Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Jason14h]

Tokyo has 15 times the population of Calgary and is obviously more densely populated

I feel like I’ve entered an alternate reality today in this thread

Transit works in Tokyo is can work in Calgary

My daughter might need an abortion so CTrain safety be damned

Did I miss the early beer lunch invite !

[PepsiFree]

People love transit.

When it’s actually has some clear, tangible benefit over “slightly cheaper.”

In all the places transit is well loved, it and the city around it is well designed, (as Ozy and Muta are more eloquently pointing out than I could).

But in Calgary, it’s slightly cheaper. That’s pretty much it. Any investment, including investments to make it safer, are good things. It needs a lot of investment. It needs more lines, more routes, more everything.

People don’t avoid transit because it’s unsafe. They avoid it because it sucks. It’s closer to a last resort than the preferred method (unless you live directly on a train line and are going to somewhere else on the train line, which is severely limiting).

[topfiverecords]

Calgary Transit is super safe. In fact my daughter just took the train to her abortion appointment, and only one person died.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Tokyo has 15 times the population of Calgary and is obviously more densely populated

I feel like I’ve entered an alternate reality today in this thread

Transit works in Tokyo is can work in Calgary

Good lord. Someone came in for an easy pass, fumbled the ball horribly, stubbed his little toe, and wants everyone to send their deepest sympathies.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

People love transit.

When it’s actually has some clear, tangible benefit over “slightly cheaper.”

In all the places transit is well loved, it and the city around it is well designed, (as Ozy and Muta are more eloquently pointing out than I could).

But in Calgary, it’s slightly cheaper. That’s pretty much it. Any investment, including investments to make it safer, are good things. It needs a lot of investment. It needs more lines, more routes, more everything.

People don’t avoid transit because it’s unsafe. They avoid it because it sucks. It’s closer to a last resort than the preferred method (unless you live directly on a train line and are going to somewhere else on the train line, which is severely limiting).

If people love transit, why are the usage numbers so low? People have no option and take transit, sure, but it's not that they love it. Weren't you the guy that started this by saying that you have a parking spot? Why would you care about that if transit is great?

I agree it's not entirely safety, but the ridiculous inconvenience along with the safety issues aren't particularly enticing.

[Mightyfire89]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Calgary Transit is super safe. In fact my daughter just took the train to her abortion appointment, and only one person died.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

Calgary Transit is super safe. In fact my daughter just took the train to her abortion appointment, and only one person died.

Originally Posted by Mightyfire89

Perfect end to this....

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Good lord. Someone came in for an easy pass, fumbled the ball horribly, stubbed his little toe, and wants everyone to send their deepest sympathies.

This was a useful contribution.

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

People love transit.

When it’s actually has some clear, tangible benefit over “slightly cheaper.”

In all the places transit is well loved, it and the city around it is well designed, (as Ozy and Muta are more eloquently pointing out than I could).

But in Calgary, it’s slightly cheaper. That’s pretty much it. Any investment, including investments to make it safer, are good things. It needs a lot of investment. It needs more lines, more routes, more everything.

Pretty much how I feel. Moving here from Winnipeg, Calgary's transit system was a breath of fresh air, but it is still clear that it isn't anywhere near as good as it could or should be. It is going to take a lot of time and investment to improve Calgary's transit system, and a lot of different options for how to implement it (I personally think we should bring back street cars like Toronto has). However...

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

People don’t avoid transit because it’s unsafe. They avoid it because it sucks. It’s closer to a last resort than the preferred method (unless you live directly on a train line and are going to somewhere else on the train line, which is severely limiting).

I disagree here. Both things can be true (or at least the former contributes to the latter); people who would otherwise be amenable to using transit more will be put off by it as the perception of it being safe diminishes. Many people are put off of coming downtown for the same reason. It isn't the sole reason people avoid transit, but it definitely is a contributing factor.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Slava

If people love transit, why are the usage numbers so low? People have no option and take transit, sure, but it's not that they love it. Weren't you the guy that started this by saying that you have a parking spot? Why would you care about that if transit is great?

I agree it's not entirely safety, but the ridiculous inconvenience along with the safety issues aren't particularly enticing.

