Victoria's Bicycle Unfriendly Johnson Street Bridge

[claire1667]

i have just heard the rail portion is slated to be removed in september

[TheVeloWeb]

@claire1667 Yup. Saw that in the paper today.

[bagelboi66]

Very courteous of you to alert that pedestrian that you were overtaking them. I wish more people did that! Even a short bell ring is welcomed.

When I was a little kid I remember seeing those counterweights and thinking how much they looked like a beaver's teeth. To me they still do. Although a new bridge will be wonderful, as a native Victorian I will miss the old one. Back in the day it was painted black. It was always a treat to be at the front of the line when it raised!

[TheVeloWeb]

@bagelboi66 Well, I guess that courtesy is no longer required on the rail/ped bridge, deemed unsafe for trains as well as foot/bike traffic and raised for good. Courtesy will now be needed amongst the mass of traffic sharing the main span.

[bagelboi66]

@TheVeloWeb I have trouble believing that there was such a panic to close the rail bridge. It's one thing to stop the dayliner from crossing it, but c'mon... bicycles? Still I suppose the insurance company spoke and what choice did the city have?

Crossing on the road portion of the bridge would terrify me. I guess I won't be making any trips to Saxe Point Park until a new bridge is built. I suppose I could load my bike in the car and drive but that rather defeats the purpose of cycling.

[TheVeloWeb]

@bagelboi66 I agree. Seems a bit of an overreaction. Crossing on the main deck is not as scary as it might seem. Confidence is the key--as it is on all shared roads. The existence of the signs giving precedence to cyclists is a help.

The new bridge, with dedicated lanes and separate bike/ped crossing will be a big relief however.

[TheRadicalLiberal]

If there is a worse bridge and approaches for cyclists in Canada, I would like to see it!

[ryanz4]

I also believe in Courtenay they are having an issue with one of their bridges. Motorists believe cyclists should walk across, while cyclists want signs telling people not to pass.

Hopefully with that bridge in Victoria, they rebuild it and do so properly. Victoria has one of, if not the highest bicycle usage in Canada so it only makes sense.

[ryanz4]

I feel bad for anyone who doesn't ride a bike regularly or are tourists. That can be kind of nerve racking and even a bit confusing..

Here in St Catharines, we have the Welland Canal run along the outer eastern edge. We have bridges similar to that, however most of the ones that are on areas where there is more residential or more bike traffic were built quite wide.

The narrow bridges, although there are no markings to do so, people will always (at least for me) wait behind me.