Utility Bicycling Thread

[flipstah]

Hey everyone! This is probably going to be a needle in a haystack but who here commutes by bike to work/school etc.?

Just curious as to what your experiences are and what the City could do to improve and promote bike commuting.

On my first day out, I learned that you need gloves when you bike from Taradale to Westwinds at 6AM and people give you the weirdest looks when you have a full-face helmet on and a folding mountain bike.

Also, what routes do you take to get around Calgary as I am still unfamiliar with the bike paths.

Thanks and drive safe!

[syeve]

I use to look on here to check the path system, its a big one

http://www.calgary.ca/docgallery/BU/...thways_map.pdf

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by flipstah
On my first day out, I learned that you need gloves when you bike from Taradale to Westwinds at 6AM and people give you the weirdest looks when you have a full-face helmet on and a folding mountain bike.

Haha, when I started biking back in March, I also learned the hard way how important those gloves were! Unfortunately I think I'm going to have to wear them less because my arms are starting to get darker than my hands

[D. Dub]

I would love to bicycle commute -- however Calgary city planners have forced me..... just like most of the population..... to live so far out in the burbs I need a helicopter -- not a bicycle.

[98type_r]

You commute on with a full face helmet? No offense, but you'd be getting weird looks from me too...

I commute to work, I live in Panorama Hills and work downtown, so depending on the route I take, it's anywhere from 13-19km. I think on average, it takes me the same amount of time to ride my bike as taking the bus.

Commuting in this city is pretty dangerous so I try to stay off the roads as much as possible. I've been on the pathway beside memorial minding my own business and I've had some redneck lean out of his window yelling something at me.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by 98type_r
You commute on with a full face helmet? No offense, but you'd be getting weird looks from me too...

I have to because I can't risk another injury to my jaw. It's all good though. I'm an attention whore.

[swak]

Originally posted by 98type_r


Commuting in this city is pretty dangerous so I try to stay off the roads as much as possible. I've been on the pathway beside memorial minding my own business and I've had some redneck lean out of his window yelling something at me.

Exactly...
I was riding down the side of the highway on old banff coach road, and had some redneck lay on his horn as he passed me.
I was in no way interfering with him... People are idiots.

Cycling in calgary is dangerous.. Drivers on cell phones that dont see you, and cut you off, and million dollar man trying to see how close he can drive to you without hitting you.

[flipstah]

Originally posted by swak

Cycling in calgary is dangerous.. Drivers on cell phones that dont see you, and cut you off, and million dollar man trying to see how close he can drive to you without hitting you.

It is also becoming discouraging to bike in Calgary. Today, I got kicked out of the C-Train because of rush hour, folding bike or not.

I biked from Westwinds to Whitehorn to find out that 72/73 doesn't have any bike racks to accommodate me and will not entertain my folding bike.

I bought that bike in order to beat the rush hour because it's so compact but to no avail. It seems like the drivers are the only ones that have the problem. I took the bike in during Friday rush hour and the Peace Officers didn't mind and the cops on the train today thought it was neat.

It is becoming very discouraging and I think I will write an email to get the rules reviewed and maybe revised to let folding bikes be an exception or at least have more bike racks installed on buses.

It's just too dangerous for me to drive from my house to the campus because of speeders and texters. I refuse to drive that far and I'm trying my best to do my part in sustainability but so far, I'm getting signs to drive me car and just pedal to the metal.

[Grogador]

http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/bikes_on_board.html

[flipstah]

Originally posted by Grogador
http://www.calgarytransit.com/html/bikes_on_board.html

Yup, should've read the rules beforehand but you live and you learn.

I think I'll have to speak to a representative because the Trip Planner is pulling off nothing.

EDIT: I checked all the bus routes that have bike racks and they're all situated in the South. There's no route that has dedicated racks for the NE.

LAME.

[urban.one]

Im not sure how small or big your bike is and how small it compacts when its folded but you could try to get cover/bag made for it with a strap or straps to carry it over your shoulder.

[ZorroAMG]

Totally a great call! If nobody knows it's a bike, no one can say anything.

Edit: http://www.chwhite.btinternet.co.uk/...bike_bags.html

[flipstah]

Originally posted by urban.one
Im not sure how small or big your bike is and how small it compacts when its folded but you could try to get cover/bag made for it with a strap or straps to carry it over your shoulder.

Originally posted by ZorroAMG
Totally a great call! If nobody knows it's a bike, no one can say anything.