Man, I don’t know, did you read the rest of my post beyond the first line? because I feel like I answered that.

People love transit (in places where it is well designed and the city of designed for it). People love transit when the benefits, which can be many, outweigh the drawbacks.

Transit in Calgary, specifically, sucks (for the vast majority). I don’t even think it’s “not entirely safety.” It has nothing to do with safety. Safety doesn’t even rank.

There are places around the world where I’ve loved everything about their transit system. The convenience, the price, the ease, the cleanliness, how much better it is than driving, etc. Here? Basically the opposite. It’s reasonably clean and cheaper (unless parking is free, then probably not even cheaper). I’ve never felt unsafe on public transit here or anywhere else, though.

But give people even one reason not to take transit in Calgary, even just the perception of a reason… and of course people aren’t going to take it.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

This was a useful contribution.

Hey, if people want to show up and be a chud on purpose, I'll give them a chud sandwich.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

I disagree here. Both things can be true (or at least the former contributes to the latter); people who would otherwise be amenable to using transit more will be put off by it as the perception of it being safe diminishes. Many people are put off of coming downtown for the same reason. It isn't the sole reason people avoid transit, but it definitely is a contributing factor.

I think we agree kind of. People will not take transit here because of the perception of it being unsafe, but I think a lot of that has to do with there being almost no benefit to using it otherwise. Like, I’m going to completely inconvenience myself to save a couple dollars at most and the media is telling me I might get stabbed while I do it? Hard pass.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

I think we agree kind of. People will not take transit here because of the perception of it being unsafe, but I think a lot of that has to do with there being almost no benefit to using it otherwise. Like, I’m going to completely inconvenience myself to save a couple dollars at most and the media is telling me I might get stabbed while I do it? Hard pass.

Man, you'd have to find one hell of a lot more cost savings and tangible benefits if "might get stabbed" is staying on the menu.

[Muta]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

It is going to take a lot of time and investment to improve Calgary's transit system, and a lot of different options for how to implement it (I personally think we should bring back street cars like Toronto has). However...

Through my West Calgary LAP committee (2019-2022), there actually has been discussion of bringing back the 17th Avenue streetcar, and it would extend up all the way to almost Sarcee. Naturally, I was a big fan of that and supported it whole-heartedly in committee meetings. Not sure where the City's position is on it today though.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Muta

Heard through my West Calgary LAP committee (2019-2022) that actually has been discussion of bringing back the 17th Avenue streetcar, and it would extend up all the way to almost Sarcee. Naturally, I was a big fan of that and supported it whole-heartedly in committee meetings. Not sure where the City's position is on it today though.

What was the NIMBY response? Should I even ask?

[Muta]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

What was the NIMBY response? Should I even ask?

The committee was about 30 people, but as you can probably imagine, there was definitely a 'generational' divide in that room on that particular topic. You wouldn't believe the irrational fear and hate that some people have for even the most granular change to their existing lives and physical surroundings - societal progress for the greater good be damned.

[TorqueDog]

Maybe as a pilot we should turn all the pedal pubs into pedal street cars.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Maybe as a pilot we should turn all the pedal pubs into pedal street cars.

Pubs on C-Trains & Buses would get me taking transit more.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Pubs on C-Trains & Buses would get me taking transit more.

Pfft. If this thread has taught me anything it's that you can get something way harder than beer on the ctrain.

[TheIronMaiden]

Originally Posted by Muta

The committee was about 30 people, but as you can probably imagine, there was definitely a 'generational' divide in that room on that particular topic. You wouldn't believe the irrational fear and hate that some people have for even the most granular change to their existing lives and physical surroundings - societal progress for the greater good be damned.

You would think that property owners would be thrilled to have it. Rent prices are much higher when the building is closer to the C train. I am not sure about property value but you can straight up rip off some uni students.

[wireframe]

Originally Posted by TheIronMaiden

You would think that property owners would be thrilled to have it. Rent prices are much higher when the building is closer to the C train. I am not sure about property value but you can straight up rip off some uni students.

I live very close to the Banff Trail train station and the extremely active nimbys in my area are incensed about townhouses but never mention the train station at all. They're not making a ration decision based on personal benefits. They fear change.