Bike the Bay Bridge
Sep. 4th, 2013 05:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shannon_aA generation ago, the Bay Area was hit by a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that literally changed the face of the Bay Area. Looking back I'm shocked to read that only 63 people were killed, because the collapse of the Cypress Structure in Oakland seemed much more traumatic at the time (let alone all the damage in the marshier parts of SF). Among other things, one section of the Bay Bridge's eastern span collapsed. Now, 23 years and 10 and a half months later, that deathtrap of a bridge — which was declared seismically unsafe following the earthquake — has been replaced. The new bridge went $4.8 billion dollars over budget. Ah, how the wheels of government spin in the modern day!
The new bridge is beautiful, and I think that's important for the morale of the community. The old one looked like a badly aged erector set or like a railroad bridge (which it was, in part), while the new one is beautifully open and has a marvelously iconic tower that'll stand out on the Bay once the old bridge is (finally) gone. Just as notably, the new bridge has bike and pedestrian lanes!
I was going to wait a few weeks, but I ultimately decided to bike out on the bridge yesterday, before dinner. Only about 6 hours after the pathways opened. I'm glad I did, because it felt like I was part of a historic moment in the Bay Area, as we finally replaced the last debris of Loma Prieta with something new ... and for the first time in the 21st century put our mark on this place we call home.
There are apparently two entrances to the new pathways, one from Emeryville and one from West Oakland. Not wanting to die, I opted for the Emeryville passage. (It's actually the closer one to me house.) It heads westward from the Ikea on Shellmound. The entryways are quite well constructed, because there's one from either side of the street, so you don't have to cross busy Shellmound just to get out to the bridge. (Sadly, there's no exit to the nearby Target parking lot, which would have been grand, because it would have given bicyclists a way to get around the bizarre overpass between Shellmound and 40th.)
The paths runs westward under the tangle of freeways where 580, 80, and a major frontage road meet, but since that's all overhead, it's relatively quiet and restful. The path is top grade and there's good lighting along much of it (though the Bridge walkways are only going to be open during daylight for a few years).There's eventually a turnout for West Oakland (which I *think* will actually let you get around the worst drug neighborhoods, and straight to the harbor). As you approach the bridge itself, the roadway deteriorates, I think because you're now on temporary pathways that'll be in place until the old bridge is blown up. Similarly, the actual ramp up onto the bridge is a wooden affair that doesn't feel that rickety ... but is clearly temporary.
The beauty of the bridge itself is somewhat offset by its ugly twin, sitting there to its left and obscuring a lot of the sight lines. But you could see Treasure Island and (sometimes) San Francisco ahead, as well as the glorious new central tower for the Bridge. The pathways are wide. The sky is even wider, and you can see it all, thanks to the open-faced nature of the new bridge. It was a great ride. My only complaint was the wind, which was horrendous from when I got into Emeryville and never let up. It made the ride actually take some work ... though not necessarily hard work, as my riding on hills has helped with wind too.
Currently, the pathway stops just past the tower, well out from Yerba Buena Island. Last night a group of bored looking policemen guarded the gate leading onward, to ensure that none would pass. A group of us stood around taking pictures and gawking at the scenery, out in the middle of the Bay.
The ride back was easy, and offered a surprise: the view of the East Bay when you're coming back from Yerba Buena is actually the most beautiful view of the whole ride.
Overall, an enjoyable ride. It took me about 2 hours to get from home, to the furthest edge of the bridge possible, to a Subway sandwich store, and then back to home. It was around 18 miles.
Now let's get that pathway to the Island finished (estimated time: 2-3 years, though I wonder how much thought has been putting into getting across Highway 80 once you're on Yerba Buena Island, as you'll be on the wrong side to get to anything), and let's get working on extending it to San Francisco (estimated time: maybe we'll start thinking about). I'd like to ride there before I'm too old to do so, but don't have any great faith I'll get to.
The new bridge is beautiful, and I think that's important for the morale of the community. The old one looked like a badly aged erector set or like a railroad bridge (which it was, in part), while the new one is beautifully open and has a marvelously iconic tower that'll stand out on the Bay once the old bridge is (finally) gone. Just as notably, the new bridge has bike and pedestrian lanes!
I was going to wait a few weeks, but I ultimately decided to bike out on the bridge yesterday, before dinner. Only about 6 hours after the pathways opened. I'm glad I did, because it felt like I was part of a historic moment in the Bay Area, as we finally replaced the last debris of Loma Prieta with something new ... and for the first time in the 21st century put our mark on this place we call home.
There are apparently two entrances to the new pathways, one from Emeryville and one from West Oakland. Not wanting to die, I opted for the Emeryville passage. (It's actually the closer one to me house.) It heads westward from the Ikea on Shellmound. The entryways are quite well constructed, because there's one from either side of the street, so you don't have to cross busy Shellmound just to get out to the bridge. (Sadly, there's no exit to the nearby Target parking lot, which would have been grand, because it would have given bicyclists a way to get around the bizarre overpass between Shellmound and 40th.)
The paths runs westward under the tangle of freeways where 580, 80, and a major frontage road meet, but since that's all overhead, it's relatively quiet and restful. The path is top grade and there's good lighting along much of it (though the Bridge walkways are only going to be open during daylight for a few years).There's eventually a turnout for West Oakland (which I *think* will actually let you get around the worst drug neighborhoods, and straight to the harbor). As you approach the bridge itself, the roadway deteriorates, I think because you're now on temporary pathways that'll be in place until the old bridge is blown up. Similarly, the actual ramp up onto the bridge is a wooden affair that doesn't feel that rickety ... but is clearly temporary.
The beauty of the bridge itself is somewhat offset by its ugly twin, sitting there to its left and obscuring a lot of the sight lines. But you could see Treasure Island and (sometimes) San Francisco ahead, as well as the glorious new central tower for the Bridge. The pathways are wide. The sky is even wider, and you can see it all, thanks to the open-faced nature of the new bridge. It was a great ride. My only complaint was the wind, which was horrendous from when I got into Emeryville and never let up. It made the ride actually take some work ... though not necessarily hard work, as my riding on hills has helped with wind too.
Currently, the pathway stops just past the tower, well out from Yerba Buena Island. Last night a group of bored looking policemen guarded the gate leading onward, to ensure that none would pass. A group of us stood around taking pictures and gawking at the scenery, out in the middle of the Bay.
The ride back was easy, and offered a surprise: the view of the East Bay when you're coming back from Yerba Buena is actually the most beautiful view of the whole ride.
Overall, an enjoyable ride. It took me about 2 hours to get from home, to the furthest edge of the bridge possible, to a Subway sandwich store, and then back to home. It was around 18 miles.
Now let's get that pathway to the Island finished (estimated time: 2-3 years, though I wonder how much thought has been putting into getting across Highway 80 once you're on Yerba Buena Island, as you'll be on the wrong side to get to anything), and let's get working on extending it to San Francisco (estimated time: maybe we'll start thinking about). I'd like to ride there before I'm too old to do so, but don't have any great faith I'll get to.