Why am I here 20120711343 259
On unimproved bridges, like Victoria's (BC), Pt. Ellice bridge on busy Bay St., the lack of space or purposely dedicated cycling facilities, people may often choose equally problematic options, like the sidewalk, to connect their routes.
Bay St. serves a busy industrial neighbourhood and nearby residential pockets in Victoria West. While there are bike lanes on either side of the bridge, some of them still incomplete, the bridge is a major impediment to local and regional cycling trips. Heavier use is found below on the Galloping Goose trail, alongside the Upper Harbour this bridge spans. A few hundred metres distant is the iconic Johnson St. Bridge, where counts show many times the number of cyclists crossing into downtown, as much connected to the magnet of the Goose, though some modest improvements and supports, as well as traffic mix and speeds, draws more cycling traffic to that major crossing.
City engineers have planned for more than a decade a set of works to improve levels of service for cyclists by cantilevering sidewalks off of the structure and giving the road space over to bikes. Other elements may include pull outs where pedestrians can watch the comings and goings on the harbour and safer turn options for vehicles on the east end of the bridge (behind me).
Bridge projects, including retrofits, are a costly challenge for local governments and more generous provincial programs are needed to help fund major capital projects that serve particularly regional needs.
Bay St. needs bike facilities to help make it a beter choice for hard working commuters, improve safety for pedestrians, and sort out some of the other traffic safety issues embedded in the aging facility. Ideally, bike lane retrofits would provide a raised lane design to support some level of separation and more clarity for separate modes.
Why am I here 20120711343 259
On unimproved bridges, like Victoria's (BC), Pt. Ellice bridge on busy Bay St., the lack of space or purposely dedicated cycling facilities, people may often choose equally problematic options, like the sidewalk, to connect their routes.
Bay St. serves a busy industrial neighbourhood and nearby residential pockets in Victoria West. While there are bike lanes on either side of the bridge, some of them still incomplete, the bridge is a major impediment to local and regional cycling trips. Heavier use is found below on the Galloping Goose trail, alongside the Upper Harbour this bridge spans. A few hundred metres distant is the iconic Johnson St. Bridge, where counts show many times the number of cyclists crossing into downtown, as much connected to the magnet of the Goose, though some modest improvements and supports, as well as traffic mix and speeds, draws more cycling traffic to that major crossing.
City engineers have planned for more than a decade a set of works to improve levels of service for cyclists by cantilevering sidewalks off of the structure and giving the road space over to bikes. Other elements may include pull outs where pedestrians can watch the comings and goings on the harbour and safer turn options for vehicles on the east end of the bridge (behind me).
Bridge projects, including retrofits, are a costly challenge for local governments and more generous provincial programs are needed to help fund major capital projects that serve particularly regional needs.
Bay St. needs bike facilities to help make it a beter choice for hard working commuters, improve safety for pedestrians, and sort out some of the other traffic safety issues embedded in the aging facility. Ideally, bike lane retrofits would provide a raised lane design to support some level of separation and more clarity for separate modes.