Friday, November 18, 2005

Vancouver Votes, Left - Reason #22

GreatIdeas
ForAGreatCityVille



Some people have really great ideas that are really workable.

Kevin Potvin is one of those people.


"In a Texas city, an old inner-city bridge was overcrowded with cyclists, pedestrians and cars, leading to the death of two pedestrians in 2000. They considered rededicating lanes to bicycles, building out extra lanes, or redirecting car traffic elsewhere. In the end, they built a separate bicycle and pedestrian bridge that is beautiful, effective, and much-loved in the city. The completed cost of this 700-foot span in 2002 was US$9 million.

Some councillors in Vancouver have suggested $15 million is an affordable cost to build extra lanes off Burrard Bridge. Instead, for much the same cost, we could build a separate bicycle bridge from around the Aquatic Centre in the West End to around Vanier Park in Kits. Because pedestrian and bike bridges do not have the same load requirements as car bridges, such a crossing offers all sorts of interesting and beautiful possibilities in design. With the mountains, the sea, the park, the beaches, and the existing and beautiful Burrard Bridge, we could design a unique structure that could well become the most photographed object in an already very photogenic city."


Vote Kevin Potvin (Independent) - Councillor.

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