Edit: http://www.chwhite.btinternet.co.uk/...bike_bags.html

Haha good call! That's what my co-worker suggested after I got booted off this morning. I will check out this El Boso bag and see where it goes from there!

The bike is 26 incher but it folds in half. (34 x 94 x 79 cm to be exact)

http://www.dahon.com/us/jack.htm

[flipstah]

Today was the first, and probably the last time I'll ever go from the University to my house solely on bike.

I left the office at 4 and got to my house at 6ish. So I spent two hours biking ~20-25km. Mostly because I went around instead of hitting the high-density highways (fuckin' speeders) and it was mostly uphill.

Man, oh man it was fucking dangerous. I went in the middle island of the 64th St. Bridge and people just kept looking at me while they were stuck during rush hour. It was even harder because of crosswinds.

It was hella fun though but as fun as it was, Calgary's bike path system is totally broken and is missing some vital parts. It's a shame because it's totally doable.

http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n...ipster/Map.jpg
It's the route that I took today. Man it was brutal.

[D'z Nutz]

Ah, that sucks. I'm gonna try that route we were talking about earlier when I get a chance. Hopefully it's better (and safer).

[flipstah]

Originally posted by D'z Nutz
Ah, that sucks. I'm gonna try that route we were talking about earlier when I get a chance. Hopefully it's better (and safer).

I think when the weather's more calm, it'd be a way better ride. Let me know how that one goes! I wanna try the Memorial route.

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by flipstah
Let me know how that one goes! I wanna try the Memorial route.

Okay, so I finally tried it out (just got back) and it's a good ride!!

From the bridge by the Calgary Sun building, just stay straight on the path and don't turn off anywhere (keep left on the first fork, and go straight when you see the "Zoo on the right" sign) and you'll end up on the path behind the zoo which eventually leads onto memorial. I just wanted to see if I could get downtown from there and it's a pretty decent path. Pretty refreshing riding along the bow river actually.

From Sunridge Mall to Eau Claire, it took about 30 minutes. The road from Sunridge to the Calgary Sun wasn't a really high traffic road after you passed Barlow.

I think I'll do this route a couple more times before I make an attempt to go all the way to the university.

The hotties were out in full force at Eau Claire/Prince's Island today

[flipstah]

Originally posted by D'z Nutz


Okay, so I finally tried it out (just got back) and it's a good ride!!

From the bridge by the Calgary Sun building, just stay straight on the path and don't turn off anywhere (keep left on the first fork, and go straight when you see the "Zoo on the right" sign) and you'll end up on the path behind the zoo which eventually leads onto memorial. I just wanted to see if I could get downtown from there and it's a pretty decent path. Pretty refreshing riding along the bow river actually.

From Sunridge Mall to Eau Claire, it took about 30 minutes. The road from Sunridge to the Calgary Sun wasn't a really high traffic road after you passed Barlow.

I think I'll do this route a couple more times before I make an attempt to go all the way to the university.

The hotties were out in full force at Eau Claire/Prince's Island today

I biked from the University to the Zoo via the Bow and man, it was hella fun! So many hot Yoga chicks at the park...

However, I still refuse to solely bike from the NE to the University because after the bridge near the Calgary Sun, the bike paths are cracked and are spread out in patches, making the whole trek dangerous (at least, I think so.)

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by flipstah


I biked from the University to the Zoo via the Bow and man, it was hella fun! So many hot Yoga chicks at the park...

However, I still refuse to solely bike from the NE to the University because after the bridge near the Calgary Sun, the bike paths are cracked and are spread out in patches, making the whole trek dangerous (at least, I think so.)

haha, seriously? The path isn't that bad, IMO. But then again, I'm used to riding through ghetto ass neighborhoods as part of my regular trek so the path seems like a luxury cruising lane by comparison

Hell, I'm going for another ride on that path before dinner

[flipstah]

Originally posted by D'z Nutz


haha, seriously? The path isn't that bad, IMO. But then again, I'm used to riding through ghetto ass neighborhoods as part of my regular trek so the path seems like a luxury cruising lane by comparison

Hell, I'm going for another ride on that path before dinner

This is why growing up spoiled sucks. Used to paved lanes and stuff... Can't go back to potholes.

But seriously, the Bow River pathway is SO nice. I saw a park that I've never seen before and it was so nice and serene. I wish I lived in downtown....