Either doesn't know non-car options or just lazy

[shootingstar]

Yea, some parts of our city never got flooded.
We did have some flooding in transit train tunnels. The big time driver to get the LRT system fully operational, was readiness for the annual Calgary Stampede which brings in millions of dollars into the economy. (However this year, there were a lot less free pancake breakfasts, slightly lowered visitor attendance, etc.) Yup hunks of our downtown businesses were non-functional for a few weeks. City has repaired 200 sinkholes across the city due to collection of water underneath.

Were you evacuated? I was for 5 days. They cut the power in our neighbourhood otherwise the power transformers will catch on fire/blow apart with water. Our condo building basement got flooded.

Our organization's telephone landlines for 10,000 staff phones was completely destroyed/flooded. Got replaced with long overdue voice over Internet phone system. (That was already being planned prior to flood. The flood super ramped up the implementation.) Water filled up in parts of our 7-level all underground parkade and won't be fixed until Dec. I had heard even some fish from the river got swept into the parkade.


Methinks some of our city engineers contacted NYC engineers for lessons learned/share experiences. All good when that happens.

There's a huge controversy now, that the provincial govn't decreed there may be no financial aid for people who choose to live in the flood plain, floodway when a flood happens next time. Of course, Calgary should have never permitted developers to build homes in those areas. Toronto came down hard on no-homes in their zone, after their 1950's hurricane and loss of 80+ lives. Their flood plain area since then was turned into a large park conservation area..where actually Toronto's decades old bike-pedestrian path network system.

Our park greenbelt areas were severely damaged in certain areas..meaning washout of some key bridges for bike commuters, gouging various path pavement areas, etc. This is the weakness for any city to rely too much their parks' path system for their cycling infrastructure (and not expand to road surface cycling infrastructure).

We also had a train derailment just 3 days after the flood, which a freight train nearly collapsed with petroleum distallate, over a train bridge trestle that crossed over the flooded river ..... Same train bridge runs over a busy underpass bike path section by the river that floods.

Sad thing, about all this, is that another flood will happen again. The city has lived through over 10 damaging, widespread floods in the past 120 years. The rivers that flood are fed by the snow melts from the Rockies (120 km. north of us) and heavy rain which we normally don't get.

[PamNY]

We weren't required to evacuate after Hurricane Sandy, but most people left because the power was out. I stayed because I wasn't sure my elderly bulldog could make it down 26 flights of stairs even once. I was well-prepared with water, etc. so it was unpleasant but not dangerous.

There is some controversy here over rebuilding, too. Some buildings that had been built to withstand flooding did very well -- I hope lessons were learned from that.

I remember reading about the train derailment.

I just read about an issue with trees in the park near me -- apparently their roots were weakened by being submerged in salt water, and they are now more vulnerable to winds.

[shootingstar]

When I returned to the city, it was still repairing roads, paths and cleaning out damaged buildings.

Admittedly my drive to cycle far out post-flood hasn't been as strong. A major flood for myself personally reminds me of other major losses in life. But not property loss. I can appreciate those who lost homes or serious home damage, as a process of loss..which dredges up other personal losses from the past.

[Crankin]

None of my "regular" friends ride or use public transportation for work. They occasionally use it for going into the city at times parking would be hard to find. The people I work with (ages 20-45, mostly) think I am nuts for riding anywhere.
Sometimes our own personal experiences color the way we view things, especially values from our family of origin.
I just try really hard not to be judgmental; my social circle has dwindled a lot since I started riding, but I can't let that be the only thing to base friendships on.

[shootingstar]

I just try really hard not to be judgmental; my social circle has dwindled a lot since I started riding, but I can't let that be the only thing to base friendships on.

Hey, Crankin I'm still quite close to all my friends I've known over the last 30 yrs.: they are all around my age...meaning their 50's + one who = 75 yrs. I've been cycling regularily last 22 yrs. when I returned to cycling. And then, shortly made it part of my lifestyle.

What probably has helped sustain such friendships for such a long time (without any direct influence by me), is that each friend on her own (since most of them live in a different province), found their own form of exercise over the years,that they each enjoy (walking, tennis, swimming, volleyball, etc.) and other ways to become healthier. They all drive cars regularily except for 1. But some take transit. One of them took up driving in her mid-30's onward. She is not a totally comfortable driver...so honest, that makes me wince.

By coincidence all of these friends (6) are healthy so far. Even the 75 yr. old who broke her hip, still has no heart, respiratory problems. None of these friends know each other since I've met each friend at different times in life and none of it related to exercise activity.

Only 1 friend (2 yrs. older than I) actually is an avid cyclist and has gone on several touring trips solo over the decades. She is a transportation policy analyst and has been part of car-share for past 15 yrs. Except for her, I don't talk much about cycling with other friends. I focus more on what I've seen on trips.

I do feel incredibly blessed....and by coincidence that these friends have found their own ways to keep healthy. We want friends around for a long time!