Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson is considering a $45 million pedestrian-bike only bridge across False Creek.
The mayor's idea isn't new but local architect Gregory Henriquez recently showed Roberston a model of what he thinks the False Creek suspension bridge could look like -- and the mayor liked it. The proposed bridge would run parallel to the Burrard bridge.
Henriquez says it's still in the conceptual stage.
"Forty five million dollars, that's based on a sort of a square foot analysis based on comparable bridges." Henriquez said.
Beginning July 13, one lane of the Burrard bridge will be turned into a bike lane. NPA Councillor Suzanne Anton says the city has received many angry emails and she says the mayor's caving to the pressure by floating this trial balloon.
Roberston says the Burrard bike project is a temporary six month experiment and a better long-term plan could be to construct another bridge that runs from Vanier Park in Kitsilano to Sunset Beach in English Bay.
That bridge could help promote more cyclists and provide a boost in tourism.
A similar experiment on the Burrard Street bridge in 1996 lasted only one week after city hall was flooded with complaints.
With files from The Canadian Press
