What's going on in Alberta?

[BubberMiley]

They don't plough the snow in Edmonton/Calgary? Doesn't that cost more money in the long run (in car repairs and lost time) than it saves?

[geoffrey]

They don't plough the snow in Edmonton/Calgary? Doesn't that cost more money in the long run (in car repairs and lost time) than it saves?

I've never had my street plowed, and the only highways that normally see a plow to completely clear snow is Crowchild and Deerfoot. They do a quick plow/sand ASAP while its falling, but then just leave it to melt.

We've been curse with such things as chinooks... so the city just counts on them to melt the snow within a few days.

It definitely costs us more in lost time and accidents, I've protested this for years coming from a province that plowed streets quickly in a snow storm. But instead of spending money reasonably in this city on snow removal, we spend it on sending our whole council to Newfoundland for a meeting that could be attended by 1 of them.

[shoop]

They plow a lot more in Edmonton than Calgary.

One interesting thing though. Here in Ottawa they actually put sand down on the sidewalks. In Edmonton you get a ticket if you don't clear your freakin' sidewalks yourself.

Yet another reason taxes are lower in Alberta...

They don't plough the snow in Edmonton/Calgary? Doesn't that cost more money in the long run (in car repairs and lost time) than it saves?

[tml12]

They plow a lot more in Edmonton than Calgary.

One interesting thing though. Here in Ottawa they actually put sand down on the sidewalks. In Edmonton you get a ticket if you don't clear your freakin' sidewalks yourself.

Yet another reason taxes are lower in Alberta...

They don't plough the snow in Edmonton/Calgary? Doesn't that cost more money in the long run (in car repairs and lost time) than it saves?

Here in Montreal, nothing gets plowed, some things get salted, few things get done, and blue collars go on strike.

Quebec=pro-union, pro-socialism, anti-choice/progress.

Tell me again why they call the left progressives?

[JerrySeinfeld]

Housing is cheaper than in Toronto or Vancouver. I'm not getting the impression from this guy that he's going to go do hard labour up in Fort Mac.

You can get a nice 3-bedroom in the suburbs for about $230k-$240k, in Calgary. I think its cheaper in E-town but I may be wrong.

I've done physical labour before, and have nothing against it, infact many of those guys earned my respect. But I definitely don't intend on moving out there to persue a career in physical labour, infact what I heard from the guys I worked with and I agreed was, "If you can avoid a career doing this type of thing do it!". With that in mind Fort Mac isn't out of the question if the right job comes up. After all as fellowtraveller so eloquently put it:

....nearly everything is easier when you have money.

In windsor a 3-bedroom in nicer area's will run slightly less (apx.$200k)...but a difference of $30-$40k doesn't seem to be bad in comparison to what I know about Toronto.

Plus I'm not really a fan of Toronto, with its overly liberal/ndp core i'll probably end up getting myself lynched or something... (ex.me- "I don't believe in affirmative action in it's present form"....angry T.O. mob - "Go get the chains boys, we don't like this type in these parts!")

ONTARIO is hilariously lame. its like mcdonalds - MUST be good because everyone is there. NOT!

the fact is that there are lots of people in Ontario. hence LOTS of people TALK about Ontario. kind of like the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Raptors. Really bad teams with really good press. Where else in the wolrd could Tie Domi or Darcy Tucker be treated like a rock star? HAHAHA. Shrink the population by a few mil and Toronto is Kingston.

Go somewhere GREAT like the lower mainland. MOUNTAINS, OCEANS, GOLF YEAR ROUND!!! YAAAA!

you gotta get outta the cesspools of central canada and free your mind and spirit!!! BC BABY!!!

[Minimus Maximus]

They don't plough the snow in Edmonton/Calgary? Doesn't that cost more money in the long run (in car repairs and lost time) than it saves?

I've never had my street plowed, and the only highways that normally see a plow to completely clear snow is Crowchild and Deerfoot. They do a quick plow/sand ASAP while its falling, but then just leave it to melt.

We've been curse with such things as chinooks... so the city just counts on them to melt the snow within a few days.

It definitely costs us more in lost time and accidents, I've protested this for years coming from a province that plowed streets quickly in a snow storm. But instead of spending money reasonably in this city on snow removal, we spend it on sending our whole council to Newfoundland for a meeting that could be attended by 1 of them.

The truth is that they plow and sand all major roads (in Calgary). Residential roads are not plowed, but icy intersections are sanded if the problem is brought to the attention of city hall by enough residents. In a city that may have 4-6 weeks of snow covered streets a year this shouldn't be much of a problem.

[geoffrey]

The truth is that they plow and sand all major roads (in Calgary). Residential roads are not plowed, but icy intersections are sanded if the problem is brought to the attention of city hall by enough residents. In a city that may have 4-6 weeks of snow covered streets a year this shouldn't be much of a problem.

You can't be serious? What do you consider a major road? Macleod trail at my end hasn't been cleared, just sanded.

They wait till the cars clear the snow, then sand the remaining ice. Thats plowing in Calgary.

