Why is there no walkway/bike path planned for the new Bay Bridge? (Oakland: bus, safer)

[TigerBlood]

This makes no sense to me. If the city is worried about suicides on the Bay Bridge, why not build a net or some type of barrier? Having a path for bikers and walkers will ease the daily commute pressure on the bridge, as many of us will look for other (Environmentally safer) options besides a car or BART to commute to the East Bay and vice versa.

I know it's not in the plans to build it but can our voice still change the city's mind or is this a lost cause?

[sonarrat]

There is a bike path planned, but currently only for the eastern span to Treasure Island. There is a movement to get a western span path included as well.

Biking to the City via the Bay Bridge Pathway | East Bay Bicycle Coalition

[ImRandy]

Give them another 20 years and when they start a new western span they'll include one.

[llowllevellowll]

Originally Posted by TigerBlood

This makes no sense to me. If the city is worried about suicides on the Bay Bridge, why not build a net or some type of barrier? Having a path for bikers and walkers will ease the daily commute pressure on the bridge, as many of us will look for other (Environmentally safer) options besides a car or BART to commute to the East Bay and vice versa.

I know it's not in the plans to build it but can our voice still change the city's mind or is this a lost cause?

There is one planned.

It just only covers the new span, which is from Oakland to TI. The old span would need to me remodeled in order to get all the way across.

[415_s2k]

If you bike the Eastern span to TI, you can take the 108 bus the rest of the way... however, I imagine that there'll probably be a lot more bikes on the front of those busses after the bike path is opened.

[ubringliten]

I am pretty sure that they will have bike paths on the West bridge. It just doesn't make any sense to have it on the East side only. How many people are commuting to East Bay from TI and vice versa? What about tourism in SF that spills over the bridge and so much money are put into the East side already.

[turbored]

Originally Posted by ubringliten

I am pretty sure that they will have bike paths on the West bridge. It just doesn't make any sense to have it on the East side only. How many people are commuting to East Bay from TI and vice versa? What about tourism in SF that spills over the bridge and so much money are put into the East side already.

maybe, although this is quite possible. the lower deck used to be exclusively for streetcar use, and they retrofitted it to accommodate car traffic, so who knows? If the demand/market is there, then they might. Otherwise, you'll have to wait until they replace the western span, which probably will be never.

[mayorhaggar]

It's gotta be really windy up there, they often have wind advisories on the BB. It would be nice to have the option though, you'd get some nice views.

[fizbin]

There is no technical reason the western end could not have a bike lane added (if they can build the new eastern side or convert from trains to cars on the bottom deck, they can find a way to add a bike path to the western side). It's really all about money and politics . . .

[llowllevellowll]

Originally Posted by fizbin

There is no technical reason the western end could not have a bike lane added (if they can build the new eastern side or convert from trains to cars on the bottom deck, they can find a way to add a bike path to the western side). It's really all about money and politics . . .

Right there.