Just kidding, folks, about the last half of that headline — although I’m almost expecting it tomorrow, given the level of hysteria that has erupted over this short stretch of pavement. Good thing no one tried anything really radical or I can’t imagine what would have happened.
Anyway, as part of my first full day back in Vancouver, I just had to make a tour that took me across the Burrard Bridge where, yes indeed, the bike lane is already set up and in use. Concrete dividers now protect cyclists from the car traffic on both the west bridge lane and the east sidewalk lane.
It certainly makes me as a driver feel safer, knowing I’m not in imminent danger of mowing down any cyclist who happens to fall in front of me. Being as it was a Sunday afternoon, there were no signs of hideous traffic clogs (or “embouteillages,” as we say en France) — nothing like as bad as the line-ups along 12th to get past the car-free day on Main — which also appeared to be relatively pedestrian-free too, or at least in the moment that I passed. As well, all pedestrians seemed to have obediently and without protest moved to the west sidewalk.
I couldn’t quite figure out what is going to happen with the north-bound cyclists at the north end of the bridge, which has always been the worst conflict, as drivers try to swing off to Pacific while pedestrians and cyclists are also trying to use the crossing to continue up Burrard. It looked, from what I saw, as though cyclists are meant to swing onto Pacific also until Hornby — or are the plastic cones on that stretch just part of the paving job also going on at the same time? Can’t tell.
Perhaps cyclists who are test-driving the bridge could post here and let us know what happens at the north end and how it feels.
At any rate, it should be quite the scene tomorrow morning at the bridge, with all media on deck to film/record the anticipated conflict and various interest groups out to show the flag. See you there.
52 responses so far ↓
1 Darcy McGee // Jul 12, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Car Free Day on Main street was definitely more bike occupied than Denman Street, but there were plenty of pedestrians. At least I doubt the guy I saw in his black zoot suit with gold aplique and matching chapeau rode his bike.
Momentum Magazine party starts at David Lam Park at 18:00hrs and heads over to Vancouver Musuem. Hope to see as many people there as possible. Triplets of Belleville is a great film being shown.
It warmed my cold, calloused heart to see that concrete barrier on the Burrard Bridge today.
2 Richard // Jul 12, 2009 at 5:21 pm
It is great to see people being able to enjoy walking side by side on the bridge. The west side of the bridge seems to work very well.
Concrete barriers will replace the plastic cones this evening. Cyclists will have a protected lane to Hornby. Right turns will be banned from eastbound Pacific to Southbound Hornby. There will be bike lanes from Howe eastward leaving cyclists and motorists sharing the lane from Hornby to Howe. Not perfect but it is just a trial.
3 rf // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:36 am
8:34am Katkam.ca picture shows exactly zero downtown bound cyclist. Traffic looks reasonable. Irony?
4 Darcy McGee // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:58 am
Do people actually start work after 8:34 a.m.? Most of us are already at our desks, aren’t we?
5 Darcy McGee // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:59 am
besides, I just checked and saw two downtown bound cyclists…the data point is valueless.
6 Bill Bixby // Jul 13, 2009 at 9:42 am
10:30 AM Vancouver Sun is reporting “Trouble-free start to Burrard Bridge bike experiment”
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Trouble+free+start+Burrard+Bridge+bike+experiment/1786163/story.html
7 Chris // Jul 13, 2009 at 9:43 am
If motorists can’t adapt to losing one lane on the Burrard Bridge, then how are they going to handle all the closures during the Olympics?
8 spartikus // Jul 13, 2009 at 9:51 am
The images are archived (scroll to the bottom to choose). Looking over the morning rush hour, I don’t see any gridlock whatsoever. The closest I see is a line of car at 7:53 am – which is longer there are 7:54
At 8:13am and 8:17am there is a long line of bikes clearly in view heading south.
At 8:39am and 8:40am there are lines of bikes heading north.
9 spartikus // Jul 13, 2009 at 9:53 am
Heh…at 8:42 there seems to be some sort of “superbike” in the lower right corner
10 Chris Keam // Jul 13, 2009 at 10:28 am
The ‘superbike’… probably the red velo-mobile from Cambie Cycles?
Only hint of displeasure or confrontation I witnessed at the south end (between 8am and 9-ish) was the bald guy in a purple shirt driving a shiny new black Saab convertible, yelling “F*ck You” to the assembled media as they invu’ed the Mayor… as he drove from Cornwall onto the Bridge. Stay classy there fella!
11 spartikus // Jul 13, 2009 at 11:29 am
The ’superbike’… probably the red velo-mobile from Cambie Cycles?
You’re right. Here’s a closeup.
More shocking photos of jackbooted fascists here.
12 Richard // Jul 13, 2009 at 11:39 am
The only real congestion was on the east sidewalk. Looks like the a wider bike path is needed.
