greenvalley said:
Going up burrard can't be great for cyclists also.
No, but unfortunately, cyclists need to get over the bridges into downtown just like motorists do, plain and simple.
greenvalley said:
The only reason this should be considered is if there are so many cyclists using the bridge that they are having problems. I don't know about you guys but its only rarely you see even a few cyclist using the cycling lane they already have there.
And with extremely good reason. First of all, the sidewalk is a mere 6 feet wide, shared by both pedestrians and cyclists. The current setup is not safe for either. Pedestrians (who often walk three or more abreast and infringe on the bike lane) are constantly at risk of being hit by cyclists. Cyclists are at risk of falling off the raised sidewalk and into traffic while trying to dodge pedestrians (yes, this has happened, and in fact, a cyclist was killed on that bridge last summer by that means). As well, the speed limit for cyclists, due to the shared-use sidewalk, is only 15 km/hr. Most skilled cyclists travel two to three times that speed. It would be akin to having the speed limit for cars set at 20-30 km/hr on main roads - wouldn't that be frustrating?
What it comes down to is this: The only remotely safe options for cyclists to get into downtown (Cambie Bridge and the bike route near the Georgia St Viaduct) are much too far east to be practical for anyone living on the west side. A safe route for cyclists from the west side to get into downtown is long overdue, and is a necessary part of Vancouver's sustainable development plan. The three bridges are under capacity anyway, according to the city's Engineering Department, so why not use the solution that requires the least amount of work, least amount of money, and causes no damage to the beautiful heritage structure of the Burrard Bridge?
And to everyone else who wants to whine about the state of traffic in this city, I say this: Get out of your car. Walk, take transit, cycle. Quit being a part of the very problem you complain about and start contributing to the solution.
Now let the flames begin...
P.S. Thanks a lot for getting me all riled up. Now I'm going to be late for work!!