If you are passionate about using your bike for transportation, please attend the BikeCalgary AGM this Thursday, October 7th at 19:00 (7pm) at MEC (in the boardroom upstairs). We'll review our activities of the past year, share our vision for the coming year(s), and invite participation in our board. Bring your ideas on how to move forward with bike transportation in the City! Can you make it to the meeting?
Forums:
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 BikeCalgary AGM 2009 Minutes.pdf | 136.22 KB |
| BikeCalgary AGM AGENDA 2010.pdf | 128.99 KB |
cannot make it this time! see
Submitted by critninja on
cannot make it this time!
see you all at the Bike Shorts film fest.
I plan to be there
Submitted by Julie Gregg on
I plan to be there
Can't make it
Submitted by pinkrobe on
I'll be working on non-commuting recreational bicycle infrastructure.
what are the issues?
Submitted by ride on
Bring your issues to the AGM. And if you can't make it, what are the issues that you would like the BikeCalgary board to focus on this coming year? Infrastructure? Cyclist education? Public advocacy? Or something else?
Top Three Things
Submitted by BCDon on
are "Infrastructure", Infrastructure", Infrastructure".
While I don't want to belittle education, advocacy, snow clearing, routes with better lighting, "calming" programs that cater to cyclists etc., we are woefully short of bicycle commuting infrastructure.
Snow clearing in the SE
Submitted by Oggie on
Would like to finally see snow clearing along the regional pathway south of the bird sanctuary. At present it stops at 9 Avenue SE and does not start again until south of Glenmore Trail. Why the maintenance gap?
Another vote for SE snow removal.
Submitted by fastlayne on
9th Ave to Carburn Park is untouched, south of Carburn is also left to Mother Nature to take care of.
Please send snow clearing suggestions
Submitted by Frankie on
City staff asked me a few weeks back to send suggestions on gaps, pinch points, etc. in their current snow clearing. The Inglewood pathway is an obvious one. Also along Ogden Road in the SE, imho.
Apparently they have the go-ahead to do a bit more this winter, albeit at a lower frequency or priority than for instance on the pathways near DT.
So please offer specific suggestions and I will pass them on.
Bow river pathway in NW
Submitted by winterrider on
They do a fantastic job of clearing the path, but they stop at Montgomery Road. Well, actually they plowed from there to Bowness Road a couple of times at the start of the winter but then abandoned it. It quickly became very dangerous to ride. It would be great if they could plow the whole way all winter.
Snowing clearing: Edgemont
Submitted by RichieRich on
Thanks for asking...
The MUP from John-Laurie north up along Edgemont Blvd was not cleared of snow/ice last year. My *only* option through that community is to either ride Edgemont Blvd (very very busy), or a single-lane side road which is narrow, has poor sight lines, and fast moving vehicles. I recall from last winter that NW Tri-Guy expressed similar issues getting through Edgemont. This stretch alone without the clearing last year was the primary reason I put studded tires on - first time in ~10yrs of winter commuting.
As for an alternate route... this would add ~5km as I would have to ride through Silver Springs, then up past Crowfoot and up Nosehill. No MUPs along much of this route.
As my winter commute at -15C and in snow is already 55-70mins, adding 5km adds significant risk.
Anybody else noticed the three "zones" of winter weather and biking infrastructure in the NW? In the summer months each of these zones takes about 1/3 of my total time. 1) River Valley pathway system from downtown to bottom of Home road... always the best, well done; 2) from about Home Road up to John Laurie... challenging but always managaeable; 3) John Laurie and North often is a gongshow and a "choose-your-own-adventure" approach. In the winter, the time ratios through these zones change to 1/6, 1/3, 1/2.
Anyone else have similar experiences?
How many cyclists up there?
Submitted by winterrider on
I imagine the difficulty you will have in making this happen is the number of cyclists riding from Edgemont in the winter. I know the number drops dramatically on the bike path by the river, and as this is the collector for alot of the NW, then numbers from far flung communities must be small.
I will say that I was impressed when I started frequenting this board to see some of the commutes you all do in the winter.
The good news is according to the guy who parks next to me in the winter, studded tires on a bicycle in the winter can give you more traction than the cars on icy parts of your route. Which is helpful as long as the cars don't slide into you. I can only dream of this, I foolishly bought a bike which can't take studded tires (my cheap roadie).
busy place
Submitted by RichieRich on
While the studded tires do help, being forced onto a busy road isn't so fun. With the snow you're forced further from the curb so sometimes I'd be riding nearly 2m from the curb which tends to p*ss off drivers.
