I just moved to the area and have done a bunch of rides out that way and always wondered why they have a sidewalk on the other side, but not the Eastbound side? It doesn't make any sense and always is a bit scary crossing it. Luckily most of my rides have been early morning with very little traffic going across that way.

Glad your friend didn't get hurt too bad.

---

----

Yeah the design of the bridge just plain sucks for both cycling and general traffic....having said that how much time is a life worth? ie if it takes an extra 5 mins to cross to use the pedestrian walkway but saves a life...

---

http://www.endurancesports.ca
Coaching and Training Camps

Very sorry to hear about your friend. Hope that she gets better quickly.

Definitely a poor design. Like many other crossings ... Pitt bridge is downright awesome to ride across compared to Patullo bridge or Queensborough! But, basically, it's just too small for the volume of traffic that it's being asked to carry :(

I really don't think that crossing to the other side with all the associated wierd lane changes and merge back is a better option, though. That's just one place that I take a good chunk of space so that I have somewhere to go if a vehicle decides to come really close. Of course, bad things can still happen ... they do everywhere :(

Like much of the road infrastructure that get's built in Nort America, there is absolutly no thought or consideration given to pedestrian or bike traffic. It's always an afterthought. It's assumed, that everyone who would ever use such a thing will always be driving a car. I don't agree, but that's the way it is.

---

---

Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

That bridge is so narrow that I have never ridden across it except on the ped path (east side). IMHO there is no reason to be riding with traffic on the road on that bridge. People are driving 80kph plus (except during the rush) and there is no room. All you need is on truck or oversized vehicle and either you get crunched or you hold up traffic/piss drivers off even more.

But thanks again for the reminder.

AP

---

------------------------
"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

It's the same on the Patullo, isn't it? Just the one sidewalk. Crazy. I wouldn't want to ride either!

---

"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS

The challenge here is if you live in the Tri Cities area - (POCO, Coquitlam, Port Moody) at some point life you are going to ride out towards Pitt Meaddows, Maple Ridge , Mission - and the Pitt Bridge is the only crossing point - if i am heading out that way most of the time i skip the first 30 mins of riding and drive to the Esso...

---

http://www.endurancesports.ca
Coaching and Training Camps

my sympathy to your friend, here in hamilton NZ we have a similar bridge, the [somewhat oddly named] boundary road bridge in the centre of town.
it once was fine, one lane of traffic each way, and cycle lanes, allthough only one footpath.
then one day a year or so back to local authority decided that three lanes for cars was the go, noe no cycle lanes are present and we get cars three wide all pushing for space, aka, not a good place to be on a bike.
its a little disapointing to hear that other places are just as bad.

---

I reject your reality and substitute my own!
Adam Savage

Thanks for the heads up on that one Shaun. As you know that is my planned destination so I appreciate the info. Are you likely to be in town third week in June? It would be good to meet up, maybe at one of the lakes for an ST swim/beer meet.

---

"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS

If you turn off on that last little road just before the bridge you can get to a paved path that goes under the end of the bridge and connects to the sidewalk. Once over the bridge you can cross back again at the next intersection with the signals. I know it's a diversion that shouldn't be necessary but if you are just out riding what's an extra few minutes?

Tom

Are you talking about the main hwy intersection (with traffic signals)? It would be a fine way for me to go because I usually head down Dewdney Trunk anyways, not Lougheed.

---

----

No, although you can go that way you would have to turn left at the next intersection and that's not very safe either. The road I'm talking about is between there and the bridge, right at the parking lot for the Wild Duck Inn. The path runs between the river and the Duck.

Of course all this is likely to change in the near future as construction is supposed to start soon on the new bridge that will replace these two old low level bridges. I guess we will have to see how much the construction will screw things up once they get started.

Tom

Got it, thanks for the tip!

And please tell me the new bridge is going to accomodate bikes?!

---

----

Yup - drop me a line - hard at it for IMC:-)

---

http://www.endurancesports.ca
Coaching and Training Camps

That is the route we are taking - and you are right if i am out that way it means i am in for at least 2 hrs....so what's a 5 min diversion vs being hit??

---

http://www.endurancesports.ca
Coaching and Training Camps

YES! About time you were coming back this way... ;-)

AP

---

------------------------
"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

I'll be sure and do that, Shaun. Stay tuned.

---

"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS

You got that right, Andy. I am looking forward to trying one or two if your recommended local ales (but no more than that)!

---

"How bad can it be?" - SimpleS