I commute from Redwood Shores to Fremont and when I get to Redwood City, I have always taken this weird foot bridge next to a dirt pit that connects Bair Island Road to Maple st. This week, I noticed that the bridge is completely inaccessible because the dirt pit has been completely fenced off, with a sign that says "no trespass". Does anyone know what they're doing over there?



Due to the foot bridge closure, I have to cross 101 at whipple, hang a left on veterans blvd and then cross 101 again on Maple st. I really don't like riding on veterans and hate crossing the 101 on whipple coming from veterans, on my way back.



Anyone know of any alternative paths to go from Bair Island Rd to Maple St. to Blomquist?



Thanks for any info you guys have.

I was doing pretty much the same thing on my commute, though I don't ride it much because it's 22 miles each way.

I cross 101 at Maple by the police station, then cut thru the parking lot of the .. K-Mart? And then behind Target and such, down the road by the Harley dealer and Lexus dealer, to veterans, then immediate right on Whipple. It's much worse going the other way because I have to make a left from Whipple to Veterans, then left to where the Lexus dealer is.

You're talking about the bridge to nowhere.

Are you sure it is completely fenced off? I regularly ride this route and the last time was last Friday. Although the lot is fenced off, there is still a path to the bridge parallel to the freeway sort of and is still very accessible. You can't access it from the paved parking lot from the general area where the school buses are. Coming from the north, instead of going left onto Bair Island Road to access the bridge from that parking lot, go strait from East Bayshore Road into the dirt path straight to the bridge.

The plan for that lot is to pave it and make extra parking space for a car dealer in that area.

BTW I will ride this again tomorrow and will report back to confirm. I'm just wondering if they sealed of that path to the bridge as well although I highly doubt that.

Oh, I see, I'll check that again and see if I can find that path you are talking about.

Thanks

Tubs, thanks for the tip. I tried my commute today and did exactly what you suggested and found the path next to the fence that leads directly to the foot bridge.

That path also allowed me to get a better look of what's under the 101 there. I never noticed those tents until now. Have they always been there? There's actually a tent underneath the foot bridge also. Never knew that when I cross the foot bridge, I'm actually riding over someone's home.

Anyone know if there are any plans to pave a path to the bridge? The dirt field can get really muddy during the winter.

The transients have been there forever.

I wish Redwood City would pay attention to this portion of the Bay Trail but there is nothing in their view that would benefit from paving this area even though it is supposed to be part of the Bay Trail plan. If any of you live in Redwood City, I heard recently that they formed a committee recently that manages such things and if that is so hit them up please :)

As far as the mud is concerned well maybe at least the 4x4s won't be able to tear up that area anymore.

LOL I checked my email and saw the issue of Spinning-Crank by Silicon Valley Bicycling Coalition and they have an article stating just what I mentioned about a steering committee in Redwood City regarding cycling interests.

I know many more use this bridge to nowhere and if they hear enough of us they might be able to help.

Here is a link to the newsletter although I didn't see any contact info for the steering committee. In the Area Reports section look up Redwood City:

http://svbcbikes.org/files/spinning-crank/Summer2008.pdf

Per Billy James - a member of SVBC
The bridge is not blocked, nor is it being removed just yet. Blame the
whole thing on two types of pests: off-road four-wheelers and
mosquitos. Vehicles churned up the mud and rain creating huge puddles,
where mosquitos made their homes, until the [San Mateo] county's mosquito
abatement
folks told Powers [property owner Paul Powers] to do something about it.

I went over there
and spoke with Lorraine Redmond, Paul's right-hand person. She said she
told the contractor putting up the rent-a-fence around that area to
block four wheelers to be sure to leave an opening that pedestrians and
cyclists can use. I saw the opening at the north end and presume
there's another one on the
south side.

The
bridge stays up until the
Blomquist extension is built. Near as I can tell, crisis averted. I
asked Lorraine to consider having some sort of signs installed.

Billy James