Calgary Bike Lanes and Bike Paths

[CBBarnett]

On the 17th Ave & Richmond Road intersection, it's unique not just for the bicycle signal design, but also the one-off cycle pattern.

The issue is to cross 17th Ave on the east crosswalk. When NB Richmond gets a green signal, the walk signs remains "Don't Walk", setup like a standard beg button. Uniquely the walk light can give you the "Walk" signal on push of the button, but after the cars are already on their automatic green. Leads to tons of risk as drivers see the "Don't Walk" signal at first, but then randomly turns to walk 15 seconds into their green.

It's almost like a lagging, button-activated walk signal. Totally bizarre and I am still convinced is actually just an error. I have submitted multiple 3-1-1s but they kind of fizzle out, maybe it's hard to explain why it's so weird to the signals team?

This is one of the examples where for whatever reason, we tried to do something complicated and unique rather than just standardize the intersection to be predictable and without buttons. All the signage and complexity would go away if we just did two rules:

1. no right on red.
2. For NB/SB Richmond Road, bikes and peds get 3 second lead on green automatically as part of every cycle.

 

[BrandedBlue]

A fairly comprehensive summary of new bike paths and infrastructure projects in Calgary. I'm curious to see if 2026 sees more council or provincial government pushback on specific projects. 132 Avenue in Edmonton got a lot of attention earlier in the year but they just kept on building.
https://bikecalgary.org/calgary-cycling-infrastructure-2025-year-in-review

 

[Mountain Man]

Looks like the city is going to rip up a big section of the pathway they replaced in Parkdale last summer as part of this watermain bullshit. Kinda getting sick of detours and closures along my route, every year there's something new going on...

 

[trtcttc]

Just out of curiosity, what determines how much of a plan the city releases? Here is the detailed block-by-block plan of 8th Street SW, then there's the Bow River north pathway where there's a few "conceptual" images only. I'm sure prior to construction, they must have detailed, block-by-block maps of the designs for both projects.

Revitalize 8 Street SW Project

www.calgary.ca

Sunnyside Flood Barrier Project

www.calgary.ca

 

[Mountain Man]

I'd think it depends on how much pressure they get from the public / stakeholders. If there are a lot of angry people against it, or a lot of cyclists (and general wheeling people) pushing for it, then I'm sure the plan will be more refined and have more discussion.

 

[trtcttc]

I'd think it depends on how much pressure they get from the public / stakeholders. If there are a lot of angry people against it, or a lot of cyclists (and general wheeling people) pushing for it, then I'm sure the plan will be more refined and have more discussion.

It's odd there's no bylaws that set a more structured process. We have 2 conceptual images for a huge stretch of the Bow River Pathways. There doesn't need to be engagement or feedback, but would be helpful in showing people what they get for a $50M investment. And I think when the Bow River south was built, there was no renders either. Yet for an unfunded underpass we have like a giant study with pages of information.

11 Street S.W. Underpass Functional Planning Study

The City of Calgary is undertaking a functional planning study for 11 Street S.W. / CP Rail project area.

engage.calgary.ca

 

[lemongrab]

26 Ave is another; they had an info session a couple months ago where I suspect they showed details, but they haven't made it onto the main page:

https://www.calgary.ca/planning/transportation/26-ave-sw-improvements.html

I think the east side of Crowchild is fine, but I'm not sure if the west is a sufficient improvement, especially considering the recent fatality.

 

[KrisYYC]

Has anyone been through the Weaselhead flats pathway recently by any chance? I know that one isn't cleared of snow like the other sections but wondering if it's melted or packed down enough I could get my mountain bike through it.

 

[potatopizzafan]

Has anyone been through the Weaselhead flats pathway recently by any chance? I know that one isn't cleared of snow like the other sections but wondering if it's melted or packed down enough I could get my mountain bike through it.

