REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

Harvey Specter · 07-02-2009, 11:07 PM

The city of Vancouver has gone mental;

Quote:

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - It may be a decision that finally pleases bike riders and drivers... City hall is considering a cyclist and pedestrian bridge over False Creek. The $45 million dollar project would link Vanier Park to Sunset Beach.

Mayor Gregor Robertson says council received plans from the man behind the design of the Woodward's development, "A really interesting proposal just came forward from a local architect and engineer that we're going to take a look at. I think it's worth pursuing. It could end up being a great solution to a problem that's been hard to solve for several years."

Robertson believes it could be a long term alternative to the bike lane on the Burrard Street Bridge, "It would be years in the making, we have to get approval from taxpayers to spend the money on it as a capital project and that would be on a referendum in an election in the future and there's a lot of work to be do on the details and seeing what it will cost and what the best design and way to build this is. There's lots of work to do yet but it's great to have an idea on the table."

He adds the bike lane trial starting July 13th is still necessary as an interim solution. The cost could be covered by sources outside the city as Robertson pushes for federal and provincial infrastructure funding.

According to the mayor, the bridge would be the first of its kind in North America and similar to London's Millenium bridge, "It has great sweeping curves to it but it's quite light and doesn't take up anywhere near the bulk of a big car bridge, so it's very elegant. I think it would be a great tourism boost."

If council decides to go ahead with the plan, it would open the process to all interested firms, not just Gregory Henriquez, the architect behind this idea.

"This is a nice idea but it's very expensive," says lone NPA councillor Suzanne Anton. She thinks the mayor is simply bending under the pressure to make things better, "We're much better off going with the proposal that's been around which is to widen the bridge and allow enough room for bikes, people, and cars and be done with it."

She thinks retrofitting the Burrard Bridge will be cheaper because the span already needs a $30 million dollar upgrade. She says the widening of the sidewalks would only add another 25 million.

News1130 wanted to know what you think - so we talked with cyclists riding around Vanier park about the idea to build a dedicated bike bridge. Many, like Jen, support the idea, "I'm a biker, I don't really want to own a car ever, I have never owned a car. I'm 25 and I probably could afford one but I'm all about the biking so I would say yes, go for it! But is that going to mean an increase in taxes?"

Even more people we talked to don't like the price tag, "I think they can take the money and use it for something more worthwhile, it's a hell of a lot of money for just bicycles."

Another person who didn't support the idea felt that the bridge would only be used in the summer and not in the winter.

murd0c · 07-02-2009, 11:37 PM

I just saw that on the news, it better not come out of my tax's thats for fricken sure!!!

Ch28 · 07-02-2009, 11:38 PM

Yay for more wasted taxpayer money!!!

ienhz · 07-02-2009, 11:39 PM

i love biking on weekends but this is too much

Marco911 · 07-02-2009, 11:40 PM

I think this is a great idea as long as they charge tolls to cyclists. They should see if they can privatize the project by selling it to Macquary bank, who will charge tolls. Considering the number of users, I'd conjecture tolls would be something like $45 / way to cover the cost. If a private company is not interested in this project, neither should the government be.

I would love to sit on the board with City Hall and show them what morons each of them are.

Qmx323 · 07-02-2009, 11:41 PM

Gregor Robertson, spare me 0.5% of the money you're planning on spending on this project.

goo3 · 07-03-2009, 12:42 AM

Ah yes, because the Burrard Street Bridge is too far away from Vanier Park for me to walk over. I need a bridge

asian_speedster · 07-03-2009, 12:47 AM

This is just really dumb. There are better ways to spend our tax dollars

orange7 · 07-03-2009, 01:37 AM

omg.. next we're going to need a bridge just for people in wheelchairs so they don't get run over by cyclists.

The_AK · 07-03-2009, 01:45 AM

This is ridiculous... the burrard street bridge is still going to get alot of cyclists even if they build this retarded bridge. People who live East of the burrard street bridge or closer to it will still take it even if they build the bike bridge. Also, it won't serve any purpose at all during the winter...

I'd rather see taxpayer money be flushed down a toilet, get a video of it posted on youtube so i can rewatch it, and then be able to send it to my friends for ultimate lulz.

Rogue951 · 07-03-2009, 06:38 AM

Can't believe the money they want to waste in this.
funny enough the poll on news1130.com is something like 55%-45%
I can't see how this is necessary when they're already taking out a lane on the bridge.
Even if they gave the lane back after the money for a bridge like this and upkeep is just a waste.

Berzerker · 07-03-2009, 06:42 AM

Aircare could pay that off in one year.. I say GO FOR IT!!!

Wait I have a better idea... FUCK AIRCARE AND FUCK THAT BRIDGE!!!!

Berz out.

silk · 07-03-2009, 06:50 AM

anyone thought about winter time when these bike lane will be closed? and sitting there for the 3,4 months

hotjoint · 07-03-2009, 06:52 AM

wow totally retarded, more wasted tax money!

03aspec · 07-03-2009, 07:10 AM

Berzerker · 07-03-2009, 07:39 AM

^^ hahahahhh

Berz out.

rsx · 07-03-2009, 07:54 AM

why does it look slanted?

What a useless bridge.

shenmecar · 07-03-2009, 08:31 AM

screw this, might as well forward the money to the Athletes village instead.

impactX · 07-03-2009, 09:37 AM

Should have known before you voted for that retard as your mayor.

penner2k · 07-03-2009, 09:44 AM

I guess I'm the only person that has been saying for months while they argued about the whole closing lanes on the Burrard St bridge thing that they should just build a bridge.

That in my opinion is a worse idea then this..

Chairman Kaga · 07-03-2009, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penner2k

I guess I'm the only person that has been saying for months while they argued about the whole closing lanes on the Burrard St bridge thing that they should just build a bridge.

That in my opinion is a worse idea then this..

Closing lanes = slight inconvenience to drivers in that area
building bridge = huge waste of taxpayers money that affects EVERYBODY

Bonka · 07-03-2009, 11:17 AM

Ugh..special interest groups are poison.

penner2k · 07-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chairman Kaga

Closing lanes = slight inconvenience to drivers in that area
building bridge = huge waste of taxpayers money that affects EVERYBODY

You can say the same thing about twinning the Port Mann Bridge though. Or building that new bridge from Langley to Pitt Meadows.. Not everyone is using those yet everyone is paying for them.

I'm not going to the Olympics but my tax money is paying for it.

ilvtofu · 07-03-2009, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marco911

I think this is a great idea as long as they charge tolls to cyclists. They should see if they can privatize the project by selling it to Macquary bank, who will charge tolls. Considering the number of users, I'd conjecture tolls would be something like $45 / way to cover the cost. If a private company is not interested in this project, neither should the government be.

I would love to sit on the board with City Hall and show them what morons each of them are.

If you toll it then they won't seem like they're encouraging it as much.
Those greedy bastards at translink should pay for this

taylor192 · 07-03-2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penner2k

You can say the same thing about twinning the Port Mann Bridge though. Or building that new bridge from Langley to Pitt Meadows.. Not everyone is using those yet everyone is paying for them.

I'm not going to the Olympics but my tax money is paying for it.

You can say the same for a lot of what tax dollars is spent on.
I'd rather spend tax dollars on infrastructure than most of the social programs. With the money wasted yearly in the DTES, Vancouver could have many new infrastructure projects serving a far greater area.