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Calgary Bike Lanes and Bike Paths
- Thread starter Cowtown
- Start date
CalgaryTiger
Senior Member
Download those pictures and email your councilor. That should have to be fixed as part of a deficiencies list.
Sambo
Active Member
I would love an updated biking path map showing snow free sections. I know there is a city map showing where snow is cleared but perhaps a user updated map with current conditions.
lemongrab
Active Member
I think something like this was tried in Edmonton in the mid 2010s (maybe here, too?) - not official from the city but a local bike org I think. I can't find any active maps today. It's a good idea but conditions change so fast, even within a single day's freeze/thaw cycle. I find the main pathways aren't too hard to predict - then bigger issue is the little pathway connectors that get super compacted from foot traffic and often don't get much sun exposure. Figuring out how to mitigate those washboard bumpy sections informs my route choices more than anything
KrisYYC
New Member
I just cycled the whole Glenmore Reservoir loop. I'd say it's 80% clear of snow with the exception of Weaselhead flats and the odd patch here and there that doesn't get much sun. The hill that enters the south end of Weaselhead flats is very icy and treacherous. I don't have studded tires and had to walk my bike down it hanging on to the railing (my shoes aren't the best either). The flat section of Weaselhead flats is bumpy... REALLY bumpy hard packed snow. Biking that stretch will test how well your tooth fillings are set 
but totally rideable with a mountain bike or a gravel bike with good/studded tires. Rest of the loop is smooth sailing, just the odd patch of slush or puddles. I took some pictures of the worst sections.
The hill down to South Weaselhead flats:
Weaselhead Flats pathway:
but totally rideable with a mountain bike or a gravel bike with good/studded tires. Rest of the loop is smooth sailing, just the odd patch of slush or puddles. I took some pictures of the worst sections.The hill down to South Weaselhead flats:
Weaselhead Flats pathway:
lemongrab
Active Member
Considering the forecast it would be really nice if they could run that through with a plow. I suppose it would create some crappy windrows, but getting things non-compacted would let these warm ambient temps melt them down. Maybe we get a big dump in a week and it's pointless, or maybe we make it a while longer and March snows aren't accompanied by bitter cold to make such a thick+compacted ice layer. If we could get back to bare pavement this week it might pay off for the rest of winter
Mountain Man
Senior Member
Is that a paved path? It looks like it would be fun with studs, but deadly without.
KrisYYC
New Member
It is paved yes, but they don't plow that section. I assume it's not possible or very difficult to get snow clearing equipment down there? Mind you they managed to get paving equipment to pave it in the first place so...
Mountain Man
Senior Member
They could get a bobcat in there I'm sure.
ByeByeBaby
Active Member
Here's the cleared sections in the area; my guess is that at least part of the reason is that Weaselhead is pretty limited as a connector -- other than Oakridge to Westhills or something. And it gives the studded-fat-tire crowd someplace to go break their arms.
One thing I've experienced is that pathway conditions can be microlocal, there's one section in Mission/Erlton where the slope from the 25th St bridge underpass is always a nightmare because it's packed, sloped and shadowed. (Actually hasn't been too bad this year so far.) Another one I noticed was a couple of Decembers ago I rode through Lawrey Gardens, and was shocked -- there's an entire section that basically doesn't get any sun at all for months in the winter because of the bluff to the south; it felt like the temperature dropped 10 degrees when I rode into it.
Sambo
Active Member
My issue is going on a loop ride somewhere and having to walk the bike for 20 minutes through snow or ice. Places like certain parts of glenmore reservoir that I don’t live near but like to bike to. I have had snow/ice issues there frequently on the south and west side when the rest looked clear. I can let everyone know bow river from Pt McKay to Inglewood is clear.
Edit. Just saw the reservoir photos above this post. Depressing. That won’t be bikable for me until late Spring.
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Sambo
Active Member
That’s a real shame. The reservoir loop is very popular but unusable until May for road bikes it looks like. I learned that the hard way the past few years.I just cycled the whole Glenmore Reservoir loop. I'd say it's 80% clear of snow with the exception of Weaselhead flats and the odd patch here and there that doesn't get much sun. The hill that enters the south end of Weaselhead flats is very icy and treacherous. I don't have studded tires and had to walk my bike down it hanging on to the railing (my shoes aren't the best either). The flat section of Weaselhead flats is bumpy... REALLY bumpy hard packed snow. Biking that stretch will test how well your tooth fillings are set
The hill down to South Weaselhead flats:
View attachment 712661
Weaselhead Flats pathway:
View attachment 712662View attachment 712663View attachment 712664
potatopizzafan
Active Member
Sounds like you need studded tires
KrisYYC
New Member
I just rode a loop in South Calgary that included South Glenmore Park, the Greenway that runs parallel to Tsuut'ina Trail entering Fish Creek at Shannon Terrace. Between Shannon Terrace and Bebo Grove in Fish Creek the trail still has a ton of very icy sections. I wouldn't recommend riding that section without studded tires. I had to dismount at a few spots and walk the bike as I don't have studded tires. However once I was East of Bebo Grove the conditions of the path is very good, quite a few wet spots though. Hopefully those puddles can dry up before the temperature inevitably dips below zero again. Anyway it was nice to get out for my 4th ride this year and it's only Feb 5th! Studded tires for sure next winter 
