Bell: Danielle Smith government takes on Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek over bike lanes
This is Grade A baloney.
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Bike lanes were pushed because we were told the city needed bike lanes, the more, the merrier, because it would make Calgary more world-class. It would be cool. A few people mentioned we could be more like hipster Portland.
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Some advocates saw Calgary becoming the Amsterdam or Copenhagen of North America.
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Put in bike lanes and lots of them and those bike lanes would be jam-packed with cyclists.
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Build them, they will come.
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Cyclists here, cyclists there, cyclists everywhere.
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When the city 'consulted' Calgarians on bike lanes, it was like when you were a kid and your parents 'consulted' with you before shoving that ugly-tasting cough syrup down your throat.
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Stop whining, bike lanes are good for you.
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Originally, there were a few bike lanes put in on a try-it-out basis. The idea barely made its way through council. There was pushback.
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But Calgarians paying attention knew how this movie was going to end.
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There was absolutely no way city hall would decide anything but bike lanes were a roaring success. The paper-shufflers and activists and think-alike politicians could fill in the score before the game was played.
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The lanes became permanent. More lanes went in. More lanes are planned. All of them are seen as roaring successes.
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According to one report, the dough for new bike lanes will come out of $56 million green-lighted by the worst city council in Calgary history.
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Of course, it should come as no surprise city hall bigshots are not overly interested in having someone audit which bike lanes work and which don't, which planned bike lanes are needed and which aren't.
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Dan McLean is one councillor who is already slimed on social media so the rage of cyclists will be water off a duck's back to him.
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McLean wants to take a deep dive into the locations of bike lanes, the use of bike lanes. He wants to see the numbers.
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Calgary Herald
9 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Bell: Danielle Smith government takes on Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek over bike lanes
Article content This is Grade A baloney. Article content Bike lanes were pushed because we were told the city needed bike lanes, the more, the merrier, because it would make Calgary more world-class. It would be cool. A few people mentioned we could be more like hipster Portland. Article content Some advocates saw Calgary becoming the Amsterdam or Copenhagen of North America. Article content Put in bike lanes and lots of them and those bike lanes would be jam-packed with cyclists. Article content Build them, they will come. Article content Cyclists here, cyclists there, cyclists everywhere. Article content When the city 'consulted' Calgarians on bike lanes, it was like when you were a kid and your parents 'consulted' with you before shoving that ugly-tasting cough syrup down your throat. Article content Stop whining, bike lanes are good for you. Article content Originally, there were a few bike lanes put in on a try-it-out basis. The idea barely made its way through council. There was pushback. Article content Article content But Calgarians paying attention knew how this movie was going to end. Article content There was absolutely no way city hall would decide anything but bike lanes were a roaring success. The paper-shufflers and activists and think-alike politicians could fill in the score before the game was played. Article content The lanes became permanent. More lanes went in. More lanes are planned. All of them are seen as roaring successes. Article content According to one report, the dough for new bike lanes will come out of $56 million green-lighted by the worst city council in Calgary history. Article content Of course, it should come as no surprise city hall bigshots are not overly interested in having someone audit which bike lanes work and which don't, which planned bike lanes are needed and which aren't. Article content Dan McLean is one councillor who is already slimed on social media so the rage of cyclists will be water off a duck's back to him. Article content McLean wants to take a deep dive into the locations of bike lanes, the use of bike lanes. He wants to see the numbers.