It usually takes a while for all the ice to melt from that section, it gets basically 0 sun this time of year. I doubt its fully dry but i would go for it, can always walk sections. I ride the loop year round on a gravel bike with studded tires, so on a MTB you should be ok.

 

[KrisYYC]

It usually takes a while for all the ice to melt from that section, it gets basically 0 sun this time of year. I doubt its fully dry but i would go for it, can always walk sections. I ride the loop year round on a gravel bike with studded tires, so on a MTB you should be ok.

That's exactly what I was wondering. I know it won't be dry but just wanted to make sure it's not totally impassable. I live a five minute ride from Glenmore park and in the Spring/Summer/Fall I do the loop almost every other day so I"m itching to ride it again.

This is my first year of year round cycling. I've been using my cross country mountain bike with 2.2 inch MTB tires at a lower pressure than normal. So far I've only cycled Fish Creek park which right now is like 90% dry. I have a gravel bike as well and was considering getting studded tires. Do you find the studs wear out quickly when riding on dry asphalt?

Thanks!

 

[potatopizzafan]

That's exactly what I was wondering. I know it won't be dry but just wanted to make sure it's not totally impassable. I live a five minute ride from Glenmore park and in the Spring/Summer/Fall I do the loop almost every other day so I"m itching to ride it again.

This is my first year of year round cycling. I've been using my cross country mountain bike with 2.2 inch MTB tires at a lower pressure than normal. So far I've only cycled Fish Creek park which right now is like 90% dry. I have a gravel bike as well and was considering getting studded tires. Do you find the studs wear out quickly when riding on dry asphalt?

Thanks!

I might get out there on Friday if its not too cold, ill report back!

I haven't found my studs to wear at all actually, most are carbide tipped so they're very hard and dont really wear down, I've been riding the same set for 3 seasons now. They're the Schwalbe Marathon winter plus, highly recommended, opens up a whole new world of winter riding.

The pathways tend to have that thin layer of hard packed snow, and the studs grip like crazy. If you're an avid mountain biker, it definitely scratches the itch in the winter, its more thrilling than riding pavement for sure. I've ridden some winter singletrack too when the conditions are right.

Full fenders are good to have too, keeps you clean-ish and the salty muck off your bike

 

[KrisYYC]

I might get out there on Friday if its not too cold, ill report back!

I haven't found my studs to wear at all actually, most are carbide tipped so they're very hard and dont really wear down, I've been riding the same set for 3 seasons now. They're the Schwalbe Marathon winter plus, highly recommended, opens up a whole new world of winter riding.

The pathways tend to have that thin layer of hard packed snow, and the studs grip like crazy. If you're an avid mountain biker, it definitely scratches the itch in the winter, its more thrilling than riding pavement for sure. I've ridden some winter singletrack too when the conditions are right.

Full fenders are good to have too, keeps you clean-ish and the salty muck off your bike

View attachment 710325

Nice. I have a Trek Checkpoint ALR gravel bike that's my main bike during the warmer months. I'm debating getting studded tires for it to ride it year round. I might wait till next season though as we're halfway through winter already and my MTB has been decent. I'll have to look at fenders too!

 

[Nimbus]

I find I get about 2 good seasons out of my studded tires (Schwalbe Marathon Winter Plus for me too). I'm mainly commuting and on pathways, so a lot of winter season does end up on more bare pavement than snow/ice. Probably about 2500 to 3000km put on them each winter season.

 

[Mountain Man]

I'm on my 8th winter of riding studded tires and some of the carbide tips are getting rounded, but they still work super well. My tires are a bit gnarly though, I have the Schwalbe Ice Spiker Pro, so big knobby MTB tires with a stud on each knob.

 

[trtcttc]

The new 19th street bike lanes. They indeed installed a street light right in the middle of the lane as it enters the intersection. This location didn't even have a light pole before. Absolutely idiotic decision. And winter maintenance? Pile a bunch of dirt in the middle of the lane. Great job.