New LEDs On The Pedestrian Bridge, But Why?
About two weeks ago, there was a ceremony celebrating the installation of some 120 LEDs on the pedestrian bridge that goes over the 440 beltline. Upon reading this from a remote location over the holidays, I was initially excited at this development. I was under the assumption that two things had happened:
1) The pedestrian bridge had a different appearance under the cover of darkness
2) There was no longer a locked fence barring entry to the Museum of Art side from the Meredith College side
As it turns out, both assumptions were incorrect.
Back in October, we published photos of the Reedy Creek Pedestrian Bridge at night. I’m hard pressed to find exactly what has changed since then. Perhaps the previous lights were incandescent as opposed to LED, but the outward appearance remains the same.
Unfortunately for those who enjoy riding a bike or jogging in the evening hours, the pedestrian bridge is still locked from the Meredith College side as soon as the sun goes down.
Although the greenway is fenced off as soon as darkness arrives at the entrance at the intersection of Hillsborough, Faircloth, and Gorman Streets, the entrance at the intersection of Hillsborough and Meredith College Streets remains wide open. What’s the point in blocking off only certain sections?
You can still gain access to the bridge, from the NCMA side (above).
If you want to visit Thomas Sayre’s illuminated rings near the NC Museum of Art at night via bicycle (from downtown), you’re forced to take the long route, going via Hillsborough St. and then merging on to Blue Ridge Road.
So my question is, why the celebration? What’s the point of having a ceremony to mark the lighting of a pedestrian bridge that is really only noticed by the vehicular traffic below? Those commuting to or from Morrisville/RDU and downtown Raleigh via bicycle must still plan their trips to cross the bridge before nightfall.
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01/06/2009
The ceremony was probably due to the fact that LEDs are more energy efficient than others.
The only reason I can think of for the path being locked is that it isn’t lit at all. I nearly busted my ass many times riding down it when I photographed the bridge the first time. You know how it goes, “liability this and that, blah blah blah.”
01/06/2009
Fun fact: There have been recent complaints voiced about the lights illuminating the bridge because they are blue. One guess as to why…
01/06/2009
uliveandyouburn has a very good point as to the energy efficiency. But also probably to help celebrate and highlight the LED’s that were donated by Cree, Inc (a company based right here in the triangle). The same company that gave the Raleigh Convention Center it’s shimmer wall and helps light the Marble’s Museum.
01/07/2009
One only has to visit Lamplust.com to understand how uncreative the application of LED’s are. For anyone traveling 440 in the early evening, look up, cause there is a good chance you will see me peddling “The Rave Bike” across the bridge which currently has over 100 LEDs and several onboard computers, on my nightly commute from North Raleigh back to my house.
About the fence. I recently spoke with the city about the House Creek Greenway extension that was supposed to be completed by now. They have cleared all the trees, and recently awarded the paving contract. This Spring they will begin paving the trail which will run from Crabtree Valley Mall (which hooks into the trail system that runs all the way up to 540/Six Forks) to about 25 feet on the other side of the infamous “fence” rendering it even more useless.
I have had an encounter with the Meredith College security guard that locks the gate. Believe it or not, he saw me coming over the bridge, stared me in the face, shut the gate, and began to lock it as I pulled to within 5 feet of him.
I joked with him and said… “You have to be kidding around, you are not going to let me through?” He ignored me! So, I proceeded to throw my bike over the fence, to which he responded I would be trespassing, to which I responded, I am a diabetic and if forced me to back track 2 miles and I went into diabetic shock, that could I please have his name so my family could sue him and the school, to which he responded by unlocking the fence and letting me through!
Just as a warning, this guy has some “personal issues” and he has been observed sitting in a Meredith College security car with the lights off on the other side of the fence around dusk trying to catch people hopping it. Actually, he is trying to catch me, which he will never do.
The other option is to cross 440. I am guessing that the first person that gets killed crossing 8 lines of a major highway will result in the gate finally being removed.
01/07/2009
As Lupus’s story shows, Raleigh made a big mistake putting part of its greenway through a private college campus. If I recall, didn’t a lot of the residents in the Ridgewood area protest about lack of access for similar reasons? I wonder whatever happened to all that.
At the very least they should move Meredith’s gate further down towards the main campus and build a cut-through to Ridge Road so people can continue to use the bridge to access ITB Raleigh. This is just silly!
01/07/2009
The greenway closes at dusk. Why are people trying to cross over the Meredith fense at dusk?
01/07/2009
I didn’t originally mention this, but I think the bridge is absolutely beautiful, and is even prettier when viewed in person while on it. It’s a shame that the LEDs that run down both sides are purely cosmetic. They aren’t there to benefit cyclists or pedestrians.
It’s a bit strange that there is a sign on the Meredith side that states crossing the fence to gain access to the bridge is trespassing. Yet, if you were to gain access to the bridge from the NCMA side, it wouldn’t be. How does that work, exactly?
