The City's Transportation Solutions department is spending some money on improving on-street bike routes in Calgary, and it wants more people to know about it. So they're making a couple of television spots to highlight the infrastructure improvements and related initiatives. Global TV and local reporter Bob Chelmick were out Monday doing the filming on 53 St NW.

Here's Bob Chelmick reading over his lines. Blanka Bracic from the City also appears on-camera in the ad.

A couple of us showed up to ride as extras in the film, i.e. as bike commuters just happening to be riding by while the filming was taking place. Peter Rogi rode up all the way from Anderson Road to participate in the filming, while I only rode from downtown, as did Blanka.

In spite of clear instructions from the director (centre, below), it still took us about twelve takes to get everything just right, what with road noise, too many vehicles, wobbly reporter and more distractions.

The ads should be appearing in the near future, and are intended to encourage more cyclists to take to the streets... and remind motorists of their right to be there. Let us know if you see the ads.

Update: Here is the 30-second video and the 60-second video.

What do you think? Will ads like this make a difference?