You Know What Really Grinds My Gears? Now with 3x more gears...

[Fuzz]

OK, Oulu, Finland.


https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2...en-in-the-snow

[powderjunkie]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

They all matter. But poor infrastructure does not in any way excuse ####ty behaviour.

Ya, drivers should stop being dicks out there even though we've built so many residential roads wider than they need to be.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

You’re still going to have loads of shared infrastructure, just like they have in Europe. Places like the Bow River Pathway, the Glenmore reservoir, Fish Creek, etc. There just isn’t the space to build dedicated and totally separate paths for cyclists and pedestrians everywhere. And even where you do, you’re going to have some people toddling along on bikes at 10km/hr and others doing 40k. So riders need to A) chill the #### out and be okay with slowing down and yielding frequently, and B) hand signal and use their bells whenever they overtake or change lanes.

I’ve been cycling in this city for over 40 years, and for all the complaints of cyclists about not being treated fairly, I’ve seen zero improvement by most cyclists themselves when it comes to courtesy and following the rules of the road (yes, cycling is governed by rules just like driving is).

I’d actually say the behaviour has regressed. It used to be routine to call out “on your left” when you overtake someone. Now I get it maybe 10 per cent of the time, and another 20 per cent of the time somebody rings a bell. The other 70 per cent of the time no signal of any kind - just someone huffing by with zero communication or consideration. I bet if you tracked every cyclist using Calgary roads and pathways this week, most would use their bell zero times and hand signal zero times. No wonder collisions and near-collisions are routine on the pathways.

Build all the wide shoulders and dedicated cycle paths you like. Until cyclists themselves get onboard with the notion that their behaviour should be governed by rules the same as when they’re driving cars, they’ll continue to have a bad reputation with pedestrians and motorists.

You're conflating hyper-urban Euro biking with Calgary green-area MUPs. I'll grant that there are plenty of idiots near the Peace Bridge or East Village...I'm skeptical there aren't similar idiots in Europe. But you'll encounter way more uber fast riders on Euro rec paths...and that's why they generally have them separated from walking paths)

Even where fully separated paths are not possible, I'm not sure why we seem to stick with a 3m wide MUP as default. Like the newest section that runs where Earl Grey Golf was. Even if the bridges have to be more narrow, no reason to not go 3.5+ for the rest of it.

[Weitz]

Cyclists are the worst path users.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

OK, Oulu, Finland.


https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2...en-in-the-snow

Great, you can move there and your life will be better.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Ok, what are the top 5 separate bike infrastructure routes in the city?

Bowness, north river pathway, south river pathway, Bowmont park, Glenmore Reservoir? I mean they're all connected anyhow, so um, okay?

Oh wait are the bike routes supposed to lead to an oil refinery or something?

So if you've biked in Montreal, did you like it and did you notice that there's lots of shared infrastructure there and not really a lot of separate lanes?

[Fuzz]

What I find most baffling is that drivers hate cyclists, other pathways users hate cyclists, cyclists don't really like mixing with either of them, yet the former 2 groups seems desperately opposed to separate bike lanes which would solve most of their complaints. It's baffling. Can anyone explain that? Is it just the tax dollars? The idea you'd be spending money on something you don't use(yet would clearly, based on the complaints I hear, improve their mobility)? Seriously, what is your opposition to them?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Bowness, north river pathway, south river pathway, Bowmont park, Glenmore Reservoir? I mean they're all connected anyhow, so um, okay?

Oh wait are the bike routes supposed to lead to an oil refinery or something?

So if you've biked in Montreal, did you like it and did you notice that there's lots of shared infrastructure there and not really a lot of separate lanes?

Most of those don't have separate cycle lanes. A few shorter sections do. Do you understand what separate cycle lanes are?

As to Montreal, I'm not sure your obsession, but ya, they are doing good work, better than we have lately.

https://montreal.ca/en/articles/ebn-...e-network-4666

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

What I find most baffling is that drivers hate cyclists, other pathways users hate cyclists, cyclists don't really like mixing with either of them, yet the former 2 groups seems desperately opposed to separate bike lanes which would solve most of their complaints. It's baffling. Can anyone explain that? Is it just the tax dollars? The idea you'd be spending money on something you don't use(yet would clearly, based on the complaints I hear, improve their mobility)? Seriously, what is your opposition to them?

I'm 1000% in favour of separate bike lanes. I really only bike on bike paths (as opposed to roads), but because I walk/run on those paths all the time also, I am cognizant of ringing my bell and not being a complete prick. That seems to have escaped the mind of a lot of cyclists. I suppose I'm just dressed like a normal human and not trying to set a land-speed record around the reservoir though, so we have a few points of divergence.