Nick – I’m not sure I understand your question. If asking why anyone would want to cross the bridge at night, all I can say is: Why would anyone drive at night? To reach their destination.
RaleighRob – I agree that it is a mistake for a private institution to have control over the access points for a public passageway. I know several people that cross that bridge as a part of their commute to work, and find it absolutely useless in the winter months.
I’m glad energy is being saved by using LEDs, but I wish they could serve a purpose other than to be visual bling for the motorists passing below. It’s a bit ironic.
01/08/2009
The first time I attempted to shoot this bridge I was stopped on the museum grounds by security telling me that it (the outdoor art gallery/path thing) was off limits at night. Has this officially changed?
01/08/2009
Nick- As Johns says, the greenway system isn’t just for recreation…many use it for commuting to and from work. In the winter, that’s almost always going to include dark hours.
The city’s “Greenway Rules & Safety” website gives no opening/closing hours for the greenways. It says folks are “Encouraged” to use them in daylight, but I’m guessing the city also agrees that folks ditching their cars and commuting on bike using safety equipment like headlights, reflective wear and helmets are always a good thing. Seems to me the city needs to get some better consistency on this issue.
01/08/2009
It would be poetic to see the same right of way powers that were leveraged against residential property owners used again against Meredith to gain a 24×7 right of way through that fence. But who has the political cajones to make it happen?
01/10/2009
The Parks and Recreation Department has set a departmental policy for greenway trails to be available for use from dawn to dusk (it states this on the greenway maps). And you are right, the website should reflect this as well. It seems that everything comes down to liability, but in this case, it is an important thing to remember. For example, one must consider the homeowners whose properties back up to greenways and their security/privacy concerns. In addition, greenways are not set up to accommodate lights b/c greenways are first and foremost reserved as conservation easements to minimize development directly adjacent to creeks/streams in order to protect water quality (thus, installing power lines would only intensify the degree to which the corridor is ‘developed’). It is because of these conservation corridors, or open space parcels, that the city is able to install 10′ trails but the trails are really just the icing on the cake. Actually, until a greenway easement is secured, development is allowed to encroach dangerously close to the riparian corridor. Another issue regarding greenway access after dusk is the unavailability of RPD to provide officers to patrol greenways due to the constant state of understaffing (last time I heard, they were down 70 officers from what they really need). It’s not perfect but it’s what we have and, honestly, Raleigh is lucky to have the greenway system that it has! There are currently over 60 miles of greenway trails with ~35 miles on the way over the next 4 years. My advice would be to utilize the bikes on the bus service provided by both TTA and CAT afterhours if the road system does not suffice as an after-hours alternative to the trails. Yeah, as far as the Meredith property goes, it is their right to enforce a ‘no trespassing’ rule after dark as it is their responsibility to look after the safety and security students attending an all girls school. If you would like to learn more about the function of greenways, I recommend the following powerpoint: http://www.raleighnc.gov/portal/server.pt/gateway/PTARGS_0_2_114791_0_0_18/Greenways_Presentation.pdf
01/14/2009
uliveandyouburn – no, this hasn’t officially changed. I suppose I’ve just got lucky the few times I was on that side after hours.
f – thank you for providing background information on the issues regarding the availability after dark. It’s easy to forget some of the other issues such as the rights of surrounding property owners, and a bit difficult to grasp that an alternate form of transportation would be unavailable so quickly after (or before) the workday is over. You are absolutely right that we are lucky to have what we do, but it would really be nice to have routes of transportation available in the off hours that would allow cyclists to continue reducing congestion on roads. The really nice part about the greenway system is being able to reach your destination without worry of being yelled at to “ride on the sidewalk” by motorists, or worse–getting struck by one. Bicycle lanes (almost nonexistent in the area), while an improvement, are a false sense of security.
01/17/2009
strange…
01/19/2009
I have only read a couple follow up posts but just wanted to through some things out there…
I do not own a car. This was a lifestyle choice.
I work in a demanding IT job that often requires extended hours. I am very lucky that we have showers at our office. In the winter hours, when committing my crime of using the Greenways, I pass on average 6 to 12 other criminals using the trails for commuting, or free exercise, thus minimizing their impact on our healthcare system.
I wonder what would happen if a philanthropic citizen decided to DIY the Greenway trails with self-sustaining, green, low luminance, LED lights like.. oh I don’t know, Sun Jar’s purchased at volume discount?
http://www.suck.uk.com/product.php?rangeID=50&showBar=1
Leave the roads for the thrill seekers that enjoy near death experiences.
01/19/2009
“I wonder what would happen if a philanthropic citizen decided to DIY the Greenway trails with self-sustaining, green, low luminance, LED lights”
They’d pick em up and throw them away like litter.
Once policy is in place its very hard to get it changed.