The City of Calgary initiated a Snow Routes program at the beginning of last winter. This program is intended to support snow plowing operations by removing vehicles from the streets, thus allowing crews to clear roads more efficiently and effectively. Specifically, snow routes allow plows to clear designated routes (major roadways, collector roads and most bus routes), from curb-to-curb in a timely manner (i.e. efficiently). Such a program eliminates several problems, such as snow building up beside parked cars and being moved back onto the street or reducing road widths. Official details on Snow Routes can be found at:
The Snow Routes program will come up for review in the committee meeting on Transportation and Transit. The Agenda will be posted at:
http://agendaminutes.calgary.ca/sirepub/meetresults.aspx
Timely curb-to-curb snow clearing can be beneficial to cyclists. Curb-to-curb clearing means that, in the absence of parked cars, the parking lane is open for use by cyclists. It also means that additional roadway space remains available so that cyclists and motorists can more easily share the road. Likewise, the sooner the snow is cleared after a snowfall, the sooner cyclists can start utilizing a roadway. Also advantageous is the fact that any residual snow melts quicker when the good weather arrives. Ultimately this type of program can make cycling more convenient and safer.
Bike Calgary is requesting feedback on the following:
[Deadline passed: 1) the Snow Routes program so we can request the Transportation and Transit Committee consider the benefits of timely curb-to-curb snow clearing for cyclists (JUNE 15)]
2) Suggestions on which on-street bikeways should be cleared as a priority along with the rationale. A prioritized list will be presented to the City so be specific (DUE JUNE 24)
Thanks for your time.
(Snow Routes image from City of Calgary website)
Forums:
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 snow-route-sign.jpg | 43.53 KB |
 2012-06-18 Snow Routes for Cyclists - Letter (NS).pdf | 95.25 KB |
onstreet bike routes added to list
Submitted by critninja on
thats it - simple. i'd like to see the city make some effort to clear the onstreet bikeways.
What I Originally Thought
Submitted by Smokey Crow on
I had originally thought the plan was to clear curb-to-curb and that is why I was pretty happy to see that 26 Avenue SW was included as a Snow Route (also have a bike lane/sharrow). In practice did it work? Nope. Bike lane wasn't cleared (apparently it will be now budget is in effect and it includes clearing on street bike lanes) and along the sharrow section, east of Crowchild, the cars just remained parked during all 2 or 3 of the declared snow events. Enforcement and clearing would be a great innitiative as it helps both cyclists and motorists. When the cars weren't moved and the snow was piled up beside them I just had to take up more of the lane and drivers just had to be more patient. By having a clear route, in my mind, would help encourage more people to ride in the winter as from my experience there seems to be more concern about snow on the road then the actual temperature as Calgary does have fairly mild winters, except for the 2 or 3 crazy cold weeks we seem to have annually!
Snow Route Feedback
Submitted by jemcalgary on
I'm all for clearing the snow routes curb to curb. I'd like to see it done on designated bike routes within a 10km radius of downtown as a priority (just like the pathways).
Part of the plan is to ask
Submitted by bclark on
Part of the plan is to ask the City to consider how timely curb-to-curb curb snow removal benefits cyclists. If there are high-use cycle routes, or high potential growth cycle routes, then hopefully this would be taken into account in any realignment of routes designated for snow removal. Note that the City has specified a requirement for high quality snow removal on bikeways in the Cycling Strategy (item C27). This has been alluded to at the end of the feedback request and we plan to have more detailed information available on the website in the next few days.
Snow Route feedback
Submitted by Charlie on
Yes, please! I was optimistic last year when the snow routes were introduced that it would help. Not so much in my experience. Even on routes dedicated as both bike and snow routes, clearing either didn't happen or took several days
53rd Street NW is a busy cycling route but rarely touched. Even more important would be Home Road NW between 16th Ave and the River Pathway, including Montgomery Blvd - it is heavily cycled yet somehow never gets cleared!! It is a designated Bike Route. Full disclosure: I slipped on that stretch last January and broke ribs, off the bike for 2 months.
I'll second that
Submitted by winterrider on
The stretch of Home Road just south of 16th and Montgomery Blvd is often times quite dangerous on a bike. Snow removal there would make a huge difference to my commute. This is regularly one of the most dangerous spots on my ride in.
I'll third that comment
Submitted by mercator on
Between the black ice and the brown snow, that section of Home Rd. is my least favorite spot in the winter.
Since there really not very
Submitted by amf673 on
Since there really not very many on-street bike lanes in Calgary .. 30 km? It should be no trouble to just clear them all.