[CliffFletcher]

I’m all for more dedicated bike paths. I’ve probably put more km on the bike path system in this city than anyone on this forum.

But there are lots of places where they simply aren’t feasible. You can’t just tear up and the Weaselhead and regrade the hills at the north and south end. Or twin the stretch by the Rockyview. Or most of Fish Creek through the woods - not to mention all the bridges. Or the paths along the Elbow that are on eroding slopes.

Frankly, your stance about cyclist behaviour is even more fatalistic than the idea that we can’t build more dedicated bike infrastructure - it boils down to yeah, a lot of cyclists are selfish jerks who won’t signal or slow down or ring their bells, but that’s just people these days, man <shrug>.

Cyclists in most cities would kill to have 1000km of pathways that run all the way from the far burbs to the downtown core. What you seem to want is a dedicated system where not only pedestrians, but slow/urban/casual cyclists aren’t welcome either - just clear, wide lanes for riders winding it out and putting some serious km on their bikes. That exists hardly anywhere in the world, as far as I know. Probably because it benefits too few people to be worth the amount of money it would cost (and I say that as someone who it would benefit).

But hey, I’ll be there with you if the dream happens and the city spends tens of millions on dedicated paths for a few thousand sport cyclists. That would be awesome. Until then, cyclists need to chill the #### out and realize this isn’t 1998 anymore, and the pathways today are packed with mixed users. Ride early in the morning if it’s that much of a hassle to slow down and yield once in a while.

And seriously - ring your freakin’ bell and use hand signals. A seven year old can be taught to do it, why can’t grown-ass men?

[Fuzz]

It's not fatalism, it's reality. You expecting cyclists to operate far above the level of respect other users give each other is baffling, considering we are all humans.

Of course ####ty cyclists suck, but so do ####ty dog owners, stroller pushers, groups of 10, people walking on the wrong side, drivers, and so on. You know, people.

As to busy pathways, I'm saying do what we have done in some places, and separate users.

Also, anyone starting a post with this: "I’m all for more dedicated bike paths. I’ve probably put more km on the bike path system in this city than anyone on this forum." is either taking the piss, or full of so much arrogance they may as well call themselves Donald Trump. LOL, how would you know how much anyone else rides to confidently declare that? Nonsense.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Slava

I'm 1000% in favour of separate bike lanes. I really only bike on bike paths (as opposed to roads), but because I walk/run on those paths all the time also, I am cognizant of ringing my bell and not being a complete prick. That seems to have escaped the mind of a lot of cyclists. I suppose I'm just dressed like a normal human and not trying to set a land-speed record around the reservoir though, so we have a few points of divergence.

Glenmore needs 3 pathways. Fast bikes, runners and families on bikes, and old ladies walking. That place in peek Saturday afternoon is annoying to run around let alone bike.

With it and fish creak im before 9am or after 9 pm for running or biking. Both of those areas should be fully twinned where possible

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

I’m all for more dedicated bike paths. I’ve probably put more km on the bike path system in this city than anyone on this forum.

It helps that you were around when they invented the wheel though

[Locke]

Where can one leisurely cycle one's Pennyfarthing?

[Roughneck]

Originally Posted by Locke

Where can one leisurely cycle one's Pennyfarthing?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Roughneck

The sheer volume of momentum required to do a loop-de-loop on such a vast terrain on one's pennyfarthing is practically unfathomable.

[Locke]

Oooh....this is like 'Cyclist Bingo' here!

How many boxes can we check?

[Looch City]

As a casual cyclist, #### all you cyclists. Downtown is actually so annoying for pedestrians walking up to a crosswalk and you have to do a double take cause some Tour De France psycho is coming to a red light at 50km/hr.

#### off you ####s, just bike LEISURELY for God sake.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Looch City

As a casual cyclist, #### all you cyclists. Downtown is actually so annoying for pedestrians walking up to a crosswalk and you have to do a double take cause some Tour De France psycho is coming to a red light at 50km/hr.

#### off you ####s, just bike LEISURELY for God sake.

Mmmm.....yes! Let the Hate flow through you!

And we shall all carry sticks for the spokes of the aggravating cyclists...

[Wormius]

How are those Old El Paso Pizza Pops still taking of valuable freezer space in grocery stores?? I tried them months ago and they’re so disgusting; reminiscent of the lingering taste after you throw up. Do people like these? I thought there were some good Pizza Pop collaborations.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Wormius

How are those Old El Paso Pizza Pops still taking of valuable freezer space in grocery stores?? I tried them months ago and they’re so disgusting; reminiscent of the lingering taste after you throw up. Do people like these? I thought there were some good Pizza Pop collaborations.

Yes, children. As an adult you shouldn't be having a pizza pop