Global News
12 hours ago
- Global News
Alberta transportation minister, Calgary mayor trade letters over bike lanes
Alberta's transportation minister has officially penned a letter to Calgary's mayor to express concerns over building more bike lanes and request a meeting to discuss plans further. The letter follows a social media post from Devin Dreeshen earlier this spring calling on both of Alberta's major cities to reconsider cycle track projects. In the letter, dated June 27 and obtained by Global News, Dreeshen said he wanted to share his concerns regarding the City of Calgary's 'approach to constructing bicycle lanes at the expense of road capacity.' 'As our urban populations continue to grow, we need to seriously consider on how to maintain adequate capacity for motor vehicle traffic flow for current and future traffic needs, not reducing capacity,' Dreeshen said in the letter. 'We are concerned with the impact to our provincial road network and its connectivity to the municipal roads.' Story continues below advertisement The minister also brought up concern with 'future bike lanes and other lane-removal initiatives where taxpayer dollars are used to shrink rather than increase road capacity for vehicles.' Dreeshen added that he welcomes the opportunity to meet with Gondek to discuss the issue further. However, he didn't mention any specific projects, unlike his spring letter to an Edmonton city councillor in which he called for the cancellation of a multi-year, nearly $96 million project to build bike lanes over a few dozen blocks on 132 Avenue on Edmonton's north side. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy In an interview with Global News, Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek said the letter wasn't unexpected and hopes to meet with the minister this summer to discuss how the city plans mobility projects. 'We would really need to sit down with the minister and understand what he's looking for and I think the letter was a good first step,' Gondek said. 'With provincial roadways, they are big high traffic routes and so if he's interested in how we're planning roadways that lead up to those, I'm happy to chat.' 1:48 Calgary hasn't received formal request from province on bike lanes Global News has also obtained Gondek's response to Dreeshen's letter. Story continues below advertisement In a letter, dated July 2, she said traffic flow is one of the top concerns she hears from Calgarians. 'Calgary must find thoughtful ways to keep people moving — whether they're commuting to work, heading out for dinner, or shopping at local businesses,' Gondek said in her letter. 'It's all vital to our shared economic prosperity.' According to the City of Calgary, there are various bike lane projects in design and engagement phases, including in the southwest and the northeast parts of the city funded through $56 million approved by council in 2023. 'The thing that we try to do is listen to Calgarians and understand their movement patterns, whether they're on two wheels, whether they're walking or whether they're in a vehicle, and we combine that with transit routes so that everybody has access to get around the city,' Gondek told Global News. However, Dreeshen's letter is being met with disappointment by cycle advocacy group Bike Calgary. 'We're a little disappointed of course that he's continuing to make these allegations that bike lanes are the bane of our existence,' said Bike Calgary's Doug Clark. 'There's so many examples where cities have tried to add more lanes accommodate more private vehicles and it just doesn't work, and we don't need to repeat those same mistakes.' Story continues below advertisement But Clark said he welcomes the proposed meeting between Dreeshen and Gondek, in the hopes it drives collaboration on alternate modes of transportation.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Calgary Herald
Canada Day in Calgary marked by pride, reflection amid global tensions
Thousands of Calgarians flocked to Canada Day festivities across the city on Tuesday, with many saying the occasion felt especially meaningful this year amid growing global tensions and political unrest south of the border. Article content For some, the day was about more than waving flags and watching fireworks — it was a moment to reflect on what it means to be Canadian in the face of ongoing U.S.-Canada tensions, tariffs and 51st-state taunts. Article content Article content Article content 'It's very front of mind (this year) to be proud of our heritage and who we are — making sure that we keep our own special identity present,' said Jennifer Taylor, who spent the day at Heritage Park with her children. 'We figured what better way to celebrate Canada's birthday than being part of its history?' Article content 'I don't want to go to the U.S. until (U.S. President Donald) Trump leaves (office) or resigns,' said Caroline, who immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 2011. 'That's my way of supporting our country peacefully . . . silently protesting.' Article content Cars lined up along Heritage Drive on Tuesday as thousands descended on Heritage Park, which was celebrating both Canada Day and the park's 61st birthday. Visitors enjoyed family-friendly activities, live music, cultural performances and a vintage car show. Article content Article content Hot, sunny weather made for an ideal Canada Day at the park, where families sought shade under trees and slathered sunscreen on children to beat the heat. A heat warning was in effect for Calgary, with temperature expected to reach 29 C on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Environment Canada. Article content 'It's very busy today,' said Eirin Bernie, communications manager at Heritage Park. 'It seems to be a lot busier than it has been for the past couple of years, so we're super excited.' Article content 'The weather turned out for us, too,' she added. 'Last (year) it was raining, so already we have a better Canada Day.'
