The story below is encouraging. It shows that money spent on infrastructure can be worth it. Also, sometime's it's hard to gauge demand for a feature like a bridge until you build it, and then you find it's well used (thinking about a potential Bow River crossing on the side of the CPR railway bridge at Nose Creek...).
Anyway, recently a bike/ped bridge was built in Charlotte, NC and it has made quite a difference. Thinking about Calgary, we'd probably agree that the bike/ped bridge at Crowchild Trail has been a huge benefit. Thanks to the anonymous benefactor that came forward with the donation that helped make it happen.
Where else do we need infrastructure in Calgary?
Prince's Island bridge
Submitted by dpjames on
The Prince's Island bridge could do with a ramp to join up with the pathway on the embankment on the south side of Memorial. There are stairs there already but a ramp would be a significant improvement.
For the most part though what's needed for the pathway system are repairs, resurfacing, widening, straightening and twinning of existing paths (ie both sides of the Bow between Crowchild and Edworthy Park bridge) and the addition of the various missing links in the system (ie a surfaced pathway all the way through Fish Creek Park).
Some drinking fountains in the suburban paths away from the rivers would help as well.
For onstreet cycling, well, how much time do you have?
Prince's Island ramp
Submitted by ride on
There's a project underway to build exactly the ramp you are talking about. At present, the island is not wheelchair-accessible from the north side of the river if you are coming along the river pathway system. I believe that ramp will be constructed once the bridge repairs and repainting is completed.
If you've got more ideas for the pathway system improvements, please post your ideas in the forum for pathway suggestions. For on-street cycling, well, there is a Hall of Shame forum where you can mention things that are really wrong.