The Bridge -- Part Two

On Friday, while my dogs were getting their hair cut and my car was getting its brakes de-squeaked, I had an appointment to meet James McCann (to pick up a big stamp for Spring Book Hatching, 2008 and talk about our upcoming Chocolate & Chat Tour) on Granville Island. So I decided to ride my bike.










It was the perfect day for a ride. A bit overcast in the morning -- a bit windy, but not too bad, and then the sun came out for the trip home. A great ride. But it was my first time across the Lions Gate since I rode the Golden Gate last year -- which led to this post.















It was fun to ride across the bridge again. It was actually a four-bridge bike ride for me, as I crossed the Lions Gate twice and the Burrard Bridge twice.


I really enjoyed riding through Stanley Park on the other side, checking out how things have recovered since the big storm.





(Still a ways to go -- say 300 years or so -- until the growth is back to where it was, as you can see...)






I've never felt the same about the Lions Gate since I saw The Bridge. It was interesting to ride across in light of all I have learned about it since seeing the movie. I noticed that there is no protective netting or fencing anywhere on the span, apart from this piece:







where they clearly don't want anything or anyone landing on the railroad tracks below.













But apart from that -- nothing.






I can't find the stats for people who jump off this and other bridges in the Lower Mainland, but I did find an article here in The Province, indicating that the Lions Gate will be equipped sometime this year with crisis phones.

For me, in the end, the bridge was a link to the city, a beautiful ride on a nice day. I wish it was the same for everyone.

~kc