Friday, March 25, 2016

Demolishing Pedestrian Bridges

Taipei is considering demolishing the pedestrian bridge at Xinyi and Keelung Rds., part of an effort to remove bridges and tunnels that are rarely used.
As long as this is accompanied by street-level crossings, this is another good step for Taipei. These bridges and tunnels' only purpose is the convenience of drivers, who don't have to wait for pedestrians to cross the street. But for pedestrians, especially those who are disabled, old, or carrying anything heavy, they are a nuisance and lengthen the amount of time it takes to cross a street. They are also block sidewalks and sunlight and are ugly to boot.
So far Ko has been pretty good for pedestrians- let's hope he doesn't get himself driven out of office.

6 comments:

  1. "These bridges and tunnels' only purpose is the convenience of drivers, who don't have to wait for pedestrians to cross the street."

    From reading the article, that appears to be untrue: photographers apparently like to use the overpass for the viewpoint it affords in overlooking traffic with the 101 building in the background.

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    1. True, and in that particular case I wouldn't really care too much if they kept the bridge. In most cases though they don't even serve that minor purpose, at even then that wasn't their initial purpose.

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  2. By the way, I should add that I think the general subject area of your blog is very worthwhile and that you are right that it is surprising in some ways that nobody else seems to be taking an active interest in it.

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  3. There are many much worse pedestrian bridges in new taipei city and Keelung. Literally falling apart with wires hanging off them. Their buttresses block the sidewalks at the crossings. There are some bridges in Keelung that stuff is just dumped on and homeless people sleep on. Has to be seen to be believed!!

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    1. Keelung is just a terribly governed city.

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  4. And yet, come to think of it, there are places where there a pedestrian footbridge is sorely needed but tragically lacking. There ought to be a pedestrian footbridge running parallel to the Boai road - Jhongshan road bridge which crosses the main railway station in Kaohsiung city. Such a bridge would allow photographers to capture the absolutely superb views down Jhongshan road toward 85 building in the distance. Currently, it is not possible to take those pictures without putting yourself and others in danger by standing in the middle of the (quite narrow) road. What I have heard however, is that the entire bridge is to be demolished and relocated underground.

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