13 Marvin // Jul 13, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Likely the crowd was comprised of Vision supporters. An email went out last week to rally support:
“Join your Vision Vancouver councillors, school trustees, park commissioners and supporters for a group cycle over the bridge on Monday, July 13, at 8:15 AM. We will be meeting at the north side of the Burrard Bridge (on the northeast corner of Burrard and Pacific), cycling over and then gather for a tea or coffee at Bean Around the World (1945 Cornwall Street). Once you’ve used the bike lane, make sure to use twitter and facebook to promote it. We’re also encouraging people to call into radio talk shows and write to their newspapers in support of the Trial. ”
Interesting such a minor handful was present when the party has 13,000 members. Seems to put in question the claim by Mayor and Counsel that Vision voters voted for the bike lanes. But then again, maybe they all drove because the weather kind of sucked this morning.
14 Frothingham // Jul 13, 2009 at 12:26 pm
“8:34am Katkam.ca picture shows exactly zero downtown bound cyclist. Traffic looks reasonable. Irony?”
Nope. The Bike Lane is a great success. It has reduced the number of cars being used.
15 SV // Jul 13, 2009 at 12:29 pm
My favourite part of this whole experiment is the gregorsgridlock page over at citycaucus. You mean the sky ‘s falling?
16 Frothingham // Jul 13, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Actually I would like to see the Burrard Bridge closed to ALL car/truck traffic. It should be ONLY for electric vehicles ( two lanes) and cyclists and pedestrians. I would also have Kioks, Vendors. etc along the bridge. Turn it into a great Art Deco Bridge to the Future.
17 wanderer // Jul 13, 2009 at 12:58 pm
So, the Mayor’s scheme actually reduces access for walkers to one sidewalk on one side of the bridge.
Does anyone else not see this as problematic?
18 Darcy McGee // Jul 13, 2009 at 1:40 pm
Restricting traffic on Burrard Bridge to electric vehicles is a bit daft.
What happens when everything’s electric?
Same problem with allowing Hybrids in HOV lanes.
Add: how do you patrol it? Are cops supposed to be able to recognize every electric vehicle distinct from their “conventionally” powered brethren.
19 MB // Jul 13, 2009 at 3:30 pm
12:14 pm to 12:26 pm … stuck in solid northbound gridlock in my compact single occupant vehicle. Wailing and gnashing of teeth heard over the din of crawling vehicles. 22 minutes to make a 3 minute crossing.
I smiled, thinking of some of the catastrophist comments on this blog regarding the bike lane trial.
That was Saturday. They had the northbound curb lane blocked to set up for the Pacific Blvd closure for paving. Nothing to do with bikes. In fact, the bike lane was already up and running smoothly.
As for the SOV …. hey, I’m working on that.
20 Urbanismo // Jul 13, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Just got a note from VPSN: looks like the MSM has a move afoot to discredit this BB experiment: pity, don’t listen.
This has to take off and continue beyond the good weather.
But the issue is greater than bikes and bridges. This is decades of neglect.
Mayor Cannie Scot stick to your guns but also start looking at it from a comprehensive density/transportation urbanist issue . . .
21 Mark Allerton // Jul 13, 2009 at 4:00 pm
> the bald guy in a purple shirt driving a shiny new black Saab convertible
Well, at least we know now what kind of car A. G. Tsakumis drives
22 Stephanie // Jul 13, 2009 at 4:53 pm
CBC radio reported this evening that there were a number of near-misses at the bridge entrance at Pacific – some because of drivers not yielding properly to bike traffic (the reporter said that there were confused drivers who didn’t know what to do) and some because of cyclists speeding through the intersection.
Sigh. Could everyone smarten up, pleaseandthankyou?
23 East Vancouverite // Jul 13, 2009 at 5:04 pm
I took the bus over the bridge at 5:15 and the road traffic leaving downtown was light. The bike lane was pretty busy with people and the sidewalk was packed. The press was out in force and, alas, the gridlock and fights they all came to see were absent. I did shake my head at News 1130, which was broadcasting live but from a tent at Burrard and Burnaby, totally out of view of the bridge and the bike lane.
24 T W // Jul 13, 2009 at 7:42 pm
I am somewhat dismayed by the often smug, condescending views of the cycle lobby when they were interviewed in the past 2-3 days. Nothing like power. I hope they are as smug when the traffic resumes its fall patterns in September and we have gridlock over the downtown.
Did the traffic engineers do any traffic flow simulation when they approved this measure ? If so, where are the results?
25 Frothingham // Jul 13, 2009 at 9:09 pm
You Can Puff and You Can blow , but Mr Piggy you won’t be able to blow the Bike Lane Down.
Burrard Bridge to the Future.
