Options laid out for a Hood River Bridge bike crossing strategy
Posted by: MichelleOct 15 2009, 4:30 pm
The Columbia Gorge communities of Hood River, White Salmon and Bingen have been described as "one town…separated by the river." The only bridge connecting them is off-limits to people on bikes or on foot, causing growing frustrating among area residents, businesses and elected officials who want to improve community health and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
At one-mile long, with narrow lanes and a metal grate, the Hood River Bridge would be a brutal bike crossing even if it were made legal today. Photo by Alta Planning + Design.
This summer, the Hood River Valley Residents Committee and the Port of Hood River hired Alta Planning + Design to evaluate existing conditions and future options that would allow people to cross the river as part of a biking, walking or transit trip. Download the full report here.
Two alternatives were recommended for further study:
1. That a new year-round transit service be established to serve communities on both sides of the river, and that its vehicles accommodate bicycles.
2. That if the first alternative is not feasible, the Port (which owns the bridge) develop an informal rideshare pick-up and drop-off system at either end of the bridge, supplemented with transit service during the summer.
People wait for a shared ride in San Fransisco, where drivers may use carpool lanes if they add passengers. Photo by Reuters.
Not being super-familiar with the area, couldn't they set up something where they waive toll fees for picking up a biker when going across? seems like there are plenty of vehicles going across…
We do not see a problem for bikes to cross this bridge, as we have done it many times when we did not know they were not allowed. It was NOT difficult. I would recommend that the speed limit be reduced and a sign be put up to tell cars BIKES ON THE BRIDGE-DO NOT PASS. Most cyclists go as fast as the cars anyway, and the bridge does not take that long to cross. We have never had a problem and find it discriminating to ask that cyclists beg for rides while cars travel without problem. IF you feel the grates are unsafe, put down a simple strip of rubber for the bike areas, but do not force them to beg for rides!
I know a lot of women, maybe even some men, who would not get into a stranger's vehicle. Not a very safe or practical idea.
Riding across for experienced cyclists may not be difficult. But for a family with kids, it would be a huge deal. I think what we're talking about here is getting everyone out to exercise by walking or cycling. You're not going to encourage the vast majority of citizens by telling them to ride across in traffic. Won't happen.
Maybe it should be a combination of transit for pedestrians and those who won't ride it, lower speed limit and allow bikes on the bridge. Ultimate solution would be to cantilever a bike and ped path off the sides similar to the Hawthorne Bridge in Portland. That's me dreaming…
I agree that a catilevered bike/ped path would be the ultimate solution but highly doubt they will go to that expense. The transit options both have merit as a cost effective solution but would require some "down-time" depending on the transports schedule.
Experienced cyclists can cross that bridge with little reduction in speed to the automobiles on the road. Installing a rubber strip to help with traction on the metal grate would be a welcome bike improvement.
We frequently ride in the White Salmon area and cross the bridge after the ride (via car) to lunch and shop in Hood River. Maybe if the leadership of Hood River understood that cyclists on the WA side are very interested in crossing the bridge to spend money on the OR side, they would consider opening the bridge to cyclists willing to "take the risk" to cross the bridge.
My name is Jonathan Graca and I work with the Hood River Valley Residents Committee (HRVRC). We are a micro non-profit (I’m the only employee) that helped fund the study looking into how to get bikes over the bridge. While our core mission is around protecting farm and forestlands in the HR Valley, we have become involved in transportation issues in and adjacent to HR over the past year.
Many people comment to me or in blogs about some deviation of an idea that would allow bikes to cross the bridge for 15 minutes and then alternate to cars. Simple, right?
The problem is that bridge traffic is already horrendous. According to the Port of Hood River, June 19, 2009 had 12,224 vehicles crossing. That is average for summer months. I believe at high traffic times of the day, it’s about 900 cars/hour. With this kind of volume, a 15-minute stop would not only cause longer delays for motorist, but also be unsafe for drivers on both sides of the bridge. On heavy use days, traffic can become so backed-up that cars exiting from Interstate 84 are not able to actually exit queue up onto the interstate itself. I’ve been in that situation and it’s very unnerving to have car’s whizzing by me at 70 while I’m at a stand-still.
HRVRC is continuing to work with the Port of Hood River and local stakeholders to find a solution. How about a shuttle that went between Hood River, Bingen and White Salmon? I welcome any feedback or ideas you have.
Comments/ideas? Please email me at jonathangraca@hrvrc.org.
Having to get in the car with a stranger is not an option. Open the bridge to bikes with a strip on the grate to make it safer and have mass transit for those that do not have car but do not want to bike.