Victoria's Bicycle Unfriendly Johnson Street Bridge

The Johnson Street Bridge, in Victoria British Columbia, is in dire need of replacement or repair. Whichever is deemed appropriate, bicycle and pedestrian traffic must be safely integrated.
Read all about it: http://www.veloweb.ca/blog/?p=1538

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• johnson
• street
• bridge
• cycling
• environment
• bicycle
• transportation
• safety
• planning
• referendum
• vote
• victoria
• british
• columbia

[TheVeloWeb]

Update: They've started to dismantle the rail bridge. Meanwhile, the feds have chipped in an additional $16.5M for the new bridge, bringing their total support to $37.5M.

[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.

[douglasf999]

Well done video. :)

[regalondaytons]

I think if the bikes are wanting to have a safer ride, they should have to pay an insurance premium , just like cars have too! Why are we taking away lanes and road ways to make it easier for cyclists, while cars and trucks pay for their insurance? Bicycles??? Don't pay anything, so in the case of a bicyclists hitting a car and it being the cyclists fault, there is no way of my or your cars damage being repaired unless we pay our insurance deductable!! This in my eyes seems to be way offside!