Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread - Page 41 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Muta · 11-18-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SebC

Well at least they say they want a landmark. What makes you think this one will be any different from Cantos/St. Patrick's?

I can't quite say... I could very well be wrong about the hype, but this has been on the agenda for several years, not a matter of months like the bridge projects and to some extent, Cantos. I just get a really good vibe from this new library, and the positive gabber that I hear amongst architects and the East Village decision makers is really cool. I think this one might be different... or atleast, I hope.

Bend it like Bourgeois · 11-19-2009, 12:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muta

Well, with the numbers I've heard... if they want a REALLY signature library, that's about the budget I've heard as well. I believe they're still in the fundraising stage.

To put it in perspective, the new downtown Seattle Public Library cost approximately $166 million, and it's not even that big of a facility. But it is an OUTSTANDING building... and Calgary's budget is going to be higher than that. I've heard some architects say that it needs to go higher.... like, $400 million for the type of facility the library wants.

Soooo $166 mil for a library that's interesting visually but practically nothing new, in an expensive city, and ours is going to be 3 x the cost?

Good lord give me more bridges.

By coincidence, I am in seattle. The review on the library so far - worlds most expensive book bag (survey of 3).

Muta · 11-19-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bend it like Bourgeois

Soooo $166 mil for a library that's interesting visually but practically nothing new, in an expensive city, and ours is going to be 3 x the cost?

Good lord give me more bridges.

By coincidence, I am in seattle. The review on the library so far - worlds most expensive book bag (survey of 3).

Hey, to each their own. There's no denying that. But even you said it's interesting visually... which, in itself, kind of proves my point. No one said you had to like the pricetag... but that`s what that type of building cost, and the City of Seattle thought it was necessary enough to build it. Sometimes things aren`t completely always about function; form is just as important. But again, to each their own.

Pastiche · 11-19-2009, 07:16 AM

Vancouver's got a beautiful central library.

Bigtime · 07-21-2010, 08:56 AM

Bumping this thread with some recent pictures of the fabrication of the bridge over in Europe:

Note the painted sections in the background.

Those pieces are also lying on their sides, rotate them 90 degrees and put two together to judge just how wide this bridge will be!

Superflyer · 07-21-2010, 09:17 AM

Not bad, but shipping them from Europe, that will cost a bit of the budget I bet. I like the design and the height looks like it will be very nice.

Bigtime · 07-21-2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superflyer

Not bad, but shipping them from Europe, that will cost a bit of the budget I bet. I like the design and the height looks like it will be very nice.

Shipped from Europe or not that quote beat out Canadian ones.

CaptainCrunch · 07-21-2010, 09:36 AM

Since its inevitable that the bridge is coming, I might as well support it.

Actually who am I kidding, I'm still underwhelmed by the thing, and I still think its a waste of money in its current state and location.

And its one of many issues that will swing my vote when the election comes around.

Bigtime · 07-21-2010, 09:39 AM

I think this bridge will have a very big presence in person, just like The Bow building you probably can't really appreciate it's detail until you are standing right in front of it.

Table 5 · 07-21-2010, 09:43 AM

Screw the haters, this thing is going to be the Bow of bridges. A total piece of awesome.

mykalberta · 07-21-2010, 09:46 AM

The difference is that its a bridge that doesnt replace any other used bridge. There is no practical use for the bridge but it will be used in the summer, it will be a ghost town in the winter.

The benefit for me is maybe there will be less jacka$$ cyclists on the Princess Island bridge I use 2X daily.

burn_this_city · 07-21-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Shipped from Europe or not that quote beat out Canadian ones.

Sadly only because we don't subsidize our steel fabricators.

Bigtime · 07-21-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Sadly only because we don't subsidize our steel fabricators.

I feel like we've had this discussion before, with parallels being brought up of Bombardier versus Brazils Embraer.

You Need a Thneed · 07-21-2010, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

TThe benefit for me is maybe there will be less jacka$$ cyclists on the Princess Island bridge I use 2X daily.

Exactly why this bridge is needed -- there isn't enough capacity on the existing bridges.

burn_this_city · 07-21-2010, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigtime

I feel like we've had this discussion before, with parallels being brought up of Bombardier versus Brazils Embraer.

Haha I'm still bitter. I hate subsidizies on anything, creates unfair advantages for firms that don't deserve them.

mykalberta · 07-21-2010, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Exactly why this bridge is needed -- there isn't enough capacity on the existing bridges.

Was that a serious response? At least on the pip bridge there is no volume problem except durring stampede when tourists decide to walk 4 aside down 5 person max wide bridge.

The volume of cyclists isnt the problem, its cyclists themselves. It seems there is some magical effect that happens to anyone who wears a plastic helmet and rides on anything with two wheels, they instantly become a jacka$$ - I would love if the city were to ban bikes on the centre street and pip bridge and force all cyclists to use the new 25mil bridge.

You Need a Thneed · 07-21-2010, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Was that a serious response?

Yes.

Many bikers will try to use the new bridge exactly for that reason, less congestion.

The pip bridge is what, 4 metres wide, and the bridge under the LRT bridge is maybe what - 3m?

With this new bridge, the capacity (width) is almost doubled, plus it has a visual separation between pedestrians and the bike lanes.

Bill Bumface · 07-21-2010, 10:52 AM

As a cyclist, I will gladly ride the extra couple minutes to go over this awesomeness with bike/pedestrian separation than subject myself to the cluster F that is the PIP bridge. Cyclists are idiots, yes, but I don't enjoy the constant lookout for darting children and dogs in PIP because of the huge amount of rush hour congestion in there.

Bunk · 07-21-2010, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Since its inevitable that the bridge is coming, I might as well support it.

Actually who am I kidding, I'm still underwhelmed by the thing, and I still think its a waste of money in its current state and location.

And its one of many issues that will swing my vote when the election comes around.

At least on the mayoral level, pretty much all the candidates (except Bob Hawksworth) didn't vote for the bridge or if they weren't on Council, already declared they wouldn't have voted for the bridge.

shermanator · 07-21-2010, 12:25 PM

My only issue with the bridge is where the city is placing it. The bridge is going to be 2 blocks east of the C-Train bridge. If they place the bridge one block east, it lines up with the pedestrian crossing light across Memorial and is more evenly spaced between the two existing bridges.

For a visual: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...34.73,,0,23.26