I'm curious what everyone's thoughts are on the proposals. I can't imagine too many people on this forum would prefer the Bike Boulevard Option, but interested what everyone thinks about the Multi-Use Path Option vs. the One Way Cycle Track Option. I think my preference is the Multi-Use Path Option, but imagine cyclists would prefer to limit interactions with pedestrians.
I like the somewhat wider sidewalks and lots of bump-outs in all the options, the MUP is probably the best for most users. However, if they don't add stop signs or traffic controls at most of the intersections I would expect most bicycles to take the road, particularly on the downhill from Marda Loop towards 14th Street. If cars are still able to bomb down 34th even after all this redesign, the cyclists will as well. Add in the dog-heavy population of Marda Loop and that MUP is full before a cyclist even tries it.
This goes to the main problem with most MUPs is they aren't really transportation in the way we design them, particularly at the intersections. In a problem as old as the city's pathway system itself, when making trade-offs between roads and pathways, Calgary almost always deals with this trade-off by meeting the requirements of the vehicles and not the pathway users.
Every intersection has a random slope and ramp resulting in bumpy and inconsistent rides for cyclists, often through slush or puddles given the slop and drainage profiles. Lots of dangerous car v. bicycle right-hooks are inevitable as a result of this design - bicycles approach intersections faster than pedestrians but have the right of way so drivers won't see them, especially if there's no stop signs reducing drivers incentive to take right-turns at speed. Confusion results and people will get hit.
The solution to all this is a cycletrack - where the cycling facility is part of the roadway and highly visible with the same stop-signs and controls as adjacent cars. Far more predictable and safe environment for all users and keeps space for the pedestrians and dog walkers. The ideal scenario would be expanded sidewalks but take one parking lane for a consistent 2-way cycletrack.
Another option is a raised sidewalk approach, where the crosswalk is elevated so pedestrians/cyclists don't get caught in as many dangerous problems. To do this, you'd raise every crosswalk along the corridor and across 34th, acting as giant speed bumps for cars while raising the visibility for drivers of all the things that cars are good at killing and maiming. Cyclists get a seamless route for the whole corridor as well that's much safer and far smoother.
I'd like them to eliminate the traffic and parking in the righthand southbound lane on 14th St SW between 17th Ave SW and Riverview Park (38th Ave SW), and replace it with a two-way cycle track. Much of this section of 17th Ave has parking/stopping restrictions during the weekday rush hour already, which people do not always follow, so there is already disruptions to traffic as people have to change lanes to avoid parked vehicles. I actually think eliminating the lane/parking and replacing it with a two-way cycle track would improve traffic flow, because it would eliminate lane changes/merges, and the remaining lane could probably be widened a bit, as the two-way cycle track probably wouldn't need to be the full width of the lane, although maybe it would if it was protected (which would be the preferred option). I also think this could improve southbound traffic at the 14th St SW & 17th Ave SW intersection, as the righthand lane would be right turns only, and the centre lane would be through traffic only.
Eliminating traffic/parking in the righthand northbound lane on 14th St SW would also be a good option, and perhaps a better option since there are fewer laneway entrances where cars would cross the cycle track (there are a number of businesses on the west side of 14th Street SW). I just thought the southbound lane would be a better option because it would eliminate the need for cyclists to cross 14th St SW at 34 Ave SW.
I think the challenge would be determining where cyclists go once you get to 17th St SW.
This would be brilliant. Especially because of our strange zoning, the eastern most lane for the whole stretch just fronts onto mansions with off-street parking and no businesses. That parking lane is unneeded.
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