The Northgate Pedestrian Bridge: longer, louder, and smellier than at Husky Stadium

RantWoman is unsure the world thinks it needs RantWoman commentary after the groundbreaking for the pedestrian bridge that will connect the Northgate Link station with the community on the other side of I5, but RantWoman is certain of the need to write her thoughts down even in the shadow of "RantWoman ca't be everywhere and maybe it would have been good to articulate these points earlier in the design process."

RantWoman is partly digesting and expanding thoughts from Twitter.

RantWoman thinks this bridge is a GREAT idea and hopes it will be used. One of several further design points: RantWoman hopes the bridge has a grade accessible for wheelchairs, for one thing because there are several overpasses in the city where the needs of wheelchair users do not appear to figure in the design at all. RantWoman can certainly picture someone in a motorized chair zipping along quite easily. RantWoman is guessing someone in a manual chair, like many people who use canes or walkers, wil probably still want a bus even if the bus goes the long way around compared to the bridge.

RantWoman is kind of expecting that the pedestrian experience crossing over I5 will be somehwat like the pedestrian bridge at Husky stadium station only longer, louder, and smellier because of more lanes of car traffic. RantWoman has a friend, a cyclist and retired air quality professional who thinks the exposure to pollutants will not be any greater than cyclists experience all the time. RantWoman is in no position to opine about cyclists' experiences but a pedestrian who uses the bridge instead of say riding a bus around is a different matter. However, RantWoman will await data and hold off opining.

Instead, RantWoman must as a matter of course grumble thunderously about the prospect of having cyclists and pedestrians share the same space. Frankly based partly on the Husky Stadium experience, RantWoman is NOT crazy about this. Too many Seattle cyclists do not advertise their presence until they are practically running over RantWoman from behind. Then they also sometimes pass close enough that rantWoman is afraidof clipping wheels with Ambassador Thwack the cane.

RantWoman wishes the design for the new bridge included some kind of ike / ped divider down the middle of the bridge. RantWoman also wishes the bridge design included planters lining both sides of the bridge both to cut the noise and pollutants and to make some small gesture toward more green space.

And now ground has been broken. May we akllget greater easier smoother mobility out of the project.