Ongoing Calgarians complaining about pedestrian bridges thread

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

The new Jaipur bridge in Eau Claire opened a few days ago, it's wider than its predecessor so that is quite nice. However I think they could have still made it even wider.

That was my thought too. It's a pretty high-traffic area, and there's plenty of space to go wider, so not sure why they didn't.

[Rhettzky]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

The new Jaipur bridge in Eau Claire opened a few days ago, it's wider than its predecessor so that is quite nice. However I think they could have still made it even wider.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1534403389664022528

https://twitter.com/user/status/1534677719694204928

The one lady crossing the bridge in that video RGMG. The couple in question is walking together all the way on the right side of the bridge. Then as the cyclist approaches she just meanders out into the middle of the bridge while her walking buddy stays to the right, effectively blocking the whole bridge and forcing the cyclist to almost have to stop due to oncoming walkers and then cut around them. Which pretty much sums up every walking/running/biking experience along the river walk.

[Bigtime]

Haha, if you check out Tim's tweet you may see my reply about that too. Make the bridge wider and still deal with clueless users floating over to the left.

My kids are tired of me constantly hammering the "keep right" point to them when we are on pathways, riding or walking. "Yes dad, we know. You can stop telling us."

[Table 5]

Some people are just clueless. Even on the eastern sections of Riverwalk where you have two separate pathways (one for bikes and one for pedestrians, separated by landscaping) you'll still see some dope walking on the bike path.

[Engine09]

I'm on the bike 5 days a week commuting to work, a good potion of that is along the Bow and Fish Creek. I can't tell you how many times I ring my bell well ahead of time but people constantly get confused and startled then move left and turn around. I stay cheerful and say hello, never going too fast to frighten them but holy #### it's infuriating.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Engine09

I'm on the bike 5 days a week commuting to work, a good potion of that is along the Bow and Fish Creek. I can't tell you how many times I ring my bell well ahead of time but people constantly get confused and startled then move left and turn around. I stay cheerful and say hello, never going too fast to frighten them but holy #### it's infuriating.

I get why it happens. Even if you know the rules, it's natural instinct to be somewhat startled by surprise noises from behind, and I think loud bells sometimes do more harm than good in this regard. I think a simple "on your left" can often be less disruptive.

Personally, when sharing a road with fast things like cars or bikes, I think it would make more sense for pedestrians to walk on the left side of the road, instead of the right. This way, pedestrians don't have to move for, or get as startled by, things coming up behind them, and can clearly see things coming towards them. But that would require a bit of a cultural shift in thinking, which I'm not sure is going to happen in NA.

[Locke]

I do love how we are all still complaining about Pedestrian Bridges.

This thread knows what its about and it delivers!

That being said, as it is a Pedestrian Bridge and Bicycles are vehicles, if I cant drive over the bridge how come cyclists can ride over it?

'Pedestrians only' no?

[burn_this_city]

Saw the new bridge up close yesterday, it's pretty nice and should be wide enough for 99% of the time.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Some people are just clueless. Even on the eastern sections of Riverwalk where you have two separate pathways (one for bikes and one for pedestrians, separated by landscaping) you'll still see some dope walking on the bike path.

I'm usually enjoying myself too much zooming around to care.

Obstacles add to the fun, if anything.

But yes, there are a lot of drifters and the signs are pretty obvious.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Table 5

Personally, when sharing a road with fast things like cars or bikes, I think it would make more sense for pedestrians to walk on the left side of the road, instead of the right.

I thought for roads with no sidewalks, this was the prescribed safest way? It's what I've taught my kids anyway haha.

I agree, although I can see it breaking down in REALLY high traffic where bike traffic is basically slowed to following pedestrians in front of them. Realistically, at that point, everyone should get off their bikes/scooters and walk anyway.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Bill Bumface

I thought for roads with no sidewalks, this was the prescribed safest way? It's what I've taught my kids anyway haha.

It's what I do/teach as well, but I feel like sticking to the right side in any situation is engrained in people here. I think it makes sense whenever there is a large discrepancy in speed...ie for people who bike on roads in the countryside. It's always better to see the potentially dangerous object coming at you, as opposed to trying to anticipate it from behind.

[Bigtime]

A guy with a hammer wrecked almost all the railing glass panels on the Peace bridge early yesterday morning. Brutal.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1551277546045485057

[timun]

This is why we can't have nice things.

[Zarley]

Brutal, guess that ad campaign didn't deter him.

The city needs to do an enforcement blitz on petty crime like vandalism / littering etc. They did something similar back in the mid 2000s but it seems to have dropped off.

[Fuzz]

Fortunately only the lower panels. It sounds like the guy got away? I hope they toss him in the river with his hammer.

[Bigtime]

Yeah they lost him in the downtown core apparently.

[Bigtime]

Of course this is pretty bad timing as a few weeks ago the city was already discussing options to replace this glass with. I'd hate to end up with something that doesn't look as good.

[Locke]

If we hadnt wasted taxpayer money acquiescing to the whims of latte-sipping cyclists and pedestrians in the first place we wouldnt have this problem.

No Peace Bridge, no glass, no vandalism = no problem.

Also if this were just a standard traffic bridge there would be no problem. Nobody is pulling over on a bridge to grab a hammer and start vandalizing! The honking would be incessant!!

Green text required?

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Haha, if you check out Tim's tweet you may see my reply about that too. Make the bridge wider and still deal with clueless users floating over to the left.

My kids are tired of me constantly hammering the "keep right" point to them when we are on pathways, riding or walking. "Yes dad, we know. You can stop telling us."

You are an excellent parent for doing this. So many people are clueless.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by Zarley

Brutal, guess that ad campaign didn't deter him.

If anything, it encouraged them.

Some mother####ers just like to take out their frustrations of their world by damaging public property. What a miserable life they live.