OpenFile Calgary has a story on some of the proposed bikeways coming to the city centre -
http://calgary.openfile.ca/blog/calgary/2012/map-here-are-18-future-bike...
On the surface it looks like an improvement over what we have (basically nothing) but as in all things the Devil is in the details. See any "devils" you want to share?
Looks promising
Submitted by winterrider on
I have a friend who used to be a bike courier (15 years ago), now a mother of two, who is considering getting into bike commuting but has expressed concern about navigating downtown traffic. The upgrades included in that map would most likely alleviate her concerns.
We've talked to the Belline
Submitted by Richard Z on
We've talked to the Belline transportation committee about the 7 St CPR crossing: the plan is to have a +30 bridge over the tracks. Our concern was that few if any cyclists will use that. Upgrading the crumbling 8 St underpass is he better option -- much mre expensive, but probably must be done in any case.
They might use it
Submitted by winterrider on
Cyclists use the overpass over Memorial Dr next the the NW LRT line, and it is definitely not the most direct route, but the complete lack of cars makes it very attractive. I could see the same for 7th.
I don't mind cycling on 7th St either north or south of the train tracks, connecting them with an overpass would be a great idea in my opinion. I'd much rather pedal up a small incline to end up on quiet 7th St as opposed to getting to the corner of 8th St and 10th Ave and then detouring to 7th anyway.
+30 means twice as high up as
Submitted by Richard Z on
+30 means twice as high up as the 9A St/Memorial overpass though.
Not that high really
Submitted by winterrider on
Not hard on a bike. If they can make it straight and wide it would be nice.
I'd use it
Submitted by pinkrobe on
An overpass over the tracks would kick ass! Not only would it largely eliminate the hike/bike to 8th or 5th, but it would be a boon to the businesses on the south side that could use some traffic from downtown to boost their midday business [including two bike shops right on 7th St.]. This screams "win"...
interesting feedback...
Submitted by snowandscience on
I was in that meeting with the Beltline CA, +30 is really high, so it was discounted (see Sunalta West LRT station - no way I'm taking that just to get over the tracks), but great to see there are people who would use it. I'd personally prefer to take the 0-net-energy underpass at 8th St, but to each their own. Good to hear support for this idea, I'll pass it along. Another idea that came up (without any sense of feasibility) was a potential level-crossing at 7th St SW. Similar to what happens under the Crowchild/Bow trail bridges. Trains often are parked in that space downtown though, so this might be a less-good option. Thanks for the feedback everyone! Keep it coming!
A few problems with the
Submitted by fixmtl on
A few problems with the overpass thing:
- cost ($3M, i.e. 1/8th of the entire cycling strategy for 2012-2014)
- convenience (it would likely take a lot more time to use the overpass than the underpass; how many people would actually use it?)
- space (for the grade to be low enough for the access ramp to be practicable you would need a lot of space)
- separation of pedestrians and cyclists (one would assume that pedestrians would prefer to use the underpasses (5th and 8th) but for those who walk on 6th and 7th it could actually be faster to use the overpass; you would then have to build a sidewalk on top of the bike lane, adding to the overall cost)
I would agree with Richard that upgrading the 8st underpass would probably be better. That said, there is no quick fix for the underpass problem. They are a real pain.
3rd Ave
Submitted by mrconner on
A bike lane on 3rd Ave would be great, but the necessary victory is a bike lane on 3rd Ave with proper signal timing for cyclist. Safe and efficient are the best to metrics for onstreet infrastructure - without the signal timing, 3rd is not efficient at all.
Bike Boulevard
Submitted by fixmtl on
3rd Ave would be the perfect candidate for Calgary's 1st Bike Boulevard. For it to work though you would need some kind of signal timing for bikes and traffic calming, amongst other things.