The single most heart warming thing about the bridge lane and Critical Mass is seeing seniors advancing their walkers freely, easily and safely to get somewhere. It’s amazing, and gives me hope for the future.
PS. I left my Grand on the bridge half way through around 6.00 PM . He’s not home yet, but at least I too know he’s safe out there.

The single most heart warming thing about the bridge lane and Critical Mass is seeing kids pedaling freely, easily and safely to get somewhere. It’s amazing, and gives me hope for the future.

FWIW, I think it has been a success so far and hope that my fears concerning congestion in the Fall are not borne out.

You also then wrote: “Also, I would note that we built the Golden Ears and will build the proposed new Port Mann bridges to deal with expected future capacity as well as current. Notwithstanding the debate over the actual need for these facilities, the same approach is just as sensible with other transportation infrastructure. Expecting that people are going to en masse change their behaviour is optimistic IMO. ” Again, I made the obvious inference.

And, to be clear, I did not characterize your position as being that the statistics didn’t matter, only that they didn’t matter when they didn’t support your conclusion.

Regarding safety, I take your position that it feels safer for you. No doubt the study will show a decrease in the number of accidents then.

I don’t ride over the bridge often, as I live downtown, but I did bike over it coming north a few weeks ago, on the sidewalk side. Ironically, that sidewalk was filled with pedestrians (tourists, I assume), so it didn’t seem any different. :/

Finally, Chris, I don’t mistrust your motives. I just recognize your position. You are an advocate. Your mind is made up. I don’t mean that as a criticism.

I also think there is a different between perception and reality. In making an assessment as to whether the bike lane has made the bridge safer for everyone, I’ll await the statistics on the relative number of accidents etc.

I support it because the statistics demonstrate that separate cycling facilities are safer as a rule and also creates fertile ground for growing the modal share of cyclists.

My seven-year old kid commented on how much safer it was within a few pedal strokes southbound on the bridge. If a kid can figure it out in a few seconds….

There’s no doubt it’s safer, when the statistics are in the only question will be how much safer.

Have you walked or ridden over the bridge Ian? Before the trial and/or after?

Without direct observation you are relying on the p.o.v. of people such as myself and you clearly don’t trust my motives.

Sorry if I seem to be personalizing the discussion. I guess my position is this: There are people on both sides of this argument who feel very strongly and will never change their minds, regardless of any data. Some people are opposed to the bike lane no matter what; others will support it, no matter what. You appear to be in the latter camp. That is why, when the statistics show a 30% increase in bike use, you cite that as evidence of success. When that 30% increase melts away, you assert that the statistics don’t matter. In the context of a discussion concerning how to assess the success or failure of the trial, an approach of that nature makes the discussion kind of futile.

For my part, I try to keep an open mind and will reach my own conclusions, for what little they’re worth, based on the data which comes out of the trial.

Regarding the safety test, I once again apologize for addressing the question to you, rather than someone with “authority”. You just kept saying it was safer, so I assumed that you had some evidence that it was safer. I take your assertion now to be that you perceive it as safer.

In any event, I’m glad there is a study being conducted. I am curious as to the results and hope that they are properly taken into account in assessing the bike trial.

There’s an ongoing study Ian. Direct your enquiry to someone who can answer your question with authority.

http://www.straight.com/print/219696