Found it useful
Submitted by vicycle on
My commute to work this past winter was simplified by having more curb to curb snow removal along nothrmount drive. I only wish that more snow days had been declared and that more drivers had been aware of the requirements to remove their vehicles from the snow routes. Ultimately it made the on-road commute much more do-able where as in previous years I didn't feel as comfortable on th roads.
Snow Clearing
Submitted by Gingey on
Overall I was impressed with Snow Clearing on pathways. It would be nice to have 10 ave. downtown cleared more frequently.
2nd street
Submitted by 2wheeler on
I take 2nd street in the winter to DT and then jump on the pathways to the north west. Definitly noticed a difference int he snow clearing on 2nd this winter. Much improved.
New Snow Clearing Routes?
Submitted by Richard Z on
The City wants to know:
- Which routes should be added to the snow clearing priority list? Curently, all marked bike routes are (supposed to be) priority 2 snow clearing, ie they will be cleared after arterials are taken care of. Are there routes you take which aren't marked (blue bikeway signs) which you think should be added to the list? Routes which are marked but should be cleared better/faster/more often?
A map of priority 1 and 2 snow control routes is here:
http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Roads/Pages/Road-Maintenance/Snow-a...
- If a Snow Event is declared, parking bans are effective on desiganted Snow Routes and the road will be cleared of snow curb-to-curb. Are there cycling routes you use that you think should be Snow Routes?
There's an interactive map of Snow Routes linked from this page:
http://www.calgary.ca/Transportation/Roads/Pages/Road-Maintenance/Snow-a...
You can add priority 1 and 2 snow clearing routes in this map by selecting the "Transportation" category and then adding the snowcontrol routes as layers.
The overpass over 16 Ave at
Submitted by Richard Z on
The overpass over 16 Ave at 21 St is a popular crossing point on many people's way to the UofC from the south. 17A and 19 St are snow routes, but the connection to the UofC isn't cleared continuously. To connect the route, they should add to the priority 2 list: 12 Ave NW between 17A and 19 St; 21 St NW between 12 Ave and the street on the south side of the noise barrier at 16 Ave, Capitol Hill Cr NW between Tye and 24 Ave NW, Capitol Hill Cr betwen 24 St NW and Morley Tr. Connecting Capitol Hill Cr (where the University station overpass provides to mainentry point to the UofC) to other routes east would be important as well: Castle Rd NW, Exshaw Rd, 24 St, 27 Ave, 22 St, 20 St are all important connectors between the UofC/Morley Tr and the E/W routes on 24 Ave and 20 Ave.
Gladstone Rd is an important connector between the 10 St bike lanes and 14 St. It's very hard to reach the 14 St sidewalk route south to 10 Ave/14 St SW, but 12 ST between 5 Ave and Kensington Cl seems to be popular, then you can connect to the bridge or the MUP or the bikeroute along Broadview Rd alongKensington Cl. Broadview Rd is a bike route and should be cleared between 21 St (Memorial Dr overpass to Bow River MUP) and 14 St (connection to bridge and underpass under 14 St), as should 21 St between Brownsea Dr and 7 Ave.
11th Street SW
Submitted by Spokes on
I'd request that 11th Street from the pathway to 17th Ave be cleared as this is also heavily used. The snow clearing on the pathways was better last year but it is still being done too late for most of the communting traffic - that would also be my wish....
Centre Street South
Submitted by Samdles on
I would love for Centre Street S between 18th Ave (St. Mary's High School) and 10th Ave SW to be cleared. Especially during the winter I ride along Centre instead of 2nd Street (which is the bike street) because there is much less traffic on Centre and you are more free to ride in the tire tracks.
10th Ave downtown also!
26 Avenue SW
Submitted by Smokey Crow on
I am really hoping that the city can do a better job clearing 26 Avenue SW. Part of it (between 37th Street and Crowchild Trail) is a separated bike lane where the plows would just plow the snow into the bike lane (and gravel will appear when snow melts) and it is also a snow route but cars remained parked east of Crowchild Trail during all the snow events of the year.
This is a main thoroughfare for commuters comming from the SW as it is is only designated bike lane in the area and winter ridership has the potential of increasing if it were plowed curb-to-curb.
Trend emerging?
Submitted by DarrenB on
Some of the recent comments suggest that perhaps the City needs to focus on doing a better job of clearing existing on-street bike facilities before adding new routes to the list. (That's my experience in the northwest, too.) Curious if others agree?