How was your ride today (week of July 9)?

Submitted by Richard Z on

Beaverdam Flats has been reported open. The 10 St/Memorial Drive underpass AND intersections are open. 9A St bike lane detour now nicely marked with bollards instead of disappearing pilons.

Also, if you spot a pothole, call it in!  The City does not inspect residential roads (which is where most of the bike routes are).

http://t.co/cMWc8cZA

Forums: 

bike lane abuse...

Submitted by bike-run on

Yesterday I saw a Scooter (Vespa-style) in the southbound 11 St bicycle lane at the 9 Ave lights, and he drove away in the bike lane, fairly slowly, with a bunch of bikes stacked up behind. Forgot to get the plate number though...

I've been reporting parked

Submitted by snowandscience on

I've been reporting parked cars here for a long while - typically I get bumped through 4 or 5 city departments before the right person gets on the line. If we don't report them, however, there isn't a problem in the City's eyes. 

I have reported

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

parked cars there yesterday so sent an email to 311, also again today the lane had 5 vehicles parked in it so once again I submitted a differently worded report to 311. I will continue to report parked vehicles in that lane until it is clear even if it means sending one in every day.

I did notice that this

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

I did notice that this morning, and like you tho't well there's no piant how can they be expected to extrapolate a continued bike lane between the 2 painted areas. After the paint job - no excuses.

Yes

Submitted by Charbucks on

Yup, I used their online form. I also complained about the lack of a "cycling hazards" option in their list of complaints!

Interesting

Submitted by jondub on

I had to take evasive action there while cycling SB in the (correct) west side lane, to avoid a cyclist who was hammering along that bike lane in a NB direction. I have no idea why he wasn't using the NB lane (as several others were).

Good ride

Submitted by chaingunsofdoom on

Good ride in... except for the new 9th Ave bike lane near Fort Calgary. Hopefully the debacle in that area does not end in disaster for someone. Today between 8:15-8:30am, the 302/305 accordion bus was stopped AND there was a car parked dropping someone off in the bike lane (no idea why). Sidewalk busy (and having no desire to stop to get up the curb), so I had to scoot-by and take to the lane to pass both.

Oh, and I noticed the fence is now open from Odgen Road bridge south under Deerfoot Trail. Will try that on the way home tonight. I'm guessing it was high water for the last couple of weeks...

8th St SW

Submitted by riyoko on

The ride was good as usual. I love the new 3 way stop to get onto and off off the pathway @ 8th St SW and 4th ave SW (I think it's 4th). Today there was sunshine, heat, a nice breeze (and I particularly was enjoying my outfit style and comfort).

However, the intersection at 8th St and 6 Ave SW occasionally gives me trouble -- not the road but the drivers on it. I either have to bike out in front of the right curbside lane of traffic to get into the middle lefthand turn/ straight lane before the next intersection to get the that excellent new intersection that gets me onto the path and over the river, or get in front of the cars at the red light to get into the middle lefthand turn/ go straight lane to get to the same great destination. 

Today in particular, I was passed and swiped by a white truck passing on my left side in the middle lefthand turn/ go straight lane. I guess they just had to get to the next stop light ahead of me.

So, that is how the ride was today and is usually (except some days my outfits are better than others).

The lane... it's full of cars...

Submitted by pinkrobe on

Came around the corner from 1st onto 10th Ave. S.W. in order to have a mellow ride up to 7th in the bike lane, but there was a car there, and another, and another...  It was pretty much full of parked cars as far as I could see along 10th.  I even got crowded out by a car trying to park there as I was riding by.  I took a left on 2nd and rode up 11th Ave. instead.  Probably 1/6th as many parked cars.  Maybe the bike lane should go there instead...

I concour

Submitted by Tyrone on

I rode 10th AVE around 4:30 this aft, and there were 4 parked cars in my way from 1st st sw to 3rd street.  Grrrrrrrrrr.  I kindly reminded a driver that it was a bike lane and he looked at me like I was the idiot.

Amen...

Submitted by asiawalker on

Hahaha you described exactly the same thing that happened to me Tuesday -- I told the lady who had pulled up beside me that she was in a bike lane and she said "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know..." At the next light, she pulled up beside me again. I just had to laugh Wink

Was on the path about an hour

Submitted by Julie Gregg on

Was on the path about an hour earlier than norm as I was on pancake duty this morning :). Yes, that was pleasant to be out early and ahead of most other travellers. I wasn't fond of the cars parked in the bike lane on 11th street SW, now that is it open again I would expect the rules to be observed. I'll let 311 know about it.

Didn't see your breakfast

Submitted by Tyrone on

Didn't see your breakfast this morning Julie, that would have made a perfect Trifecto.  Bankers hall yesterday, and our GUlf Canada square tomorrow.  Thank god I ride, or all these pancakes would be bad for me.

I thought that was you

Submitted by pinkrobe on

I think you invited me to partake of the breakfast, but I had to get to work.

Also: EAP = Eighth Avenue Place, GCS = Gulf Canada Square, FAP Innocent = Fifth Avenue Place, BH = Bankers Hall, SEC = Suncor Energy Centre

stampede

Submitted by 2wheeler on

I was accosted by a group of cowboy hat types as I rode east along 10 Ave SE.  turns out they wanted to fill me with pancakes and sausage.  I think the "breakfast thing" is my favorite part of stampede, it really brings out the great qualitities of the people in this city. 

