Tasman Bridge pedestrian/bike lanes

[sammy_gray]

Hey all. Just interested to see what everyone's opinions are about the walkways on the bridge. Personally I think the walkways should be one way, as I find it really annoying having to stop/go past someone coming up the other way. It seems common sense to me to ride one way in the direction that the traffic is moving. It's really not that hard to add an extra minute to your ride to go under the underpass to ride on the left side. Not sure if i'm just being simple minded here and seeing a problem where there isn't one. What's your thoughts about one way paths?

[johnm_oz]

Couldn't agree more. When I emerge from my current whirlwind I'm going to start writing letters...

http://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/viewt ... 20&t=47923


Cheers
JM

Hey all. Just interested to see what everyone's opinions are about the walkways on the bridge. Personally I think the walkways should be one way, as I find it really annoying having to stop/go past someone coming up the other way. It seems common sense to me to ride one way in the direction that the traffic is moving. It's really not that hard to add an extra minute to your ride to go under the underpass to ride on the left side. Not sure if i'm just being simple minded here and seeing a problem where there isn't one. What's your thoughts about one way paths?

[RobRollin]

Interesting topic. It does depend on where I am going as to what side I take, but you are right in the case that you can slip under the bridge in either direction, so it would be made to go with the traffic. But it couldnt be policed

[markpa]

I cross it pretty much every day coming from Lindisfarne and find it's really not an issue. Whether it's passing pedestrains heading same direction as you, or cyclists heading the opposite a little courtesy and patience and you're away.
I think adding complexity where it isn't really required makes it harder to let people know that riding isn't hard (including those who say I couldn't ride to city, the bridge is too hard/dangerous/...)
Especially as the need to ride under bridge and back up would be on road and not a bike lane.

[mcdurdin]

I'm not in favour of making the pedestrian/cycle lanes one way. As markpa says, a little courtesy and patience... Being narrow, metal floor, with cross winds and obstructions, you really shouldn't be challenging Strava segment records on them anyway. If you want to do that, use the roadway! (yes, it's legal)

[master6]

I cross it pretty much every day coming from Lindisfarne and find it's really not an issue. Whether it's passing pedestrains heading same direction as you, or cyclists heading the opposite a little courtesy and patience and you're away.
I think adding complexity where it isn't really required makes it harder

I agree. I usually use the downstream side of the bridge to travel between Sorell and Hobart, and return.
Last week I found myself in Moonah, wanting to go to Sorell. I rode the bikeway and went over the upstream side of the bridge. When I arrived at the eastern end I found a sign 'End of Bikeway", and no obvious safe way to proceed. There did not appear to be any advisory signs. This needs attention.

[docca]

Yes it should be one way but would need a bit of attention on the eastern side to get walkers from upstream to use it correctly.

[sammy_gray]

I agree. I usually use the downstream side of the bridge to travel between Sorell and Hobart, and return.
Last week I found myself in Moonah, wanting to go to Sorell. I rode the bikeway and went over the upstream side of the bridge. When I arrived at the eastern end I found a sign 'End of Bikeway", and no obvious safe way to proceed. There did not appear to be any advisory signs. This needs attention.

Yeah it may be that riders on the eastern Lindisfarne side are unaware of how to get around to the other side with lack of signage.

As markpa says, a little courtesy and patience... Being narrow, metal floor, with cross winds and obstructions, you really shouldn't be challenging Strava segment records on them anyway.

I do like the thrill of going down the other side with a bit of speed with barriers on either side, so yes a bit of patience is probably the key for me ahah.

[master6]

I do like the thrill of going down the other side with a bit of speed with barriers on either side, so yes a bit of patience is probably the key for me ahah.

Have you considered the state of the Tasmanian Health System? One small misjudgement, and a shoulder reconstruction might be the minimum requirement

[johnm_oz]

...
Have you considered the state of the Tasmanian Health System? One small misjudgement, and a shoulder reconstruction might be the minimum requirement

Yeh, especially 'round those bloody winches...

Cheers
JM

[il padrone]

...
Have you considered the state of the Tasmanian Health System? One small misjudgement, and a shoulder reconstruction might be the minimum requirement

Yeh, especially 'round those bloody winches...

Killed a bloke a couple of years back. Buzzing across the bridge and the strong winds blew an unsecured steel cabinet door open and he hit it at speed.

I rode across the Tasman bridge a couple of times way back in the early-mid 80s. Both times I just rode across the roadway..... fully loaded with touring panniers. Had no real worries.