26 Price Tags // Jul 13, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I’ve tried to document the changes over the last few days (with lots of pics) here – http://pricetags.wordpress.com/2009/07/13/burrard-bridge-day-three-monday-afternoon/
27 Frothingham // Jul 13, 2009 at 9:36 pm
If this incentive were to be tried here cycling to downtown would pick up I’m sure…
BERLIN (Reuters) – A Berlin brothel has come up with a novel way to negate the impact of the global economic crisis and target a new group of customers at the same time — offering a discount to patrons who arrive on bicycles.
28 gmgw // Jul 13, 2009 at 11:20 pm
East Vancouverite said:
“I did shake my head at News 1130, which was broadcasting live but from a tent at Burrard and Burnaby, totally out of view of the bridge and the bike lane.”
They must have been suffering a fit of nostalgia– that’s just a few metres away from what was once the long-time location of the studios of News1130′s predecessor, CKWX (that was the building with the great BC Binning mural on the outside wall, facing Burrard– criminally destroyed in the building’s demolition).
gmgw
29 Chris Keam // Jul 13, 2009 at 11:51 pm
I think the Council and City staff involved in this lane trial deserve a ton of thanks from cyclists AND drivers for devising a plan that’s working and communicating it to bridge users. At this point it looks like they just saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars.
30 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 12:57 am
Huh, Chris . . . you’ve got to be kidding . . . “deserve a ton of thanks” . . .jeezless you really have to be kidding!
Of course we have to have dedicated cycle lanes and in a hell of a lot more places than BB.
As for the Hall, this hullaballo is about neglect and I’ll give the Canny Scott credit for grasping the nettle. Don’t let go Mr. Mayor.
As for the rest of the petty minds . . .
What we have is not a planning office but an approval office wherein it relationship with developers have been far too cozy.
The city is a chaotic disgrace and this cycle thing is a storm in a tea cup that will be sorely tested when the weather changes and the traffice gets back to the normal business cycle . . .
As for that ridiculous little man Gordon Price he’s been preaching “paradise” irresponsibly from his remote perch he seems oblivious and self-servingly intent on glossing over the degraded state of the city.
There are so many critical humane urban issues to be dealt with in Vancouver a brief distractions by a few summer fun obsessions just makes it all seem so happy happy . . .
Of course cycle lanes . . . why the not! But the greater population are too fat to peddle . . .
31 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 1:00 am
PS or more like . . . can’t afford a bike . . .
32 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 1:31 am
PSS
BB: this really is a show of self-indulgent Vancouver at its worst.
Gregory your suspension bridge is yet Vancouver promo fluff, typical: you’re better than that!
Go look at Calatrava’s ped/cyc bridge to Puerto Madero. Those suspensions are much much heavier than your cob webs . . .
. . . and for the impertinent little twit on the other post . . . no I have not had my caffeine fix yet and decaf. don’t do it for me . . .
. . . oh and that little female twit’s comment on the other post, ” why do sailboats take precedence over cyclists?” . . . well madame because my sail boat wont fit under Gregory’s low slung bridge and there are more of us than you . . .
Now grow up . . . QED!
33 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 2:04 am
PPPS . . . hey Professor Paradise, I have a cushy job and a pension too but I don’t go around turning gullible little minds into paper pushing burnt umber proboscides . . .
34 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 3:20 am
P x infinity . . . it’s called the WOONERF and it has been in successful operation for at least two decades in more enlightened jurisdictions . . .
35 Frothingham // Jul 14, 2009 at 6:25 am
whoa Urbanismo! Too much Geritol with your porridge man.
36 Chris Keam // Jul 14, 2009 at 7:01 am
peddle (goods and services)
pedal (bikes)
I see this error so often I am going to break the ‘don’t comment on spelling’ rule to point out the difference.
37 Chris Keam // Jul 14, 2009 at 7:05 am
I also think Gordon Price deserves way more credit than he is getting for paving the way for things like Burrard Bridge Bike lanes and other ped/bike friendly initiatives during his time on Council.
Please don’t blow a gasket Urbanismo. Just stating my opinion.
38 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 7:05 am
Sorry Froth Fred has already gone that route.
I have no need for Geritol and I do not eat porridge . . . but I have worked in, and with, and watched the development of this pretentious little town for decades and trust me it doesn’t work . . .
Pedal your bike to the nearest movie under the bridge and keep out of my face or I’ll get into yours . . .
Planners, who as students, railed against the very concrete ugliness they now aid and abet for their Mac Daddies: and for what a lousy pensions.
There is an odour at the hall . . .
Dr P remember your Hypocratic oath . . . fire the lot and let’s have integrity restored . . the city cannot lose . . . no more anal retentive paper pushers . . .
Try ECUAD and history of lit post grads they know planning integrity when they see it . . . jeezless the fuss ove a crappy bike lane any one would thinq it is the second coming . . .
Et tu Frothie boy . . .
