Settling in Calgary - Info nedded

[Bargeld]

Having been throughout the US the only system of transportation you'll find better than the C-Train, Skytrain, or Toronto Subway is the Sub system in NYC. That's it. Keep in mind it's mainly the same few people trashing Canada and saying the US is the best thing since sliced bread. Of course, besides their trolling, they have like a 1990s vision of the US, which is comical as hell. ;D

 

[keesio]

I find Toronto's subway system disappointing for a city of its size. Besides NYC, Chicago and DC is also better when you look at coverage and line. So is Montreal. Chicago also gets bonus points for having a regular subway train that goes right to the airport terminal. I also think Boston has a better system despite being a much smaller city. And compared to systems in Europe and Asia, Toronto is downright pathetic (but then again, North America has always been more about cars)

 

[AAL1984]

I find Toronto's subway system disappointing for a city of its size. Besides NYC, Chicago and DC is also better when you look at coverage and line. So is Montreal. Chicago also gets bonus points for having a regular subway train that goes right to the airport terminal. I also think Boston has a better system despite being a much smaller city. And compared to systems in Europe and Asia, Toronto is downright pathetic (but then again, North America has always been more about cars)

I personally like cars, freedom to go where you want at will. Thing with Canada is that the highways are poorly designed compared to US. Interstate is simply a thing of beauty. Toronto fails on highways and transit. In US you have cities that at least exceed in one area. Dallas has a sweet freeway system, high five stack interchange is simply gorgeous. In Canada all they do is discuss infrastructure and fund studies , nothing actually gets built.

 

[noobmoon]

I don't have any first hand experience about life and transportation in Calgary, but from what I see on youtube nothing seems impresive at least compared to most european cities.
The transit infrastructure seems bad, roads awful, downtown ... nothing spectacular, at least if you compare it to Vienna, Venice, Milano, Munich, London.
But ... you don't come to Canada for the beauty
Hope I am wrong, and I will fall in love in the city.

 

[Bargeld]

I don't have any first hand experience about life and transportation in Calgary, but from what I see on youtube nothing seems impresive at least compared to most european cities.
The transit infrastructure seems bad, roads awful, downtown ... nothing spectacular, at least if you compare it to Vienna, Venice, Milano, Munich, London.
But ... you don't come to Canada for the beauty
Hope I am wrong, and I will fall in love in the city.

Well, in Calgary you'll look forward to the summers.. this summer in particular was extremely sunny and perfectly mild, I never saw it any higher than 24-28C. After just coming from Ontario dealing with 30-40C plus a mild amount of humidity, it was quite a relief.

Winters can be nasty. Be ready to spend some time removing snow from your property, and if you live in a decent enough neighbourhood, people will help each other in a timely fashion.

Especially if you know what to expect and are both adaptable and realistic, Calgary will be a fantastic place. People are extremely polite here for the most part, and if you pick up on how people talk you'll get a chuckle out of how often they say "for sure".

 

[steaky]

I don't have any first hand experience about life and transportation in Calgary, but from what I see on youtube nothing seems impresive at least compared to most european cities.
The transit infrastructure seems bad, roads awful, downtown ... nothing spectacular, at least if you compare it to Vienna, Venice, Milano, Munich, London.
But ... you don't come to Canada for the beauty
Hope I am wrong, and I will fall in love in the city.

But Banff AB is beautiful. You should visit there at least once in your lifetime

 

[mrbeachman]

In Canada all they do is discuss infrastructure and fund studies , nothing actually gets built.

Well.... exactly

 

[actonis]

But Banff AB is beautiful. You should visit there at least once in your lifetime

After I settle I plan to explore at least Alberta.
So going there and visiting Edmonton are top of my lists.

 

[NetMecca]

I would do a drive through the Jasper Nature reserve (all the way up to Jasper). It's a long ride, but well worth the trip.

If you can I would suggest you set up a train ride through the rockies as well (more into BC, but right there closeby, so worth it as well.

Cheers!!..

 

[actonis]

I'll keep this in mind.. once i settle and adjust to the new work environment hopefully I will have some time to travel around.

 

[MyCanadaPlan]

In Canada public transportation is very safe.
What's more, Calgary is planned on a grid system, meaning that it is fairly easy to find a bus or train that travels north/south or east/west to carry you close to your destination.

The trouble with all public transit in Canadian cities - the exceptions of Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, is that our cities are not populous enough to have transit going exactly where you want when you want it. I will still say that Calgary has superb transit considering how safe and accessible it is.

All the best!