cities all over the world, warm and cold that have made investments in cycling infrastructure.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Getting an endorsement from Alnoor Kassam is almost like the kiss of death.

Only thing worse would be one from Peter Petrasuk.

[First Lady]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I would say that weather is the main motivation for people not bicycling.

That and not being able to shower at your place of work.

For most women it means having to do your hair and makeup afterwards.

Most men don't seem to care one way or the other.
Sadly, I've worked in offices where I've had to sit beside these individuals.

insert smiley holding its nose

[c.t.ner]

Originally Posted by CM ONE

So he wants something from Mcivor and Nenshi and settles for nothing from Higgins? That makes no sense.

This is just my opinion, so flame away, but I call BS on this.

How do you openly try to and grovel a deal with your two main rivals and then switch to the other big candidate and get nothing out of it?

Considering Kassam's sketchy business practices, something just doesn't add up here. I could be seeing more into this, but it just sounds odd.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by c.t.ner

This is just my opinion, so flame away, but I call BS on this.

How do you openly try to and grovel a deal with your two main rivals and then switch to the other big candidate and get nothing out of it?

Considering Kassam's sketchy business practices, something just doesn't add up here. I could be seeing more into this, but it just sounds odd.

Ya, the whole thing is odd really. I mean Kassam goes from offering support to McIver to offer it to Nenshi (or vice-versa) when the two have almost nothing in common policy-wise! Its just a strange choice.

I don't know whether to think that Higgins would make a promise for Kassams support though. How many votes could he really bring with him? No matter what though, there is no way she would announce that she was pushing him to be the city manager. That would be political suicide!