Cycling a bridge-finally

[shootingstar]

Last time we cycle out to this bridge, but on 1st day bridge was closed off to cars and bikes.

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=31567

Today I FINALLY got to cycle the whole route, plus bridge twice in both directions, try out the ramps. The ramps are actually in front of the office building where I used to work ..which was the firm that built this bridge and highway approaches.

You can also see my red bike corsage (bell) on bike. We had lunch at..9:00 am enroute. I questioned myself gorging on a hot grilled paninni sandwich with proscuitto, mozarella and roasted pepper strips, coffee and lichti + almond mocha gelato But hey, by noon, we were going to be cycling in another suburb where I know the area for our ride, is an suburban asphalt-industrial desert for lack of any decent restaurants. 2 hrs. later, I was so glad to have eaten that crazyily timed breakfast.

Cycled 102 kms. today roundtrip from home. (Previously didn't cycle whole route and jumped onto Skytrain at Braid station.)
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For Vancouverites, the route from downtown is:

Take the Adanac bike route which becomes the Frances-Union bike route. At Duthe St. in Burnaby you turn north. The bike route goes past a school, take a sharp right which you will go through parking lot..and road will take you down hill where at intersection, go right to take the Barnett Highway all the way to Port Moody (where there is a well-known Italian bakery and its gelato cafe nearby in a cul-de-sac little retail shopping area, our fav stopover) via park and bike/multipurpose path.

Went over Maryhill-Pitt River Bridge, there is paved bike path beside Lougheed HighwaySignage isn't super clear by Meadowvale Shopping Centre in Maple Ridge. Where we did go up on the Golden Ears Bridge out to Langley and turned around.

Came home via Pitt Meadows dike bike path route and hooked up the Central Valley Greenway at Braid Skytrain station. (There is a tight little path on right hand side of Braid Skytrain entrance that will take you through to Hulme Park...)

Route saves you the Alex Fraser Bridge crossing, etc.

[PamNY]

Beautiful photos. I love cycling on bridges. Sounds like you had a great ride.

Pam

[shootingstar]

Video is shaky since he was holding camera in 1 hand while hanging onto handlebar with other hand, as he is cycling up the bridge ..approx. 5-6% grade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR_wAu4MQsg

I'm the dot way off in a distance ahead of him. But abit slow as he approaches closer to me at the summit/plateau.

[sundial]

That is a delightful virtual tour of your new bridge. Was the wind pretty stout?

[Trek420]

We're getting a new bike bridge. I've been watching it built, slowly, gradually each time I commute. It'll be a cleaner simpler design, straight up, turn, ride over the freeway. I like this idea, no blind turn not knowing what or who is ahead nor the more important humiliation when I dab and can't take the sharp turn.

On the far right you can see the other side. Right now we still have to rev it up and leap over the traffic. JK.

Here's what's being built*:





* apology for the thumb in the photo.

[shootingstar]

Great thing happening there, Trek. Is the final rail going to be that height?

Agree that a route that eliminates turning surprises.

[Trek420]

The construction crew won't let me see the blue prints The existing bridge is fenced all the way to keep drivers from abandoning their cars on the freeway below declaring "This is crazy sitting here in this traffic. Look at those happy people above me. I'm going to walk to the store."

Here's KnottedYet on the existing bridge. It's fenced in all the way across too. I imagine this will be torn down and future bike/walk commuters will cross to Knott's right (the left edge of this photo where the new bridge will be built). This photo was taken in the Fall as you can see the supports for the ramp.

[sgtiger]

That's a beautiful bridge, shootingstar. And it sounds like you had a nice ride. I'm impressed with your SO's ability to ride uphill one-handed while filming. Kudos to him.

[LilBolt]

Thanks for posting...I've been really curious about the ride over. We will be crossing it this year for RSVP. I'm going to miss the ferry, but the bridge looks like a it will be a great experience, too. A couple of the people I'm riding with do have a bit of a fear of heights. Any thoughts on how it might feel for them going over? Is the wall along the side high enough that they won't have the sensation of being on the edge of the bridge?

[Trek420]

Shootingstar, I bet your bridge has signs posting directions to it.

That's been my cycling commute conundrum. "My" bridge is lonely, I rarely see another ped or cyclist on it. So as the evenings get darker I've been loath to be on the bridge going home especially with all the blind corners.

I should have lots of company and bike traffic. The bridge parallels the route for urban/working riders going from a working class residential area where we also have our light rail and bus stations to the industrial/business section where jobs/stores are.

Instead these invisible cyclists, also entire families walking from work or shopping to home take the freeway overpass. They can see the bike ped bridge from there. I imagine if you're pushing a stroller and carrying groceries, or a tired hard working day worker riding to a job you're not going to say "la la la la la, that looks like a better route! I'm just going to wander over, there has to be a route there it'll be fun I need the walk/ride anyway "

And most of us so-called Active Commuters follow them.

Along the major East/West street there are no signs to the bridge, if you just happen to turn off the main road thinking "if I go this way maybe I will get there" no signs to the bridge. But wander around and you'll find it, the entrance and a sign that's pointing the wrong direction but it's a sign

Here's one entrance with the sign pointing the other way. But it's a start.

A local Supervisor has long ago promised us signs. Maybe I should remind him? Or make my own.

[shootingstar]

Shootingstar, I bet your bridge has signs posting directions to it. ...............................................................................................

Along the major East/West street there are no signs to the bridge, if you just happen to turn off the main road thinking "if I go this way maybe I will get there" no signs to the bridge. But wander around and you'll find it, the entrance and a sign that's pointing the wrong direction but it's a sign

Here's one entrance with the sign pointing the other way. But it's a start.

A local Supervisor has long ago promised us signs. Maybe I should remind him? Or make my own.

Actually for the big bridge (Golden Ears Bridge, not the little one in my 3rd photo at beginning of thread which is a ped.-bike bridge to get over to a light rapid rail), on 1 side, didn't have all their key directional signs to the bridge. Just some. I was thinking of firing off an email to the Quality Assurance manager for this construction project, as a reminder.

Trek, the local supervisor that you/cyclists contacted, was s/he the right person to have real authority to implement those signs? A construction project has multiple supervisors/managers with different responsibilities.

Since your bridge construction project is not completed, NOW is the time is ripe, to skiddadle with a letter within the next few days, to make the specific suggestion (with any sketch) and direct the letter to:

1. name of the project Manager (it would be an engineering firm that is responsible for construction of the structure, including all signage for newly constructed transportation segments, pavement quality and fencing)


2. manager of goverment transportation authority that is funding this transportation construction project. The person has the power to demand the engineering firm to meet the written project contract criteria. Signage is one of them.

3. cc: to your local cycling advocacy organization.

Your request will be taken much more seriously /have teeth, if your concerns are made in writing.

If you wait until the bridge is done, the sign installation might move more slowly. Right now, there is the temporary hired manpower and parties involved to do this. AFter all, they are getting paid for doing this.

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Height of bridge fences, etc.:

Below, I'm going around one of the bike-ped. spiral ramps. I like the bridge for all its parts on the height of the fences for ramps and bridge. I do have abit of fear of heights which I'm never completely comfortable if I'm going over a bridge where the fence only goes to my shoulder or lower when seated on the bike.

I even find it abit much to go over a bike converted from rail trestle bridge where the space gaps between wooden ties are wide.

[Trek420]

Good idea! Thanks for the tips! I'll send another letter right away.

Anyone else have bridges in your area or waiting for one.

[LilBolt]

Thanks for the extra photo of the railing. That should ease any fears.