 

Good for us!

Another close call

Submitted by snowandscience on

Stampede week seems to be bringing out the best in our drivers... been a frustrating week for me so far again. Last night I was riding S on Brentwood road in front of the new construction, where one of the NB lanes is closed. I was riding in the LHL anticipating turning left toward the Kilkenny when some crazy cellphone chatting lady pulled her SUV across the yellow line aiming straight for me. Managed to swerve right and get out of the way, but could have ended badly. 

This morning I was riding WB on 11 Ave SW where it curves to join 10 Ave under Crowchild bridge - a Mercedes SUV decided it was a good idea to pass me just before the curve, moving over in the LHL (I was taking the RHL around the corner) then cut back across into the RHL on the curve. Again, evasive maneuvers saved me from T-boning her at 35 km/h... 

Sigh, at least cycling is better than driving with these people. Off to the Tragically Hip show at Ft. Calgary tonight - looking forward to some time in the sun. Good to see everyone having a good week out on the roads! 

Close calls with cyclists!

Submitted by DragonBeanie on

I've actually had a few close calls with other cyclists this week!  Always along the short stretch of pathway between the Crowchild bridge crossing the river and the train track crossing at the bottom of the hill.  I'm usually riding in the opposite direction of most of the bike traffic, and my commutes home towards downtown have been getting a bit hairy.  I will be riding east, and sometimes there will be pedestrians walking west, and cyclists trying to pass those pedestrians.  However, rather than waiting a few seconds for me to pass, they will pull into oncoming traffic (me!), nearly running me off the pathway a few times!  How about a bit of patience please?  Sorry for ranting, just had to get that out there.

I wait

Submitted by winterrider on

I have seen all sorts of shenanigans on that portion of pathway. I try to take a very relaxed aproach until I cross the river at crowchild, which is to go slow, and only pass when there is lots of room.

And I wouldn't say you are ranting. There are frequent dangerous passes on that pathway exactly as you describe.

Ha, that's my route too

Submitted by theorangejacket on

I'm coming into downtown as everyone is leaving.  While it is great to see so many cyclists, it is a bit hairy sometimes making a left hand turn onto the Crowchild under bridge thing.  I wish the city would put in a turn lane or something. I yeild and signal left but I have to keep moving my arm in order to not clothesline approaching cyclists!  A "copenhagen left turn" kind of arrangement might be good.  Too much to hope for a cloverleaf lol.

That are of pathway gets alot of use and its a rough in places, I wish the city would throw some money in that area.  It's astonishing how many people come through that route.

I'm glad I'm not the only one

Submitted by DragonBeanie on

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's frustrated with that section of pathway!  I feel a bit better now.  And I definitely have the same problem signaling left!

I wish that section would be widened.  Maybe that would solve some of those close call problems.

Do you need to go under Crowchild?

Submitted by gyrospanner on

I ride "contra" sometimes (not "commando! HAH!) and I know that corner on the south side of the river is "difficult."  Even in the mornings as I head towards downtown, it is a tough go as there are lots of people that ride on the south side of the river from Spruce Cliff or Strathcona or wherever....


 


Since the Peace bridge has opened, I stay on the north side of the river going downtown.  But if you can stay on the north side, there's 10th or 14th as an option.


 


Just a thought.

Bragg Creek

Submitted by amf673 on

I rode our to Bragg Creek this morning (staycation) via Hwy 8 and returned via Springbank Road. It was very nice with light traffic and quite a few other cyclists (for a weekday). Some hot out there tho. I am glad I remembered the sun screen and I was very happy to get back to Angel's for a cold drink.

yes

Submitted by mikewarren on

Yes it is. It's "harvie passage" now, not the weir ;)

Sorry, I meant on the West side; didn't ride the east side in a while...

Rough sections

Submitted by Oggie on

I've ridden it a couple times this spring on my hybrid. The path is pretty chewed up from all the construction, but is rideable. You may want to walk your road bike over some of the rougher spots.

Does anyone know if Parks is planning on repairing the path this year?

East of Harvie passage

Submitted by bike-run on

I think so, I went past the Zoo and across Deerfoot trail a couple of weeks ago, but didn't go south of the Max Bell arena. There's a paved pathway, but I'm not sure what shape it's in.

gravel

Submitted by mikewarren on

If you're okay with riding down a worn-in double-track on gravel road, stick close to the canal between 17th and Max Bell -- there is a paved path, but it goes up and down the hill and has serious root/front heaves. I haven't ridden either one this year, only on the west side.

Did a tour of the southeast

Submitted by Richard Z on

Did a tour of the southeast today!  Southcentre Mall to Southalndand Bonaventure, east on Acadia, cross the river at Southland Park, got a bit turned around in Riverbend, made my way along alleys and dirt paths on the south side of the Glenmore sound abatement wall, and then into Fothills Industrial.  That was fun.  Drivers there seem to be the same as everywhere elses: they'll tailgate you, then gun the engine and pass you too closely, only to cut across in front of you to make a right turn. Except here they're in tractor-trailers.  Went up 52 St pathway to 17 Ave (seriously almost got run over by a truck turning right on red as I was crossing the street in front of him, on a green light, in a marked crosswalk, walking!), back towards town along 16 Ave (big disappoinment: Gunther's Fine Baking closes at 4:30), the canal, and the Zoo pathway.  It was hot.

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