[mcdurdin]

I thought he was injured, not killed?

[il padrone]

Hmm, you may be correct, but if so it was a severe injury.

[RobRollin]

It is a thrill to ride on the roadway, its a lot faster and some consier it less dangerous. Given the choice I would ride on the road. When I was younger back in the 90's a young girl was hit by a rider coming down and she ended up losing all her teeth, after she was catapualted onto the railing.

[Gordo]

doesnt bother me now they got rid of those orange things.

My pet hate at the minute is the bridgewater bridge and those railway tracks. i got caught in them today and came off. they cross the road at a 45degree angle. Part of me wants to go out there later tonight with a big bag of concrete and fix it all up. prob not great idea.

[mcdurdin]

Regarding Bridgewater Bridge, it's not great but they did build a little path on the side specifically for cyclists so you can approach the crossing at a better angle, didn't they?

[Gordo]

not sure, maybe on the other side. did see some green lanes nearby. i was heading south, towards hobart. we got on the walkway and rode over the bridge and then on the shoulder of the road, no bike lanes that i saw. It was all ok but I wasnt awake to the tracks angled the way they were. its one to watch. lucky i wasnt going at speed. straight after i did it my riding partner told us of someone else who did the exact same thing...only much worse.

[master6]

Regarding Bridgewater Bridge, it's not great but they did build a little path on the side specifically for cyclists so you can approach the crossing at a better angle, didn't they?

"Its not great". mcdurdan, you are the man of truth, but must have a split personality You are also the man of understatement. Whoever did the little job you are referring to should have his handyman ticket shredded.

[mcdurdin]

mcdurdin, you are the man of truth, but must have a split personality You are also the man of understatement.

Wait till I get on the bike. Then I have another personality again. I do enjoy a little toddle around the traps on my two wheeled contraption.

[RobRollin]

Ive seen more people come a croper because of the new little cycle lane onto the Bridgewater Bridge than I did before. And lane around the roundabout to Granton, its full of glass and gravel much safer to ride on the road and be aware of cars.

[BenevolantDictatorD]

Hi team. Just to add a bit of history on both bridges. I used to commute the Tasman 4 times a week. One morning I was riding dwon and the phone cupboard door was flapping. I stopped and tried to fix it and failed so i headed down to the control room to tell them. Half way there i remembered i had some electrical tape in my pack. I turned around and headed back to find the rider behind me had hit that door and was flat on the deck unconscious. A phone call got the ambulance there pretty quick and he made a recovery. Last I heard he still doesn't remember the crash. I go a bit slow on the footpath these days.

I've broken two bikes on the Tasman and crashed on the train lines at Granton with the truck behind me stopping about 5 meters short. I use that "dinky little sidepath" every time now.

[RonK]

As a cycle tourist departing Hobart, I found the Tasman Bridge too daunting a prospect on my loaded touring bike. Not for the grade so much - I'm sure that foreshortening makes it appear steeper than it really is, but for the apparent narrowness of the path, and the difficulty finding my way on and off it.
I chose to cross at Bowen Bridge and then ride over Grasstree Hill, which turned out to be not particularly difficult.
Near the Tasman Bridge I met group of students and their teacher from Claremont High, and enjoyed a pleasant chat with him as we rode along the bikeway to Elwick Road. That made a very pleasant start to my Giro Tasmania.
No doubt though the Bowen Bridge route would be impractical for most commuters.


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[mcdurdin]

Speaking of Bowen Bridge... Did you read today's little letter to the paper about cyclists on it?

http://marc.durdin.net/2012/03/lycra-cl ... ck-of.html

[master6]

Speaking of Bowen Bridge... Did you read today's little letter to the paper about cyclists on it?

http://marc.durdin.net/2012/03/lycra-cl ... ck-of.html

Yes, A. Garvey of Montrose is talking about "when the lycra goes on and a point has to be proved..................". Do you have any idea what point he/she is attempting to prove?

Mention of lycra in a discussion about bicycles and/or cyclists is always a strong indicator of an ensuing sarcastic useless contribution.

[mcdurdin]

No idea what point needs to be proven... And yes, I'm sure that my response would be completely ignored by A. Garvey of Montrose even if they happened to stumble across my blog. But I just wanted to vent I wasn't wearing lycra at the time I wrote the blog post. But I'm about to put some on now for the commute home. Have a great weekend!