A comment from the previous post by Barry Rueger:
I had cause to drive over the new Burrard bridge this week. Wow! Did they get it right. No confusion, traffic flows smoothly and intuitively, and none of the dreaded fear that a cyclist might suddenly appear out of nowhere.
If other bridges can be re-engineered this well there’s no reason why any driver should complain.
I happened to be at the Burrard Bridge at 2:15 pm on Sunday afternoon.
So here’s the traffic on the lanes feeding into the northern intersection of the Burrard Bridge.
It’s important to note that traffic on the weekend in the core can in some ways be worse than on weekdays. While not reaching peak volumes, the congestion off peak is worsened by more through traffic for leisure-bound and shopping purposes, more street parking in place and drivers less familiar with the traffic patterns.
And yet, no significant back-up on any lane. The signalling system was moving the traffic through like clock-work.
Okay, a one-time anecdote. But there’s lots of data available for every hour of the day, every day of the week – if a reporter wanted to follow up on this story:
Did the bike lanes on the Burrard Bridge create more congestion?
It seems like an obvious question to get an answer for, given that every story most of the media does on bike lanes has as a starting assumption that they do.
Alex Botta, in the previous post, notes:
Maintaining their perfectly predictable reputation, Global News this morning led with the Cambie Bridge bike lane story accompanied by a minor sarcastic lilt and a suppressed eye roll. “Here we go again …”
Adanac:
I used to think that the news media was just out to create divisions among people in order to make drama and sell ads. Now I think there’s something else going on. They seem to be always be against any alternatives to cars.
I wonder if the eye roll was in the script. If so, who put it there? …
It’s too consistent to be random. I’m suspicious.
Maybe someone in the media can respond. Why the knee-jerk cynicism? Why the unexamined assumption? Why not a story on the congestion from bike lanes that never seems to happen?
Now, more collisions (and rage) have shifted to cyclists vs. pedestrians. Just watch come peak summertime, with bewildered tourists/visitors, on both modes.
That obviously won’t be happening on the Burrard and downtown separated bike lanes because … well, they are separated from pedestrians too.
I don’t see the rage between cyclists and pedestrians, although I do see some entitled people on both sides.
One thing I do see often in Vancouver on crosswalks, sidewalks and now more than before on the Seaside and Seawall are run pedestrians walking up to five abreast who either oblivious or are unwilling to give room to oncoming pedestrians. It is now even worse with more people texting and walking and weaving all over the sidewalks and trails oblivious to their surroundings.
Ditto pedestrians in the bike lane and vice versa. People seem to regard the segregated lanes more like suggestions..
“I used to think that the news media was just out to create divisions among people in order to make drama and sell ads. Now I think there’s something else going on. They seem to be always be against any alternatives to cars.”
Well of course – look who the advertisers are on the radio, in the remaining papers, on TV… Car ads are one of the most consistent sources of funding for the media.
Much like how we pretended there was nothing wrong with housing costs forever, because the real estate developers are likewise at the top of the list for ad spending.
Lovely photo. Take it again on a sunny summer weekend and it won’t be.
Why not a story on the congestion of bike lanes that never seems to happen?
Indeed.
Why not a story on the two+ million cyclists who have ridden over the Burrard Bridge since the bike lane appeared? Or the millions more who have used all separated bike lanes?
The Sun used to side with the business community as well as drivers in their tirades against all things cycling. After the downtown business community became onside because they realize that bikes are good for business, the Sun appeared to be in a confused state and actually wrote some good stuff about cycling. Now they seem to have reverted back to their old ways and but no longer mention how bike lanes destroy business. Yes – it would be nice to see some pro cycling articles in the local media.
After first bike lane was opened on the BB in 2010, city measured motor vehicle trip time to cross the bridge and it was pretty much the same before and after the bike lane was installed. Ditto for Hornby bike lane. City promises same for Cambie Bridge bike lane. It would be good if they could provide trip times for all modes before and after the impressive upgrade to the bridge and the Pacific intersection. I am sure that there is an improvement for all modes. Its not the bike lanes that slow traffic. In fact, it is the opposite. Modal choice is good for everyone – especially for those who must drive.
https://aarontheplanner.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/what-anti-bike-lane-advocates-dont-want-you-to-see/
Above is a link to a piece deleted from an anti-bike site. Some excellent points are made.
Courtesy of Stephen Rees.