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by Guest AuthorDisclosure: Sponsored Post — This is a paid post in partnership with Translink's Buzzer Blog. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
#WhatsTheLink is a series about all that TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority, is responsible for in the region. Join the conversation on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. These guest posts are written by Robert Willis.
#WhatsTheLink: The Canada Line Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge
Did you know that there are 200,000 crossings by trucks, cars, and buses over the Fraser River on TransLink bridges each day? Let me back up. Did you know that TransLink had bridges? And did you know that in addition to the 200,000 crossings by motor vehicles over the Fraser River, roughly 100,000 crossings a year happen by bike on one of these bridges! Yup, it’s true.
Besides being responsible for transit, the Major Road Network as well as cycling and pedestrian options in Metro Vancouver, TransLink is also responsible for five bridges: Knight Street, Golden Ears, Pattullo, Westham Island and the Canada Line Pedestrian-Bicycle bridges.
Have you used all five bridges? Since I’ve used all but the Canada Line Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge before, I thought I’d pay it a visit to learn more about it.
It’s amazing who you meet when you stand at the foot of a bridge, smile and ask for a few minutes of busy commuters’ time. That’s exactly what I did when I parked myself at the bottom of the ramp on the Vancouver end of the bridge in order to learn more about the bridge by asking people who use it.
Cycling Commuters
Photo: Robert Willis
Josef is originally from the Czech Republic. A regular cyclist who doesn’t drive and seldom takes the bus, Josef tells me he has been riding across the bridge nearly every day since it opened. I caught him commuting to work from Vancouver to Richmond.
Photo: Robert Willis
Karen, like Josef, has been using the bridge since it opened. She recently started working in Richmond, so she has just started taking the bridge from Vancouver more frequently. A fair-weather cyclist, Karen will drive over the Oak Street Bridge when the rain pours but prefers cycling to driving, stating, “I’m in front of a computer all day, and cycling is my chance to enjoy the outdoors.“
Photo: Robert Willis
Heiror was using the bridge for the first time when he pulled up riding a borrowed, foldable bike. Living in Richmond for the last nine months on a scholarship in graphic design, Heiror was leisurely riding and taking photos along the bridge while he was making his way to his first day interning at a Vancouver studio.
One commonality between these three commuters was that they each told me that they enjoyed taking the bridge to work and found it to be a relatively easy ride.
In fact, commuting by bike between Vancouver and Richmond has been a whole lot easier since August 19, 2009, when the Canada Line Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge officially opened. Connected to the side of the North Arm Bridge, the bridge carrying the Canada Line over the Fraser River, Canada Line Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge has separated bike and pedestrian lanes. The bike lane also connects to cycling infrastructure in both municipalities making for a comfortable and picturesque ride.
Looking back at what these three commuters told me and what I already knew about the bridge before visiting it, I realized that over the nearly five years that the bridge has been open, it’s become a permanent fixture in the lives of many Metro Vancouverites. It’s also become a way for people visiting our beautiful piece of the world to get to know the region better.
Looking at the bridge in the larger context of our region, the Canada Line Pedestrian-Bicycle Bridge has become an important link to a larger TransLink enabled transportation network that connects cycling and walking to roads, bridges, transit, people and goods around Metro Vancouver.
This summer you can catch The Fray in Vancouver at Malkin Bowl as a part of Live Nation’s Concerts in the Park series on June 18th.
Photo courtesy of Live Nation Canada.
The Fray be playing with guests Barcelona and Oh Honey. Doors at 5:30pm and the show starting at 7:00pm — just as the sun starts to set in this beautiful outdoor venue in our city’s crown jewel. Rock out to your favourite tunes, then grab your sweetheart and slow dance under the canopy.
The Fray is Slade, Joe King (guitar, vocals), Dave Welsh (guitar), and Ben Wysocki (drums). The Denver-based foursome formed in 2002 after high school friends Slade and King bumped into each other at a local guitar shop. The group achieved national success with their 2005 debut, featuring the hit singles “Over My Head (Cable Car)” and “How to Save a Life,” which went double-platinum. The band also earned a 2010 Grammy nomination for their self-titled release.
The fourth album Helios from critically acclaimed Denver-based foursome The Fray was released February 25 on Epic Records. The band premiered the lead single “Love Don’t Die” on the “Today Show,” kicked off the first night of late night television sweeps performing on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” rang in the New Year as part the global TV celebration “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2014,” and recently performance on the outdoor stage at Jimmy Kimmel Live! The new music has received early critical acclaim from Denver Post as well as Billboard hailing its “bare emotion bolstered by echoing backing vocals and unexpected twang.”
All ages/general admission tickets are currently on sale for $45.00 (plus FMF & service charges). Charge by phone 1-855-985-5000, book online, or visit you nearest Ticketmaster outlet.
Win Tickets to The Fray in Vancouver
I have a pair of tickets to give away to see The Fray in Vancouver at Malkin Bowl, here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment with your favourite song by The Fray (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to @TheFray from @LiveNationWest + @Miss604 http://ow.ly/wAQ0M
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, May 13, 2014. Follow Live Nation on Facebook and Twitter for more show information.
