Looking around Calgary it is easy to see that the most popular form of travel is by car. Cyclists and people walking can be seen in some areas, and are typically more common in summer months than on cold winter days, but travelers of both forms are usually far outnumbered by cars.

International travel is a great excuse to get away from cars and take advantage of walking, cycling and local public transit systems to explore new cities. I believe that Calgary has a good start in supporting these modes of travel, but could learn a lot by looking to its sister cities around the world.

walkability

Some areas of Calgary such as Kensington and 17th Avenue SW along the Beltline are well suited to foot traffic, yet still see a lot of vehicles. The concentration of small shops, restaurants and other attractions mixed with private residences seems to provide a warm draw to outsiders as well to local residents.

In these areas walking is the most efficient form of travel. Distances between shops and other destinations are small. Parking is limited, always in contention, and never guaranteed. There are also many wonders including the buildings themselves that can only be appreciated on foot.

While traveling overseas, I have noticed people making their daily commutes around London and Paris streets (among other cities). I have often fantasized what it must be like to live, work and play in a much older, more dense city with multiple transit options available within walking distance from most locations. I think that Calgary can reach this level of sustainability by planning for the long term, and from studying these cities. Of course I’m talking about the centre of both London and Paris; I believe that these cities start to take on more North American city traits the further out you go.

access by proximity

Calgary offers several walkable neighborhoods, including Marda Loop, Mission, Bridgeland, Sunny Side and Kensignton, Eau Clair, Victoria Park, Inglewood and the Beltline. Notably these areas are older, more dense, more diverse inner-city neighborhoods, but I feel that they offer a glimpse of sustainability in the midst of Calgary's vast urban sprawl.

cycling

Calgary offers an extensive network of bike paths that stretch from the edge of the city in the north west to the end of the city far to the south. The paths mostly follow the Bow River, but do occasionally snake into other areas of the city. This system is fantastic, and I have seen a good number of bike commuters especially in warmer months along the pathway close to downtown.

Calgary has also been adding bike lanes to roads here and there. For example, 11th Street SW between 12th Ave and 6th Ave has recently had bike lanes added to both sides of the street. This is fantastic, though I would like to see the city move towards a system such as can be found in Amsterdam and I’m sure other cities in Europe. In Amsterdam there are dedicated lanes and traffic lights for bikes on almost every road. When I was visiting that city almost ten years ago there were bikes everywhere. There were so many on the streets that pedestrians had to remember to watch for bikes as well as for traffic when crossing streets

transit

Visit the Mass Transit Page