39 Chris Keam // Jul 14, 2009 at 7:47 am
“Pedal your bike to the nearest movie under the bridge and keep out of my face or I’ll get into yours . . .”
????
Please don’t threaten me.
40 spartikus // Jul 14, 2009 at 7:53 am
I am somewhat dismayed by the often smug, condescending views of the cycle lobby when they were interviewed in the past 2-3 days.
Yes. They are so much more odious than the drivers leaving death threats on the comment boards of the Vancouver Sun, et al.
And ooo…I see here now too. Excellent.
41 Frothingham // Jul 14, 2009 at 7:57 am
Urbanismo: I take no offense. I might have had i been able to decipher your thick hazy grammar and logic.
“I have no need for Geritol and I do not eat porridge . . . but I have worked in, and with, and watched the development of this pretentious little town for decades and trust me it doesn’t work . . .”
I would love to hear more of your perspectives on urban planning given your long involvement with the issues.
Inform as all but in clear concise sentences like Lewis did on his post on Urban Design and Bologna.
42 Frothingham // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:00 am
I also think Gordon Price deserves way more credit than he is getting for paving the way for things like Burrard Bridge Bike lanes and other ped/bike friendly initiatives during his time on Council.
Agree! I hope that he is given his just credit for this. He was the pioneer on this issue.
43 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:18 am
Frothingham,
Here’s my stuff:
1. I’m breaking this down ‘co Frances says too many links is “spammie” . . . hey shes the boss
http://www.theyorkshirelad.ca/New.Nanaimo.Center/new.nanaimo.center.html
Thanqxz for being interested . . .
44 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:19 am
2.
http://www.theyorkshirelad.ca/New.Nanaimo.Center/pudpn/Comparisons.pdf
45 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:19 am
3. http://www.theyorkshirelad.ca/New.Nanaimo.Center/pudpn/Commentary.pdf
46 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:21 am
4. http://www.theyorkshirelad.ca/6urbandesign/urban.design.html
47 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:21 am
5.
http://members.shaw.ca/urbanismo/Cooperage.pdf
48 Urbanismo // Jul 14, 2009 at 8:26 am
One more . . .
http://www.theyorkshirelad.ca/7mexicocity/mexicocity1.htm
49 ListenThenQuestionWithIntelligence // Jul 14, 2009 at 10:23 am
My husband bikes over the Burrard Street Bridge every single weekday, rain, shine or snow. He’s fine with the bike lane although he doesn’t think they are necessary. Whatever. Anyway, the only problem he said is that there is apparently not supposed to be any passing in the bike lane on the downhill slope. This is ridiculous. It means that everyone is supposed to go the speed of the SLOWEST biker? I don’t think so. People who bike regularly are usually pretty proficient riders and they ain’t gonna slow down for some tourist looky-loo.
50 Darcy McGee // Jul 14, 2009 at 1:21 pm
> not supposed to be any passing in the bike
> lane on the downhill slope. This is
> ridiculous. It means that everyone is
> supposed to go the speed of the SLOWEST
> biker?
I noticed this on the downhill NORTHbound slope, which is on the sidewalk. With the concrete barrier in place, the sidewalk is narrowed and, frankly, passing is probably a bad idea. It’s narrow enough that a fast passing rider on the left could easily surprise a rider on the right and result in a collision.
People will pass of course, but I would only CONSIDER passing someone if I had confidence in their bike handling skills (as well as my own.) It reminds me of Second Narrows, though it’s not so extremely narrow.
In any case, it’s downhill and over a distance of only about 400m or so. The “slowest” rider shouldn’t be much of an issue. We expect cars to obey speed limits, respect others they share the road with and not simply pursue the fastest time from point A to point B: why shouldn’t we expect bikes too?
I didn’t notice signage on the southbound road lane, but then I was with a group and probably more focused on remaining safe between the riders I was sharing the road with than the signs.
51 LisaB // Jul 14, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I am a chicken cyclist who lives in the West End. I cannot express the joy I felt on cycling across the bridge this morning, protected from cars. I feel like I’ve gained access to a whole new part of town (Kits) that had previously been quite a pain to get to despite being within easy cycling distance.
If we’re serious about getting people to cycle, we need to do what the Danes do – make it attractive to those who are not brave enough to mix with car traffic – since that’s the vast majority of people.
52 Todd Sieling // Jul 14, 2009 at 7:01 pm
I took a walk across the bridge this eve at 6:30 and found all kinds of traffic flowing really nicely. I also noticed that the bottom-feeders at the Province stopped updating their story on the lane trial when the anticipated chaos failed to materialize substantially. Que sera, sera.
What I did see is a really un-intuitive setup at the south end of the bridge for guiding people to the right part for their crossing. One risk to the trial comes from bikers themselves if they decide that both sides of the bridge belong to them, and there are belligerent Critical Massers who will try it, but as far as traffic at a near-peak time, the trial is off to a good start.
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