Advocacy – Page 4 – Bike Calgary

08Dec 2020 by laurashutiak No Comments

Playbook aims to help Calgary become a leading Active City

The front page of the Active City Playbook By Laura Shutiak This week, Calgarians got a first look at a 208-page document written to push Calgary to become an Active City by 2030. Written by a diverse group of volunteers from across many sectors, including sports, recreation, active transportation, tourism and economic development, the plan envisions a city where the “active” economy drives “economic, human, social and environmental prosperity.” The group, called the Active City Collective, was born from the ashes of the failed Olympic Bid plebiscite, and was led by a pair of professors at Mount Royal University – David Legg and David Finch. The document is loaded with data and puts a strong business case forward for the economic impact of the active economy. I’d encourage you to…

26Nov 2020 by laurashutiak No Comments

Donors kick-start Bike to School Program

Advocacy, Education

Boxes of bike gear arrived from HLC, with a nice note. Thanks! “Textbooks are heavy.” “I hate cold weather.” How do I carry a tuba on a bike?” This is just some of the feedback we’ve received from students at EP Scarlett High School. Bike Calgary is doing a pilot project at the school with the goal of getting more kids out of cars and onto bikes. We’ll do this by breaking down the barriers that the kids say are preventing active modes of transportation. To do that, we’ve been fortunate to receive some great donations – that we’ll be working to get into the hands of kids that will use them. HLC sent us a couple big boxes – including racks and panier bags. We know the kids will…

23Nov 2020 by Pete Spearing 1 Comment

City sidewalk and pathway budget to be cut by 56%!

#sharedstreets, Advocacy

We all realize that the current economic situation is difficult, but these are also times for progressive change. Calgary's very own Council approved transportation plan states that pedestrians and those on two wheels should be prioritized in all future transport / infrastructure spending, yet the 56% cut to sidewalks and pathways for 2021 is the 4th deepest cut across the 36 categories. So how does this compare? Under the budget allocations for "A City That Moves", the following is proposed: Parking, No Reduction (2021 Budget $13.9m) Public Transit, a reduction of -13% (2021 Budget $368m)Sidewalks and Pathways a reduction of - 56% (2021 Budget $25m)Specialist Transit, No Reduction (2021 Budget $90k)Streets, a reduction of only 15% (2021 Budget $194m)Taxi, Limousine & Vehicles-for-hire, No Reduction (2021 budget ($330k) Lets remind ourselves…

22Nov 2020 by Pete Spearing No Comments

Parking Upgrades Promote Active Transportation

Advocacy

An Example of What Can be Achieved with a Limited Budget, as experienced by one of our members. At a downtown office building, nearly forty years old, the building owner was planning to renovate the underground parkade. Here, an informal bike parking setup had been in place for many years to accommodate a small number of bike commuters. Buildings of this age didn't consider any significant bike amenities at the time of construction, especially compared to modern building requirements. With the renovation planning started, a group of riders approached the building manager to explore the feasibility of improving the bike parking facility. This was timely with the increasing popularity of bike commuting and the improved and growing cycling infrastructure downtown. The building owner was receptive to the ideas. The discussion…

20Nov 2020 by Pete Spearing No Comments

Its budget time…….so how are we funding our mobility learning from 2020?

#sharedstreets, Uncategorized

Its without doubt been a hard year and we all need to adjust and contribute to any budget reductions. But will the reductions be equitable in relation to mobility, and will they apply to our changing mobility modes that we've seen in 2020? We know from the city's own statistics that mobility pathway use is up over 469%. So will the budget reflect this? You would think so! From what we know, about 21% is the average budget reduction requirement, (including essential services which cannot operate below their current allocation (e.g. 311). News is.......it doesn't! In fact the pathway budget is planned to be hit by over 50% in 2021 AND even lower in 2022! Around the world we see cities adapting. Here is an article that not only shows…

03Nov 2020 by Pete Spearing 1 Comment

This is why a 5A Network Phase 1 plan works

#sharedstreets

There's a plan, but how will it be implemented and over what time? Well there's a way............ #sharedstreets was born through the allocated lanes provided by the city to enable pathway users in certain areas to socially distance during the initial pandemic. They were placed, in some locations, in exactly the right place to bridge missing infrastructure and to cater for the increase in mobility traffic. While we advocated for these to remain while there was a collaborative review, the City publicized the MDP and CTP plans, the #sharedstreets underlying elements were clearly aligned with this plan and it was adopted as the right way forward. The issue is when and how this plan is achieved? In other words a plan for the plan (otherwise how would we ever do…

01Nov 2020 by WheelsofFortune 2 Comments

Residential Speed Limits Public Hearing Nov. 2nd

Advocacy, Infrastructure, Uncategorized

Calgary City Council will again be hearing from citizens at a public hearing meeting of council as to whether speed limits should be reduced on residential streets. This will be done by changing the "default" speed limit in the city from the current 50 km/h. Higher-speed roads would have speed limit signs clarifying any differences from the default speed limit. This is what Council's current thinking is Want to support or encourage council in this proposed change? If so, this is what can you do; 1. Sign up to speak at the public hearing by emailing publicsubmissions@calgary.ca and indicating that you would like to speak to the speed limits item. We recommend speaking to your own personal experience, and what matters to you. There is now an option to call in to…

11Oct 2020 by Pete Spearing No Comments

Bike Calgary pushes city to keep pedestrian, cyclist lanes open through winter

#sharedstreets, Advocacy

The City has decided to remove the mobility lanes installed in March to enable Calgarians to socially distance. Our option to this is within the Calgary Herald today. https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/bike-calgary-pushes-city-to-extend-pedestrian-cyclist-lanes-through-winter The stats show the numbers, so reviewing them in the Spring will change what? Our presentation to the city on Wednesday also provided an opportunity to obtain federal funding and create a Phase 1 of the city's long term plans. This would enable us to connect pathways and provide communities with viable mobility options, including schools, which could include some of these lanes. Speak to your Councilor and lets get some traction #yyc!

04Oct 2020 by Pete Spearing No Comments

Mobility connections can be achieved through a 5A Network “Phase 1”

#sharedstreets, Advocacy, Infrastructure

What if we had an alternate affordable option for transportation that meant we could leave our cars at home? What if people of all abilities could access our pathway systems and it was interconnected to and within communities and allowed our children to use them to get to school safely? Suburban, New and Downtown Communities linked up to each other and to our transportation network? #sharedstreets is seeking support to enable Calgary to access federal funding to help us achieve some of this. The City has already been thinking ahead with the 5A network plan, but as we know, this detailed long term plan doesn't cater for the short term demands and needs. Councilor Jyoti Gondek explained today on CBC news how this issue impacts parts of the Ward 3…

30Sep 2020 by WheelsofFortune 1 Comment

Infrastructure Rides – Inglewood 9 Ave SE

Advocacy, Infrastructure

Last week, members of Bike Calgary's infrastructure task force took a spin through Inglewood to check out some new intersection improvements and a short section of raised cycle track along 9 Avenue SE. Here is the link to the project website: This project improves a missing link in the cycling network, connecting destinations such as the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, International Ave (17 Ave SE), Pearce Estate Park, Calgary Zoo, and Inglewood's 9 Ave main street. The group took stops along the way to discuss their experiences and observations. Here is some of what we saw: The Highlights The raised cycle track under the CP rail tracks is a big improvement. Before this project, users would have to brave the traffic in a dark, bumpy underpass, or navigate a narrow sidewalk.…

Category: Advocacy