12-29-2015, 12:38 PM
(12-29-2015, 12:02 PM)tomh009 Wrote: A pedestrian bridge doesn't need to take much space at all if you build it Tokyo-style, with stairs parallel to the road.
But I can think of only a single pedestrian bridge in Kitchener and Waterloo (across University avenue, between UW and the parking lots). Is there political will to build more? Would bicyclists be willing to carry their bikes up/down the stairs?
Probably not. It's not really worth it to take the one at UW either. It is easier to carry bikes up/down when there are ramps on the stairs, but still not great. There is a dedicated bicycle bridge in Montreal over a highway, but no stairs are involved there.
Because of the water an underpass wouldn't be viable, I'd think. Underpasses are also problematic for other reasons.
I do happen to live right next to the Weber intersection, but fortunately I don't need to cross it at peak times very often. The fact that the trail doesn't quite continue on the other side of Laurel Creek but instead a half-block up at Mackay means that there are a few more options, and that also makes it further from Lincoln.
(When I do cross, northbound I'll usually cross at Laurel and then either through the parking lot, which is terrible, or sometimes directly at the trail crossing, but then I potentially have to hang out in the middle of the street for a while. Southbound I'd usually be heading on Weber to Erb anyway, so no need to cross.)