Bow River Flow

[Pastiche]

Originally Posted by jammies

I'm with those who want the street closure next year just for the annoyance factor. How many of you actually drive near downtown on a Sunday anyway? Buncha surburbanite NIMBYs complainin' when it ain't even YOUR backyard!

I live just across the river and use Memorial all the time, but I didn't have any troubles because I used an alternate route, which took all of .0001 seconds of my life to work out. You'd think from the complaining that some of you must have toll booths set up there and Druh is taking the clothes of your children's backs by cutting into your cashflow. I really don't care if she had a plan or not when she first thought this up - it's not like she proposed shutting down Deerfoot during rush hour for a rocket plane race (unfortunately) or turning all the plus-15s into hobo shelters. It's Memorial Drive on a lazy Sunday, fer chrissakes!

Lastly, not everything that happens in the city needs your personal stamp of approval. For example, I'd rather get sodomized by grinning midgets than go visit Mallzac, but if that gets your mojo rising, by all means go on out there and have a blast. To each his or her own, and if Druh wants to unicycle down Memorial Drive while juggling free slurpees for a lark, all power to her.

Quoted for emphasis and brilliance.

I love car free festivals and Calgary could use way more.

[zuluking]

The argument that it's okay to do something because "you can" is fine for one's own personal life (so long as it doesn't harm anyone else.) But in this instance, regarding a major thoroughfare in a major city, that is not the case and, as an argument for the closure, inane. Additionally, disregarding someone's comments as irrelevant because the 'event' didn't personally affect them would disqualify comments in almost every thread on this message board and pretty much every other one on the interwebs.

Biting satire about Malzac and comparative analysis to Mackenzie Towne are invalid because those are destinations rather than major traffic arteries. Comparing it to shutting down northbound Mcleod Trail adjacent to the Stampede Grounds during the Stampede in order to celebrate people walking on pavement (regardless of the acres of pavement already available to be trod upon) would make a better comparison.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Bunk

The issue would not even have been at council if it weren't for grandstanding alderman like McIver that took it there. It's not a council issue.

Farrell's proposal to close a major road for four consecutive Sundays for no purpose is something that rightly should have been an issue. McIver is exactly what you describe, but he was right to do so in this case.

The idiocy and incompetence of our elected officials is something that needs to be brought forth.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by zuluking

Biting satire about Malzac and comparative analysis to Mackenzie Towne are invalid because those are destinations rather than major traffic arteries. Comparing it to shutting down northbound Mcleod Trail adjacent to the Stampede Grounds during the Stampede in order to celebrate people walking on pavement (regardless of the acres of pavement already available to be trod upon) would make a better comparison.

It's a sunday and the transportation department made the declaration that a closure of this nature is acceptable. If the event continues, people will adapt and if they don't want to wait the extra 2 minutes to get through traffic, they'll find an alternate route like the many, many events that close down (entirely) major roads in the city.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Farrell's proposal to close a major road for four consecutive Sundays for no purpose is something that rightly should have been an issue.

It had a purpose - expanding the public realm along the riverfront to allow community gathering in space that is otherwise dedicated to the automobile. Lots and lots of cities around the world do these sorts of things.

I think the community will run with it and see what kinds of interesting things it can do with this space. It will probably evolve and grow over time.

It reminds me somewhat of this effort a group put together in Calgary last year to see what they could do with a parking space on 17th avenue. How they could take what is normally dedicated to the storage of an automobile and turn it into a park space, and a community gathering point, a topic of conversation and engagement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWjVmheZHoE

[Pastiche]

Originally Posted by zuluking

The argument that it's okay to do something because "you can" is fine for one's own personal life (so long as it doesn't harm anyone else.) But in this instance, regarding a major thoroughfare in a major city, that is not the case and, as an argument for the closure, inane. Additionally, disregarding someone's comments as irrelevant because the 'event' didn't personally affect them would disqualify comments in almost every thread on this message board and pretty much every other one on the interwebs.