That said, the Edgemont World Health club is right there too and they have quite a few runners who would like to frequent that path, plus locals who walk to the club and the strip mall (gotta get me beer, smokes, 'n wings).
But, overall, I would relunctantly agree that clearing highly frequented trails makes sense...
I hear you
Submitted by winterrider on
My commute is half on the bow path, which is always cleared and lovely in the winter. The other half is either on back streets with no snow clearing at all, or on Bowness Road. Since I'm on a road bike, the only safe way to do Bowness Road is in the center of the right wheel track where the cars have left some clear pavement, on days where I can't guarantee staying upright, it's back streets and my own snowy hell.
Riding such that cars have to move over to pass you really pisses them off. But there's no better alternative for me. For the most part people are really good, but occasionally I get some twit aggressively passing me and honking, which can be quite frightening when most of your effort is spent on making sure the bike stays upright.
Just got a call from Kevin
Submitted by Julie Gregg on
Just got a call from Kevin Taylor, candidate for alderman in ward 7. He would have to oust Druh Farrell to get in, will be interesting. Anyway, the call lasted 16 mins and 34 secs. I made a big plug for snow clearing on all existing MUP's. He is a fan of the Bixi system (good to know) and has lived in Denver and seen some good cycling infrastructure, also was highly impressed with cycle commuting Amsterdam style. His big rant was about the traffic calming abutments we have here that forces cyclists into the traffic....hmmm, didn't think anyone would have noticed who doesn't cycle commute regularily.
Interesting
Submitted by theorangejacket on
He's in my riding....I haven't heard too much from him though. Druh seems popular so not sure if Kevin has a chance. If he's pro-bike then he might just get my vote. I just assumed that Druh was pro-bike herself (just a hunch really)
Thanks for posting though.
Personally as a pedestrian, I like the traffic abutments, as cyclist I don't. So I don't know what to think now!
bump outs
Submitted by critninja on
bump outs are usually there to prevent people from driving in the parking lane.
why would anyone cycle in the parking lane anyway? I'll ride there as a courtesay sometimes, but never allow myself to be squeezed into the bump outs.
if ever you have the
Submitted by Julie Gregg on
if ever you have the opportunity to cycle 29th street NW you'll see a designated bike lane that gets interrupted by one of those bump outs and puts the cyclist into traffic.....
Docs for AGM
Submitted by ride on
Here are two useful documents for reading prior to this year's BikeCalgary AGM:
Respect on the roads
Submitted by winterrider on
What I think would make the most difference in my commute is a public education campaign (tv spots, and radio spots) about the rights and responsibilities of cyclists.
Things noone seems to know are:
1. Cyclists belong on the road
2. Cyclists should follow the rules of the road
The ones who try to kill me never seem to be aware of point 1, and use cyclists disrespect for point 2 as their justification. Conversations I've had with about 10 different drivers over the past year (some yelled, some at the side of the road after everyone stopped) have given me a firm impression that this is a key problem.
Education and Infrastructure
Submitted by pinkrobe on
Two things for me:
Education - Rights and obligations of both cyclists and drivers; PROPERTY TAXES PAY FOR THE ROADS, NOT LICENSE FEES AND FUEL TAX
Infrastructure - Bikes lanes that are clear of snow and gravel.
#1 New Rider Education!
Submitted by critninja on
This is a definite need IMO. I have had many many customers asking us about commuter education and there is nothing out there. I know that there is a CANBIKE course but no one is offering to teach it.
Again, IMO, we need a one-day course that teaches people their rights and responsibilities on the road, proper lane position strategies, you get the idea. Many of our customers are keen to start commuting but too afraid to "jump in with the sharks" so to speak. I would bet that if there was a course available it would get utilized lots.
Simply put - the more people cycling, the more people will see others cycling, the more they will realize it may be possible for them too. More bikes on the road = more visibilty of cyclists everywhere.
Next up in my wish list for BC would be to advocate for snow clearing south all the way to Fish Creek and west to Stoney Trail.
Finally, I would love to see BC to continue to advocate for a connected, signed, on-street network.
I B There
Submitted by bclark on
Issues I think need to be addressed:
+ Pathway design, signage and markings improvements (i.e. widening/twinning, etc. starting in high volume areas and working outwards).
+ On-street bike routes (marking, separation, parking in designated routes, etc.).
+ Pathway-roadway junctions (making them bike-friendly...or bike aware).
+ Education program (bicycle awareness spots on radio and tv).
Well, what happened?
Submitted by pinkrobe on
Any interesting resolutions? Fascinating topics of discussion? Inquiring minds like mine want to know...