[Minimus Maximus]

The truth is that they plow and sand all major roads (in Calgary). Residential roads are not plowed, but icy intersections are sanded if the problem is brought to the attention of city hall by enough residents. In a city that may have 4-6 weeks of snow covered streets a year this shouldn't be much of a problem.

You can't be serious? What do you consider a major road? Macleod trail at my end hasn't been cleared, just sanded.

They wait till the cars clear the snow, then sand the remaining ice. Thats plowing in Calgary.

Maybe its just the years spent navigating the goat trails of northern Ab, BC and Sask. talking but I find the road conditions in Calgary quite acceptable. I live in the NW, my bro lives in Chapperal and most of my work is in the foothills ind. area so I travel most of the city every day 7 days a week. What I find is lots of stupid drivers, but no real problems with driving conditions. People who can't take the time to properly clean the snow off of their cars before driving but can manage to leave the house without a coffee in one hand and a cell phone in the other.

I would have to concur on the fact that not all streets are plowed but I would have to argue the neccesity of it. We live in a winter climate and drivers should be trained to deal with that fact. My own opinion is that we should have separate summer and winter drivers licences.

[geoffrey]

Maybe its just the years spent navigating the goat trails of northern Ab, BC and Sask. talking but I find the road conditions in Calgary quite acceptable. I live in the NW, my bro lives in Chapperal and most of my work is in the foothills ind. area so I travel most of the city every day 7 days a week. What I find is lots of stupid drivers, but no real problems with driving conditions. People who can't take the time to properly clean the snow off of their cars before driving but can manage to leave the house without a coffee in one hand and a cell phone in the other.

I would have to concur on the fact that not all streets are plowed but I would have to argue the neccesity of it. We live in a winter climate and drivers should be trained to deal with that fact. My own opinion is that we should have separate summer and winter drivers licences.

I'm down by Chapperal as well, and I'm not too impressed with the road conditions down here especially.

I'm not concerned about driving in snow or ice, I'm fine with it. I'm concerned about the other people on the road that can't drive under these conditions. Blowing snow and ice late at night on a 3 lane highway and people still have to tailgate you when your doing just under the speed limit, still probably too fast for the road conditions.

Clearing the roads more often and sooner after snowstorms would reduce the costs of collisions and collision related accidents. Maybe the insurance bureau will take a note from their cloud seeding in summer and start plowing roads in winter?

[Minimus Maximus]

Maybe its just the years spent navigating the goat trails of northern Ab, BC and Sask. talking but I find the road conditions in Calgary quite acceptable. I live in the NW, my bro lives in Chapperal and most of my work is in the foothills ind. area so I travel most of the city every day 7 days a week. What I find is lots of stupid drivers, but no real problems with driving conditions. People who can't take the time to properly clean the snow off of their cars before driving but can manage to leave the house without a coffee in one hand and a cell phone in the other.

I would have to concur on the fact that not all streets are plowed but I would have to argue the neccesity of it. We live in a winter climate and drivers should be trained to deal with that fact. My own opinion is that we should have separate summer and winter drivers licences.

I'm down by Chapperal as well, and I'm not too impressed with the road conditions down here especially.

I'm not concerned about driving in snow or ice, I'm fine with it. I'm concerned about the other people on the road that can't drive under these conditions. Blowing snow and ice late at night on a 3 lane highway and people still have to tailgate you when your doing just under the speed limit, still probably too fast for the road conditions.

Clearing the roads more often and sooner after snowstorms would reduce the costs of collisions and collision related accidents. Maybe the insurance bureau will take a note from their cloud seeding in summer and start plowing roads in winter?

I honestly havn't found Chapperal all that bad this year. Side streets are always slick in winter and drivers should adjust their speed and habits to match. Plowing 1" or 2" of snow won't teach people the basics of driving safely in winter.

If the insurance bureau wanted to reduce accidents in winter they would work towards ensuring all licenced drivers can drive in winter conditions.

[geoffrey]

I honestly havn't found Chapperal all that bad this year. Side streets are always slick in winter and drivers should adjust their speed and habits to match. Plowing 1" or 2" of snow won't teach people the basics of driving safely in winter.

If the insurance bureau wanted to reduce accidents in winter they would work towards ensuring all licenced drivers can drive in winter conditions.

That works for me. Makes sense anyways.

[Biblio Bibuli]

If the insurance bureau wanted to reduce accidents in winter they would work towards ensuring all licenced drivers can drive in winter conditions.

If the insurance bureau wanted to reduce accidents period, they would make it as hard to get a driver's licence in Canada as it is in Europe.

Our casualties in Afghanistan would be much much lower too.

[geoffrey]

If the insurance bureau wanted to reduce accidents in winter they would work towards ensuring all licenced drivers can drive in winter conditions.

If the insurance bureau wanted to reduce accidents period, they would make it as hard to get a driver's licence in Canada as it is in Europe.

Our casualties in Afghanistan would be much much lower too.

Definitely agreed. We need way more testing for licences in Canada, its so ridiculously easy to get them. Not to mention you can have 2 hit and run accidents and still not be suspended.