Biting satire about Malzac and comparative analysis to Mackenzie Towne are invalid because those are destinations rather than major traffic arteries. Comparing it to shutting down northbound Mcleod Trail adjacent to the Stampede Grounds during the Stampede in order to celebrate people walking on pavement (regardless of the acres of pavement already available to be trod upon) would make a better comparison.

Yup, lets close down the Stampede Parade too.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Bunk

It had a purpose - expanding the public realm along the riverfront to allow community gathering in space that is otherwise dedicated to the automobile. Lots and lots of cities around the world do these sorts of things.

Yeah, shame there is no space whatsoever along that stretch of the riverfront for community gathering.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by 4X4

It is a bit crazy. I mean, why would I care if the residents of Mackenzie Towne wanted to do something that cost no money and didn't affect me at all, and had no permanent effects on the city?

Because it's a sympton of a much larger problem with how this city is currently run.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

Yup, lets close down the Stampede Parade too.

Boy people jut keep ignoring the fact that people are only objecting to closure that aren't justified. No one is saying NEVER cloe down roads.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Yeah, shame there is no space whatsoever along that stretch of the riverfront for community gathering.

There's lots of events that don't have to take place on a roadway, but do (and on much busier traffic days than this with total closures)

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Boy people jut keep ignoring the fact that people are only objecting to closure that aren't justified. No one is saying NEVER cloe down roads.

Who is to say what is justified, and what is not?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Bunk

There's lots of events that don't have to take place on a roadway, but do (and on much busier traffic days than this with total closures)

That doesn't make Farrell's hairbrained scheme right.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Who is to say what is justified, and what is not?

Well heck everyone can have an opinion on that if they want.

[Pastiche]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Boy people jut keep ignoring the fact that people are only objecting to closure that aren't justified. No one is saying NEVER cloe down roads.

Good point. Be sure to get the City to run any road closure applications by you prior to approval.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

Good point. Be sure to get the City to run any road closure applications by you prior to approval.

Where did I say that was required? I have voicing on man's opinion on whether it was justifiable - and a lot of people feel the same way.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Lemme get this straight. You, a person who doesn't live in Farrel's ward, are ticked off that she did something that her ward liked?

Funny you mention that. She showed up in Parkland for a rezoning meeting, and decided to call everybody there snobs. On a mike. Now that takes balls.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Well heck everyone can have an opinion on that if they want.

Yes, everyone can have an opinion on each one, but who is the final voice? Who should determine whether a road closure is justified? SHould we have a board or panel or something that says "Yes you can have your blue tie festival", and "No, you may not have your orange socks festival"? Who should decide?

The point is, the city has to allow everything, subject to transportation approval. There is no other fair way to do it.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Yes, everyone can have an opinion on each one, but who is the final voice? Who should determine whether a road closure is justified? SHould we have a board or panel or something that says "Yes you can have your blue tie festival", and "No, you may not have your orange socks festival"? Who should decide?

The point is, the city has to allow everything, subject to transportation approval. There is no other fair way to do it.

Sure - and when they make a bad decision, or bad ideas are brought forth - the public should feel free to voice that opinion so that next time it doesn't happen.

I don't see how this is being missed.

When people aren't happy with how their city is being run - they should say so.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Where did I say that was required? I have voicing on man's opinion on whether it was justifiable - and a lot of people feel the same way.

A lot of people also felt that it was worth it.

Thneed says it best in the last post. The city HAS to allow everything subject to the transportation department approval.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Sure - and when they make a bad decision, or bad ideas are brought forth - the public should feel free to voice that opinion so that next time it doesn't happen.

I don't see how this is being missed.

When people aren't happy with how their city is being run - they should say so.

Yup, that is their right to do so.

In a case like this, the public is better off suggesting alternatives to the organizers, because they can really do nothing to prevent them from closing the road next time.