I work for Mayor Nenshi, ask me anything!

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Yes, the cycling strategy did a fair amount of representative surveys. Focused on citizens' appetite to cycle and under what conditions.

Through things like Centre City cycle track planning groups like BOMA have surveyed tenants of buildings to gauge support from your average downtown worker on their desire to see infrastructure. Those surveys show that about 2/3 are supportive of dedicated space. This is normal stakeholder engagement activity (there are many conduits) - we prefer not to develop public policy and infrastructure investment decisions on a referendum model.

Why are people who answer surveys more important than people who vote? If you care what people think, why not formalize it?

[SebC]

One would hope that in doing surveys (and other forms of engagement), decision-makers at the city can pick up ideas that are more than just "do it" or "don't do it". Hard to achieve that through a plebiscite.

And that's without getting into logistics and cost.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

What was the name of that really good radio station here in Calgary in the early to mid nineties that played all the awesome alt rock songs like Pavement, Weezer, Cracker and the Pixies?

It was AM. Maybe 1060?

Mix 1060.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

Why are people who answer surveys more important than people who vote? If you care what people think, why not formalize it?

You'd be amazed how much policy and planning are impacted by surveys, and moreso, open houses.

That is why the vocal minority remains so effective.

[Mccree]

Not sure if this is the best place to ask but what the hell.

I have heard that the bus trap at centre street and harvest hill blvd is open or going to be open for regular traffic. Any truth to this?

[Wormius]

Gotta ask, but what's the low-down on this scenario, exactly?

I have remembered hearing the city not liking DIY snowplows, but what is the fine being dealt, and why?

http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion...233/story.html

After the blizzard a few weeks back, someone in our neighbourhood who owns a small tractor with a plow cleared out the alley that a lot of us use. As well, this Good Samaritan plowed all of the streets so they were passable and could accommodate parked cars.
Alas, someone complained to the city, who contacted the Good Samaritan and told him to cease, lest hefty fines come his way.
Meanwhile, the city runs ads asking people to "be a Snow Angel" and shovel their neighbours' sidewalks. But we can see how the city reacts if you get too zealous about it; that might take away their work.
Yet the city makes minimal effort to plow any of the streets in our community; when they do, it usually results in all of the snow we just shovelled offour sidewalk being plowed back onto the sidewalk.
Apparently, Calgary has received more than 57 centimetres of snow since late October. Want proof? It's all piled up in front of our houses, our problem to deal with. Meanwhile, Mayor Naheed Nenshi is talking about raising our taxes. You'd better think that one through again, sir.
Bob Hogarth

[FireFly]

You can plow alleys, but not streets.

Seems to me one of the best ways to deal with massive snowfalls like this would be to allow people to plow their own streets instead of waiting for the city to do it. Licensed operators only of course, but it's against the law for a citizen to plow any named street in the city.

[burn_this_city]

Just hang Calcana radiant heaters over every sidewalk and roadway.

[nik-]

Bunk, how long until the crosswalk to the Peace Bridge is revisited. I know there was a neighbourhood survey, but the positioning of it is silly. And I'm speaking as someone who the current position is incredibly convenient for. It's just odd that that crosswalk is not aligned with the bridge terminus.

[Yellefan]

Originally Posted by darklord700

I'm anti-cyclist but I'm neutral to bike lanes as long as we don't sacrifice car lanes to accomodate bike lanes. The last thing we need to encourage is more cyclists biking in minus -20C, it's never safe to do so. But some cyclists seem to think biking in inclement weather is a testament to them saving the planet and human race.

As someone who bikes year-round, even in -20C, I would like to clarify that I don't do it to save the planet and human race, but rather I do it to save myself from having to smell the stench of farts and BO of 300 people crammed into an LRT car during rush hour.

Also, why isn't it safe to ride in -20C? Just curious as I have been doing it for some time now and have never felt unsafe.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Gotta ask, but what's the low-down on this scenario, exactly?

I have remembered hearing the city not liking DIY snowplows, but what is the fine being dealt, and why?

http://www.calgaryherald.com/opinion...233/story.html

Isn't the issue with insurance? If a city vehicle does something then the city's insurance will cover it, but if the city allows private citizens to plow then that is a tacit endorsement and the city's insurance won't cover any potential mishaps. I recall something about that a few years ago when there was a major house fire in Citadel and the fire trucks had trouble getting there because of snow.

I'm not sure why alleys would be different - perhaps because alleys aren't required for access so if an alley gets blocked for a few days it isn't critical.

[Slava]

I wonder if part of it is a question about where the snow ends up as well?

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Slava

I wonder if part of it is a question about where the snow ends up as well?

I know we had a guy plow one of the streets near our house a few years back. He left the snow right on the edge of an undeveloped corner lot, and it extended out almost to the middle of the intersection.

Heart was in right place, but execution flawed.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Rathji

I know we had a guy plow one of the streets near our house a few years back. He left the snow right on the edge of an undeveloped corner lot, and it extended out almost to the middle of the intersection.

Heart was in right place, but execution flawed.

Ya and I can't see how it wouldn't turn into a mess with no real removal setup, but all these residential roads being plowed. I have no idea...but the solution in my eyes is just not to plow residential roads unless you have issues like the NE in the last few storms. Otherwise people will be fine.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by nik-

Bunk, how long until the crosswalk to the Peace Bridge is revisited. I know there was a neighbourhood survey, but the positioning of it is silly. And I'm speaking as someone who the current position is incredibly convenient for. It's just odd that that crosswalk is not aligned with the bridge terminus.

So, they did this survey...

[SebC]

I wonder if the "private citizens can't plow roads" thing is a union thing.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by SebC

I wonder if the "private citizens can't plow roads" thing is a union thing.

Liability thing. Unions, lol, where do you come up with some of this stuff?

[MoneyGuy]

Originally Posted by SebC

I wonder if the "private citizens can't plow roads" thing is a union thing.

Of course not. It's because that equipment is being operated on public roads without insurance. There have been cases of equipment damaging parked vehicles.

To the person who wrote that private equipment can be operated with impunity in alleys, I'd be surprised if that was the case. I would think the same laws apply to alleys. I know that equipment is prohibited on alleys in my city (not Calgary).

[Bunk]

I'm sick right now and then out of town until new year. I'll try and get to these questions as soon as I can in 2014.

[FireFly]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

Of course not. It's because that equipment is being operated on public roads without insurance. There have been cases of equipment damaging parked vehicles.

To the person who wrote that private equipment can be operated with impunity in alleys, I'd be surprised if that was the case. I would think the same laws apply to alleys. I know that equipment is prohibited on alleys in my city (not Calgary).

I didn't say they have impunity.... I'm quite certain that if they damage anything they're liable. I'm saying there is no law on the books that says they cannot clear snow in alleys.