[Conservative1]

Definitely agreed. We need way more testing for licences in Canada, its so ridiculously easy to get them. Not to mention you can have 2 hit and run accidents and still not be suspended.

Can't say I agree with you there. I went through a graduated liscensing system in Ontario. (i.e. G1, G2, and finally G). It isn't that incredibly easy, infact I even failed my first G2 (ability to drive alone) drivers liscence test, and I didn't do anything blatantly wrong, I was tagged on just a few minor technicalities. Not to mention i know people that failed one or both of the two different in car drivers tests 2 or more times. Maybe it's just our 'testors' here in windsor, but I don't think so. Of course there is always the possibility that I and many of the people I know are absurdly terrible drivers

That being said I don't agree that haveing 2 hit and run accidents, and not even having your liscence suspended is appropriate!

[cybercoma]

Definitely agreed. We need way more testing for licences in Canada, its so ridiculously easy to get them. Not to mention you can have 2 hit and run accidents and still not be suspended.

Can't say I agree with you there. I went through a graduated liscensing system in Ontario. (i.e. G1, G2, and finally G). It isn't that incredibly easy, infact I even failed my first G2 (ability to drive alone) drivers liscence test, and I didn't do anything blatantly wrong, I was tagged on just a few minor technicalities. Not to mention i know people that failed one or both of the two different in car drivers tests 2 or more times. Maybe it's just our 'testors' here in windsor, but I don't think so. Of course there is always the possibility that I and many of the people I know are absurdly terrible drivers

That being said I don't agree that haveing 2 hit and run accidents, and not even having your liscence suspended is appropriate!

Let's not forget the absolutely INSANE cost of insuring a vehicle, add just a single accident to that and it's almost unpayable by the average kid under 25.

[geoffrey]

Let's not forget the absolutely INSANE cost of insuring a vehicle, add just a single accident to that and it's almost unpayable by the average kid under 25.

I'm under 25 and my insurance is about $70 a month on a fairly new car.

[cybercoma]

Let's not forget the absolutely INSANE cost of insuring a vehicle, add just a single accident to that and it's almost unpayable by the average kid under 25.

I'm under 25 and my insurance is about $70 a month on a fairly new car.

year, make, model, province of residence?

[geoffrey]

Let's not forget the absolutely INSANE cost of insuring a vehicle, add just a single accident to that and it's almost unpayable by the average kid under 25.

I'm under 25 and my insurance is about $70 a month on a fairly new car.

year, make, model, province of residence?

2001 Cavalier in Alberta.

[cybercoma]

I don't believe you.

[JerrySeinfeld]

I don't believe you.

a five year old cavalier? hmmm. not sure on that one. but if you have a clean claims history possibly - i used to live in alberta and now live in Van.

My insurance went from $285 / month to $231 / month. not much difference. BC has govt insurance.

[geoffrey]

I don't believe you.

a five year old cavalier? hmmm. not sure on that one. but if you have a clean claims history possibly - i used to live in alberta and now live in Van.

My insurance went from $285 / month to $231 / month. not much difference. BC has govt insurance.

Well thats what I pay, what can I say? I've had no claims ever.

I also carry an extremely high deductible, pretty much only have collision to get me a new car if its totalled. It's a good way to save alot money if you can afford out of pocket expenses... generally I feel like I'm a decent enough driver not to total my car due to my fault, so if it happens, someone else's insurance is going to pay for it.

Remember, your insurance rates are negotiable, don't let them tell you otherwise.

[cybercoma]

Well thats what I pay, what can I say? I've had no claims ever.

I also carry an extremely high deductible, pretty much only have collision to get me a new car if its totalled. It's a good way to save alot money if you can afford out of pocket expenses... generally I feel like I'm a decent enough driver not to total my car due to my fault, so if it happens, someone else's insurance is going to pay for it.

Remember, your insurance rates are negotiable, don't let them tell you otherwise.

Good for you, that's awesome then...I wish I could negotiate better.

[geoffrey]

Well thats what I pay, what can I say? I've had no claims ever.

I also carry an extremely high deductible, pretty much only have collision to get me a new car if its totalled. It's a good way to save alot money if you can afford out of pocket expenses... generally I feel like I'm a decent enough driver not to total my car due to my fault, so if it happens, someone else's insurance is going to pay for it.

Remember, your insurance rates are negotiable, don't let them tell you otherwise.

Good for you, that's awesome then...I wish I could negotiate better.

What is an average rate for insurance in our province? The highest my small survey of the day has given me is around $140, and one guys was even lower than my rate, at $50 a month (no collision though).

Poll is accurate within +/- $10,000 dollars 5 times out of 1000.

[cybercoma]

I have full coverage with $500 deductibles on collision and comprehensive for $107/month on a '98 Dodge Ram 1500.

[geoffrey]

I have full coverage with $500 deductibles on collision and comprehensive for $107/month on a '98 Dodge Ram 1500.

I don't have comprehensive, just collision, which probably explains the difference. Not to mention your vehical is worth quite a few bucks more than mine.

You don't know how much I've wanted a Ram. Don't tell me its in red?