Metro Vancouver Bike & Pedestrian Discussion - Page 140

Prometheus · #**2781** Posted **Apr 27, 2013, 1:30 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porfiry

This is a few days old, it almost slipped by unnoticed:

Bike paths to be widened on Second Narrows, new safety fence installed
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Bike+lan...afety+fence+installed/8278555/story.html

Since a 3-metre high "safety fence" obviously has nothing to do with safety, I am curious whether the government has any evidence that persons prevented from jumping off a particular bridge don't use an alternative method of suicide (e.g., jumping off a building, jumping in front of skytrain, jumping off a different bridge, taking pills, etc.), viz., whether there is any evidence that a single suicide is prevented by such a fence. If one becomes suicidal, is it conceivable that one will forgo an intention to commit suicide because jumping off Second Narrows is not one of the many options?

whatnext · #**2782** Posted **Apr 27, 2013, 3:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porfiry

Are you new to the city? That's been congested since forever.

Nope, born and raised. And the congestion there is worse (and never used to occur outside of rush hour) since the mess created on the stretch of Pacific between Burrard and Hornby. Jerry Doltbrovolny was on the radio talking about "normalizing" the intersection to reduce cyclist crashes - does he mean eliminating the turn lane onto Hornby and making every vehicle execute a 90 degree turn? That will cause congestion enough without the insanity of removing another lane.

officedweller · #**2783** Posted **Apr 27, 2013, 11:28 PM**

I think the SW corner needs normalizing. As a driver, it's hard to crane your neck for a shoulder check for cyclists.
If they normalize the SE corner, I would expect them to install a right turn traffic light/cyclist traffic light to hold back cars and cyclists like along Hornby Street.

wrenegade · #**2784** Posted **Apr 29, 2013, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prometheus

Since a 3-metre high "safety fence" obviously has nothing to do with safety, I am curious whether the government has any evidence that persons prevented from jumping off a particular bridge don't use an alternative method of suicide (e.g., jumping off a building, jumping in front of skytrain, jumping off a different bridge, taking pills, etc.), viz., whether there is any evidence that a single suicide is prevented by such a fence. If one becomes suicidal, is it conceivable that one will forgo an intention to commit suicide because jumping off Second Narrows is not one of the many options?

Effectiveness of a 3m safety fence aside, I am glad to see they are widening the sidewalks. I crossed the bridge NB for the first time yesterday and holy crap is that sketchy. Not something I'll likely be doing again until it's widened. Crossing the Lions Gate later on felt luxurious by comparison.

Porfiry · #**2785** Posted **May 2, 2013, 2:40 PM**

Adanac Bikeway Improvements: Gore to Carrall
http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/adanac-bikeway-open-house-info-boards.PDF

WarrenC12 · #**2786** Posted **May 2, 2013, 3:10 PM**

Looks good, that's a busy area and awkward for cyclists. Those fatality statistics are sad though.

huenthar · #**2787** Posted **May 2, 2013, 4:19 PM**

Blog posting on the condition of the BC Parkway (with lots of pics):

http://nwimby.blogspot.ca/2013/04/my-nominee-for-worst-road-in-bc.html

theKB · #**2788** Posted **May 2, 2013, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by huenthar

Blog posting on the condition of the BC Parkway (with lots of pics):

http://nwimby.blogspot.ca/2013/04/my-nominee-for-worst-road-in-bc.html

got a good chuckle on the line about "how skytrain was built to bring Vancouver into the seventies"

idunno · #**2789** Posted **May 2, 2013, 5:09 PM**

Those improvements look great! So many complicated intersections - but it looks like it'll be much improved. The City is getting pretty good at these 'temporary' bicycle facility improvement projects.

aberdeen5698 · #**2790** Posted **May 3, 2013, 1:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Porfiry

Adanac Bikeway Improvements: Gore to Carrall
http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/adanac-bikeway-open-house-info-boards.PDF

I think that closing the half-block of Union street immediately East of Main Street and adding the advance bike signal for westbound bikes (in addition to the advance that eastbound traffic already has) should drastically eliminate conflicts with vehicles and improve safety, as long as vehicle right turns from Union are prohibited during that interval.

I like the separated cycle tracks, but I'm a lot less enthusiastic about eastbound bikes and cars having to share the same lane of Union Street between Main and Gore. Right now there's always plenty of room in the parking lane so that vehicles can easily get by me - but with a single lane I'm thinking I'll end up having to take the lane for the whole block which is going to cause stress for me and those stuck behind me. Most motorists are pretty mellow, but others get awfully annoyed when they're stuck behind a bike for a WHOLE BLOCK.

If they do decommission the viaducts I'd like to see them widen Union to provide enough space for a separated eastbound bike lane as well.

WarrenC12 · #**2791** Posted **May 3, 2013, 4:49 PM**

Anybody living nearby know what's happening with the Comox-Helmcken Greenway? According to the city, construction was starting Jan 2013:

http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/comox-helmcken.aspx

mezzanine · #**2792** Posted **May 3, 2013, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Anybody living nearby know what's happening with the Comox-Helmcken Greenway? According to the city, construction was starting Jan 2013:

http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/comox-helmcken.aspx

they are replacing the ped-controlled yellow warning light at comox and bute with ped/cyclist controlled red light.

They are also doing a lot of lane/sidewalk work in front of the wall centre, where it faces comox.

twoNeurons · #**2793** Posted **May 9, 2013, 3:59 PM**

A 1973 video of a bike ride around Vancouver and North Vancouver. Cool footage.

• Video Link

theKB · #**2794** Posted **May 9, 2013, 6:49 PM**

Not sure if it has been discussed but just came across NYC's bike share program and Vancouver should take a serious look at the way they have implemented it at zero cost to the taxpayer.

http://a841-tfpweb.nyc.gov/bikeshare/faq/

41 million from Citigroup for the naming rights (Citibike) and also 6.5 million from Mastercard.

s211 · #**2795** Posted **May 9, 2013, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by theKB

Not sure if it has been discussed but just came across NYC's bike share program and Vancouver should take a serious look at the way they have implemented it at zero cost to the taxpayer.

http://a841-tfpweb.nyc.gov/bikeshare/faq/

41 million from Citigroup for the naming rights (Citibike) and also 6.5 million from Mastercard.

But in BC, corporate sponsorships are one step removed from taking money from the Nazis.

(sorry, must be election fatigue)

Klazu · #**2796** Posted **May 9, 2013, 11:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Anybody living nearby know what's happening with the Comox-Helmcken Greenway? According to the city, construction was starting Jan 2013:

http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/comox-helmcken.aspx

I have noticed the construction work, but only now realized what it's for. Cool addition to my immediate neighborhood. I bought a bicycle just last weekend, so I will be enjoying this new route to Stanley Park.