Gettin' used to new city

[shootingstar]

Am living in Calgary right now..after a long job search. We'll see how things turn out, job-wise. I might as well learn what I can from living in Alberta. I still have a home in Vancouver.

Yea, big difference from Vancouver in terms of temperatures, scenery....and cycling infrastructure.

VAncovuer and Toronto look bucolic in terms of cycling infrastructure compared to Calgary. It must be this oil-rich, energy-focused province where the downtown core is ruled by cars with its many one-way, 4-lane roads which hardly any roads have bike lanes. Ridiculous.

From what one can see, the high car traffic volumes are only for concentrated short times during work rush hrs. And work rush hr. traffic is pretty pale to what I've experienced when commuting to and from downtown Toronto. So alot of asphalt, underutilized by bikes.

However fortunately for now, I live only a 5 min. bike ride from a popular river network of paths. Though the winters get cold enough that there is ice, snow, etc. There's probably a contingent of people here who have good paying jobs in energy industry and construction where they work in northern Canada or northern Alberta part of the year, then return to live in Calgary.

And if you're a carnivore, the beef here is definitely higher grade. So is the bison. For reasons unknown, the red beets and kohl rabi are huge suckers.

[Biciclista]

sorry to hear you moved! I'm sure you will continue to find the good parts of where you are.

[Crankin]

Good luck on your new adventure, Shooting Star.

[crazycanuck]

Mmmmmm..Bison..Bison Jerky..mmmmm....*sniff* will have to wait til i visit Canuckland again :( mmmmm

Have some for me!

[shootingstar]

Any tips about this city that you can offer CC, are welcome. My partner did live and cycle here for 2 yrs., so he's been a big help.

Just to give a taste how different this city is at this time:

Calgary has about 30 community gardens.
Vancouver, BC has over 2,200 community gardens.

I just read a city bylaw doesn't permit planting in City's boulevards. Totally different from Vancouver where by application and approval, some boulevards have community gardens/plots. Not that I'm into gardening, just a fact that I stumbled across now.

[NbyNW]

Uh, welcome to Alberta? And congratulations on the new job!

Yes, we're lucky if we get 100 days of growing season here. A big change from the year-round gardening I was doing in Seattle!

There are some intrepid souls who will bike year-round here. I am tempted to get studded tires for my mtb for trips to the grocery store, but realistically . . . I don't know.

I have not done much cycling since moving here. The asphalt is plentiful, the traffic is terrifying. I only feel safe riding in groups or on MUTs, so still trying to figure out what works for me here. Look for fliers for the Ride to Conquer Cancer in June -- it's a huge event, very well organized, beautiful route, excellent support, and a great cause.

Between the red meat and the car-oriented infrastructure, I've put two inches on my waistline. Be careful! ;)

[crazycanuck]

Shootingtar, Calgary's ALOT Better in terms of public transport than many other places in Alberta. My mom just moved from Grand Prarie but when i visited GP...oh dear..I'd never seen such a city dependent on vehicles.

Calgary's grown sooooo fast! It's not the city i remember from when i was a kid :o

Be thankful for the cycling paths they do have as it's better than nothing.

I was going to compare Perth & Calgary's housing issues in a planning paper I did last year but then changed my mind. I thought Fort McMurray & Port Hedland were great comparisons..

[Catrin]

Is it an option to take your bike to more rural roads for riding? Would that be a safer option?

[Tri Girl]

Good luck with the new job in the new city. I've heard wonderful things about Calgary from a friend who went there during the winter Olympics back in... was it 88?
I'm sure the climate is much different from Vancouver. I would imagine the change would be similar to moving from Seattle to Oklahoma City (as far as oil ruling everything and urban spread being dependent on cars). VERY different infrastructures and much different attitudes from what you're used to.

How long do you plan to be there? Is this just temporary, or did you take a permanent job and are seeing if it works out

[NbyNW]

Shootingtar, Calgary's ALOT Better in terms of public transport than many other places in Alberta.

True! Calgary's light rail actually connects you to places you might want to go . . .

Some of these Alberta towns are growing so fast, but they unfortunately let the developers do the planning.

[shootingstar]

Between the red meat and the car-oriented infrastructure, I've put two inches on my waistline. Be careful! ;)

Oh, uh..great. I'll just have to pretend it's sort of like living in Toronto when I couldn't/didn't want to cycle in winter. And my peeling, dried hand skin problem has resurfaced whenever I return to cold winter areas. My dishpan hands. I can't wear sling back dress shoes since my skin on my heels have started to peel..again. Last time it was living in Toronto.

According to dearie, there has been some improvements re the cycling infrastructure, meaning more sections. He lived here over 11 years ago. The design concept of new downtown residential high density living is slowly infiltrating the city with access close to public transit, parks and some shopping. There are some big long-term master plans.

I choose to live downtown. Absolutely no way, I'm living out in the cold, isolating suburbs, far from services.

CC, I agree that Calgary probably "leads" Albertan cities and towns in terms of reducing its car-dependency abit. I did hear from someone who works for the city, that suburbanites still fiercely insist on low-density, single-family dwellings etc. Calgary cycling advocates are highly envious of the cycling infrastructure in Vancouver. I think they mean in City of Vancouver, not out in the Vancouver area suburbs.

So I thank small blessings of being close to a few MUPs and the odd bike lane here and there. There are alot of joggers and cyclists at freezing, but dry temperatures. Most of them are doing their thing by the riverside paths.

I wrote a wee blog post (http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/2010/11/04/outdoor-art-work-as-a-thread-of-national-history-across-canada-monuments-to-chinese-canadian-railway-workers/), that integrates a theme across 3 cities where I've lived/am living. There is incredibly, a cycling route connection. :)

Calgary recently voted in a new mayor a few wks. ago, an underdog at beginning of mayoralty race. He doesn't quite fit the previous regime: he's Muslim, claims sustainability, is pragmatic and asks for accountability ..it appears some locals are looking forward to this breath of fresh air.

We'll see where the job goes. Meanwhile I still have 3/4's of my stuff in Vancouver. I realize I didn't bring enough business/dress clothing. Wonder what I was thinking of. :p And the hunt for knee high warm-lined, waterproof, non-suede winter boots continues. (I've been looking for past 3 yrs. But living in Vancouver, gave me great excuse to do very little about this apparel gap.) Yes, I'm pretty picky and practical. I'll just clump around in my pant-oriented snowboots I normally wear for snowshoeing, for time being.

Catrin, it is possible to get to more "rural" areas or at least non-residential, parkland areas in less than 1 hr. from city core. But it is flat prairie land until you get to the Canadian Rockies/Canmore/Banff 150-200 kms. later. I have been warned about the winds /Chinook winds that blow. It is one thing that dearie told me he had to become accustomed.

So yes, TriGirl, Calgary is probably a cold version of Oklahoma city. But then, I haven't been to OK yet.

[Tri Girl]

So yes, TriGirl, Calgary is probably a cold version of Oklahoma city. But then, I haven't been to OK yet.

A VERY cold version. And probably a lot less redneck, too. You don't need to come here- you're not missing anything. I'm trying like heck to get OUT of here! ;)

[bmccasland]

ShootingStar - am having the Joy of Learning a New City myself. I've successfully managed to get lost, miss my turn, etc. on multiple occasions. Oh what fun moving can be.... yeah, right.

My landlord did point out a pedistrian bridge, so once things get settled, I'll be able to walk or bike ride for some of my errands. Still have to register my car - but first have to find the title. It's in a box, somewhere. I'll be able to take public transit to work if I want, after I figure out where the right bus stop is.

Good luck with getting settled.