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Related Categories: Santa Cruz Indymedia | Environment & Forest Defense | Health, Housing & Public Services
Stop the new Hway 1 bridge!
Article in today's metro discusses city plans for new bridge.
The Nuz column in this week's Metro Santa Cruz mentions a city plan to build a new pedestrian/bike bridge parallel to Hiway 1 over the San Lorenzo River. While this may seem like a blessing to some, it will be a curse to others.
Personally, I support the bicycle movement and wish for better bike lanes and bike thoroughfares, but this is not a good location for this bridge. Many housing challenged individuals spend time in this area, and increased bike traffic will result in greater scrutiny of their activities, and give bicycle police better access to the area. It is currently something of a "free zone" and this bike/ped bridge will result in the further gentrification of River St. and must be seen in this context.
One can already walk over the current bridge as many of us already do, then duck down through the hole in the fence that we cut between the highway and the Ross shopping center. Who is the bridge really benefiting? I wonder if one of Neal Coonerty's buddies will get the contract?
Robert N., if you read this, is there any possibility of covering this on Bathrobespierre's Broadsides? Love the show, listen all the time...
Meetings:
Meetings are held quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the City Manager's Conference Room, 809 Center Street, Room 10, Santa Cruz, CA.
Please contact:
Staff Contact:
Tina Shull, Council Affairs Manager
809 Center Street, Room 10
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420-5010 FAX: (831) 420-5011
e-mail: cmpa [at] ci.santa-cruz.ca.us
Personally, I support the bicycle movement and wish for better bike lanes and bike thoroughfares, but this is not a good location for this bridge. Many housing challenged individuals spend time in this area, and increased bike traffic will result in greater scrutiny of their activities, and give bicycle police better access to the area. It is currently something of a "free zone" and this bike/ped bridge will result in the further gentrification of River St. and must be seen in this context.
One can already walk over the current bridge as many of us already do, then duck down through the hole in the fence that we cut between the highway and the Ross shopping center. Who is the bridge really benefiting? I wonder if one of Neal Coonerty's buddies will get the contract?
Robert N., if you read this, is there any possibility of covering this on Bathrobespierre's Broadsides? Love the show, listen all the time...
Meetings:
Meetings are held quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the City Manager's Conference Room, 809 Center Street, Room 10, Santa Cruz, CA.
Please contact:
Staff Contact:
Tina Shull, Council Affairs Manager
809 Center Street, Room 10
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 420-5010 FAX: (831) 420-5011
e-mail: cmpa [at] ci.santa-cruz.ca.us
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I, for one, would use that bridge all the time. For those of us who've sworn off cars, that bridge is an excellent local bike commute resource. For once, the city is doing something right for bikers!
Sorry if this offends some of the HUFF types, but the safety needs of bikers and our local transit needs trump the whining of a few junkies and alcoholics!
Sorry if this offends some of the HUFF types, but the safety needs of bikers and our local transit needs trump the whining of a few junkies and alcoholics!
that is the problem with you "Critical Ass" types, you are only concerned about yur fancy bikes and fanny packs...
you are out of touch with working class and non-working class people.
the area where the bike bridge will be running is one of the few places where disenfranchised Addicto-Americans and Fermento-Americans (sorry, I don't like your "junkies and alcoholics" line, it reminds me of "illegal aliens" or "homeless") can self-medicate.
It's bad enough that the cops all hang out at java junction, now there will be bike cops and soccer moms taking little Tiffany out for a ride "won't somebody think of the children?"
you are out of touch with working class and non-working class people.
the area where the bike bridge will be running is one of the few places where disenfranchised Addicto-Americans and Fermento-Americans (sorry, I don't like your "junkies and alcoholics" line, it reminds me of "illegal aliens" or "homeless") can self-medicate.
It's bad enough that the cops all hang out at java junction, now there will be bike cops and soccer moms taking little Tiffany out for a ride "won't somebody think of the children?"
as someone who always uses a bicycle to commute, i am against the new bridge for the reasons mentioned.
I haven't heard much about this, but invite folks to e-mail me at rnorse3 [at] hotmail.com with more info (or post their thoughts here). You can also call in 9:30 AM on Sunday May 4th to 101.1 FM (http://www.freakradio.org) at 427-3772.
Actually anytime from 9:30 AM to 1 PM on Sunday is a good time. Ditto with Thursday evening 6-8 PM
yes, Robert's show is a good forum for discussing this. The longterm agenda of the City is to gentrify the River St. corridor and "hide away" what they consider the "ugly" side of town from tourists who drive through on Hiway 1. If the bike/ped bridge is below highway 1, many of the people would no longer be seen walking along the current bridge....
out of sight, out of mind... i think that is the general plan. if they had the money, they would build a tunnel from the shelters to downtown so nobody would ever see any "undesirables" walking along River.
out of sight, out of mind... i think that is the general plan. if they had the money, they would build a tunnel from the shelters to downtown so nobody would ever see any "undesirables" walking along River.
I can't believe people would be fighting what would be a major safety and infrastructure improvement for cycling and pedestrians. right now, the Hwy 1 bridge across the river is unsafe and illegal to cyclists and pedestrians alike. We are forced to choose between crossing illegally or detouring down to Water Street. a legal bridge would be a great improvement and would tie in to the bike paths on both levees, providing safe, car free access to homes and businesses on both sides the river.
Wow! Bicycle gentrification?... Hmmm...
Seems to me that it actually could help strengthen and build community.
Maybe your thinking too much about your own interests.
I haven't seen too many families or single moms crossing the bridge illegally on Highway 1.
If I had kids and cared about them I don't think I'd make it across the river.
So what struggling community are you talking about?
The single males?
Hmmm
Geez
Seems to me that it actually could help strengthen and build community.
Maybe your thinking too much about your own interests.
I haven't seen too many families or single moms crossing the bridge illegally on Highway 1.
If I had kids and cared about them I don't think I'd make it across the river.
So what struggling community are you talking about?
The single males?
Hmmm
Geez
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