When I got to the North Sydney side and carried my bike down the stairs (preferable to to trying to roll the bike down the precarious slope provided I think) I gained a whole new respect for those dedicated bicycle commuters that cross this Bridge twice a day. What would happen if, instead of e-tags and toll booths on the traffic lanes, we installed a serious of bollards for motorists to negotiate, followed by a sequence of gates requiring them to get out of their cars to open the gates? How much of an uproar would there be over that? Yet, everyday, bicycle commuters are being forced into a similar set of actions.
On my way back, in the dark, I realised how poorly lit the bicycle path is as I narrowly avoided colliding into other cyclists on the bridge trying to squeeze past almost invisible obstructions that occupy about half the path in places. Not to mention the number of riders crossing the Bridge without helmets or indeed lights. I followed a pair of young male riders on bmx bikes for some time, marvelling at their ability to perform wheelies and other stunts, but dismayed by their lack of bike lights and helmets, especially in such poor light.
Would it be so terrible if I simply disavowed the bike path and took to the road instead? There are 8 traffic lanes on the bridge plus a whole tunnel under the harbour for the use of cars and buses, would the world end if I just decided to ride in a traffic lane? In theory, I only have a legal obligation to ride in a dedicated bicycle lane if it's not dangerous, I think I could make quite a good case for arguing that the Bridge cycle lane is dangerous, especially at night, in which case I don't have to use it. mmmmm ... I feel the need for a little demonstration of civil disobedience arising!
6 comments:
A Critical Mass of one? But seriously, I rode over the thing for five years and agree it's a less than safe piece of infrastructure, but what other realistic choice do we have? Though the idea of daily rides over the bridge sounds nice.
The cycle stairs on the Harbour Bridge are one of the biggest jokes in town planning in Australia. I encountered it near the end of an around Australia bicycle ride. You try the stairs with a fully laden touring bike.
The stairs are the worst piece of cycling provision I had to use in 18,000km of riding.
Enquiries to the Sydney and North Sydney councils, heritage authority, roads and traffic authorities, harbour bridge authority and BicycleNSW resulted in a flurry of buck passing.
The best response was an outline of what might be considered at some future date (a steep ramp to the ground frm near the bottom of the stairs or a better extension of the path to Bradfield Park). The cost of either was chicken feed by comparison to the annual Brisbane, Melbourne or Perth expenditures on cycling.
Any improvement to the stairs would require various departments and authorities to negotiate and communicate with each other. This is likely to be a big problem and a substantial reason why nothing has been done.
BicycleNSW is not particularly vocal on it either judging by their website (http://www.bicyclensw.org.au). Probably do not want to upset anyone by speaking out loud.
Basically, NSW does not consider cyclists to be "real" people/commuters/travellers. Sydney already has the worst cycling provision of any Australian capital city and is falling behind further year by year
I can solve the problem easily and at little expense to anyone save for the cost of a few signs and a bit of paint!
Give the bleedin' "bike path" back to the pedestrians and give the cyclists a traffic lane or 2.
Dammit! I could even make it profitable if I add in a congestion tax on all those cars as well.
The pedestrians already have the other side of the bridge.
What's the story with the guard stopping you from taking a photo? What was the rationale for that?
That's a very good question isn't it Surly Dave, all he said was that taking photos on the Bridge wasn't allowed. I must look like a terrorist I guess .... or maybe all cyclists are subversives?
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