Vancouver Farmers Markets are warming up for the season, offering local produce, artisan goods and delicious treats. Shop for meat, seafood dairy, vegetables, fruit, and baked goods while you enjoy live entertainment and sample ready-made items from food trucks and vendors in the open air.
Trout Lake Farmers Market
Dates: Saturdays, May 10 to October 18, 2014
Time: 9:00am to 2:00pm each week
Where: North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake, between Templeton and Lakewood south of the 13th Avenue Alley. Please note: There is no parking in the North Lot and no parking on 13th Avenue. Please park away from the area and walk in or better yet — walk, cycle or take transit if you can.
Kitsilano Farmers Market
Dates:Sundays, May 11 to October 19, 2014
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm each week
Where: 2690 Larch Street at 10th Avenue, in the parking Lot of Kitsilano Community Centre.
West End Farmers Market
Dates: Saturdays, May 31 to October 18, 2014
Time: 9:00am to 2:00pm each week
Where: 1100 Block of Comox Street across from Nelson Park at Mole Hill.
Main Street Station Farmers Market
Dates:Wednesdays, June 4 to October 1, 2014
Time: 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Where: 1100 Block Station Street along Thornton Park across from the VIA Rail Station and near the Main St Skytrain Station.
Kerrisdale Village Farmers Market
Dates:Saturdays, June 14 to October 11, 2014
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm each week
Where: East Boulevard between 37th and 41st Avenue, near Kerrisdale Arena.
Mount Pleasant Farmers Market
Dates: Sundays, June 15 – October 12, 2014
Time: 10:00am to 2:00pm each week
Where: Guelph Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, on the paved play area between Mt. Pleasant Elementary and Guelph Park.
Yaletown Farmers Market
Dates: Thursdays, May 1 – October 2, 2014
Time: 2:00pm to 6:00pm each week
Where: Mainland Street between Davie and Helmcken at the Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line Stop.
On top of all of these markets there is also a full events schedule to celebrate the bounty of the season — berries, corn, tomatoes — along with picnics, bikes, gardens and the harvest. Follow Vancouver Farmers Markets on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Vancouver’s largest indie craft fair, Got Craft?, returns this spring for its 15th show at the Maritime Labour Centre on May 10th and May 11th.
Founded in 2007, Got Craft? is held twice a year in May and December featuring handmade designers, craft workshops, tasty treats, DJs, FREE swag bags, and everything from chocolate to cards and clothes.
Got Craft? showcases 75 local vendors with a wide variety of curated handmade goods. Look out for longstanding favourites like Make Cheese Inc., Locomotive Clothing, and Draw Me A Lion. New to the show this season, awesome do-it-yourself projects and workshops including linocut, beginner sign painting, and making nail polish.
The first 50 people through the door each day will receive a swag bag full of goodies from vendors and sponsors! Got Craft? is happening from May 10th and May 11th, 2014 between 10:00am and 5:00pm at the Maritime Labour Centre, located at 1880 Triumph Street in Vancouver, BC. Admission is $3 at the door, and children (10 and under) get in free.
Got Craft? Gift Bag Giveaway
If you would like to attend God Craft? I have four tickets up for grabs and a swag bag (valued at over $250) to give away with exclusive goodies for one lucky Miss604 reader that includes one small item from every vendor at the show plus…
The Hive Printing, East Van Map T-Shirt in Medium (size can be exchanged at the event)
The winner plus three guests will be added to the guest list at the show. Here’s how you can enter to win tickets and this gift bag full of local goodness:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win #GotCraft tickets & an exclusive swag bag from @lfieldsshoppe + @Miss604 http://ow.ly/wyhhY
Follow Got Craft? on Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00pm on Thursday, May 8, 2014. Winner must pick up item at the Got Craft? show May 10-11, 2014 during show hours.
Everybody’s favourite food + art + charity project has returned as CANstruction sets up shop inside several downtown buildings. Running from May 11th until May 16th, this free public exhibition showcases colossal structures made entirely out of full cans of food.
CANstruction Vancouver Locations
After the structures are built, the creations go on display to the public as a giant art exhibition at our three venues: The Pendulum Gallery, The Rotunda at Pacific Center and The Four Seasons Hotel. Each location will display multiple sculptures based on this year’s theme “AROUND THE WORLD” the entire campaign will use an estimated 90,000 cans of food.
Founded by MET Fine Printers and Presented by FortisBC, all of the canned food used in the sculptures is donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank after display. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the creative displays, and knowing that all of this fun is for a great cause.
Follow CANstruction on Twitter and Facebook for more information. Hours depend on the opening hours of the buildings in which the display will sit.
#WhatsTheLink is a series about all that TransLink, Metro Vancouver’s transportation authority, is responsible for in the region. Join the conversation on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. These guest posts are written by Robert Willis.
