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Title: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: bigiain on October 27, 2009, 08:42:03 PM http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/27/BAO81ABJTF.DTL&tsp=1 (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/27/BAO81ABJTF.DTL&tsp=1)
big Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: mostrobelle on October 27, 2009, 08:50:48 PM Meh...I'll just take the Richmond. It'll add 45 minutes onto my commute but that's probably better than getting pelted by falling bridge bits. [moto]
edit: Enzo just barely made it back across tonight! Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: sroberts152 on October 27, 2009, 10:16:13 PM This is going to be fun tomorrow. Good on them for fixing this last month.
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: MendoDave on October 28, 2009, 04:44:45 AM That big piece of steel came 5 feet from from my couch last night, it was really close. Phew! :o
Let me turn to Channel 2 and check to see if it's still there... Nope Gone. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: desmoquattro on October 28, 2009, 05:23:55 AM Astounding...just astounding.
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: sfarchie on October 28, 2009, 06:15:13 AM I'm glad I take BART. I didn't even know about this till about 630pm last night. But more people on BART means it'll smell extra sour.
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: desmoquattro on October 28, 2009, 10:20:33 AM I'm glad I take BART. I didn't even know about this till about 630pm last night. But more people on BART means it'll smell extra sour. Good thing you ride opposite-commute [thumbsup] Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: mostrobelle on October 28, 2009, 11:18:09 AM OK, so the commute was a tad suckish this a.m. It would have taken me about the same amount of time to ride BART, but going on the bike I don't have to worry about lice.
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: Drunken Monkey on October 28, 2009, 02:30:42 PM OK, so the commute was a tad suckish this a.m. It would have taken me about the same amount of time to ride BART, but going on the bike I don't have to worry about lice. Hmmm. I guess she hasn't found the surprise we left in her helmet last z-night. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: Michael Moore on October 28, 2009, 09:22:53 PM Wow, Marin was teh suck at rush hour tonight. Fortunately I was on the scoot, but it took my honey >2 hrs to get home. :(
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: sroberts152 on October 28, 2009, 10:24:21 PM Closed through at least tomorrow afternoon:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/21444672/detail.html (http://www.ktvu.com/news/21444672/detail.html) Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: ducleaner on October 29, 2009, 07:16:45 AM OK, so the commute was a tad suckish this a.m. It would have taken me about the same amount of time to ride BART, but going on the bike I don't have to worry about lice. I hate BART. It's loud, smelly, crowded, and marvelously inconvenient. Public transportation (and therefore SF) is just not for me. God, I wish I could find employment somewhere clean, pretty, and underpopulated. I'd settle for mildly overpopulated. Sorry. This bridge closure has me in a bit of a mood. I feel better, though. Wait. [bang] [bang] [bang] [wine] [wine] [wine] [wine] [wine] [wine] Okay, now I feel better. All I needed was a minor contusion and a bottle of Caymus. Of course, I could use a [moto] but the effing bridge is closed. Damn. I'm all worked up again. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: Michael Moore on October 29, 2009, 07:31:08 AM OK, a bit of a threadjack here, but I just got back from a vacation in Barcelona, and the differences between public transit there and here are striking.
First off, you can buy unlimited use tickets in 1,2,3 and 4 day increments, and I think there's a monthly option too. Plus it's pretty cheap, no doubt subsidized by the (gasp) government. Second, the ticket works for all forms of transit. So you can jump from a commuter rail train, to the metro, to an above ground streetcar or bus. Can you imagine one ticket working on BART, MUNI, the ferries and CalTrain? Third, the longest we had to wait for a metro (subway) train was 2 minutes on the weekdays, and 3 on weekends. Most times there was a train there in under a minute. Plus they had little signs telling you exactly how long the next train was going to be. Oh, and the stations were a little hot and funky, but once on the train it was clean and nicely air conditioned, and never super packed. In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: ducleaner on October 29, 2009, 07:48:22 AM In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in. I think that's great but.... I think it's sad the number of people who don't find pleasure in being fully self sufficient. Driving/riding is a blast. Being on your own schedule is freedom. I believe in climate change and I'm all for going green. And I'm for providing a safe and clean alternative to personal cars/bikes. However, I am outraged that the 2 most expensive areas in the US don't deliver my most treasured personal liberty. The ability to drive (and park) wherever and whenever I want. In most ways, I'm the most liberal guy you'll ever meet. I'm right on par with your namesake, Alec Baldwin, Keith Olberman, Ariana Huffington and Ward Churchill. I'm for alternative energy and I look forward to some of the cars coming up 10 years down the road. But I'm absolutely 100% against cities that don't provide the roads and the parking necessary to support demand no matter how high it is. And I'm so against public transportation that I get stressed out on elevators. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: desmoquattro on October 29, 2009, 09:07:44 AM I think that's great but.... I think it's sad the number of people who don't find pleasure in being fully self sufficient. Self-sufficient? Not sure that's a good description for government-provided roads and law enforcement, free parking on public roads, (de-facto) subsidized gas prices, etc. It's just a matter of what we as a people choose to subsidize. I get the part about being on your own schedule, but encouraging private car use makes a bad situation worse...and is subject to massive diseconomies of scale. Transit scales well, but comes with a lot of disadvantages...especially as it currently exists in the US. And I think we definitely need a pull factor for transit before we create the push factor of making driving eggregiously more expensive or difficult. Oh...and bicycling is pretty cool too, if you can swing it. Low cost, fairly self-sufficient, and it takes care of the exercise quota. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: johnc on October 29, 2009, 09:59:45 AM OK, a bit of a threadjack here, but I just got back from a vacation in Barcelona, and the differences between public transit there and here are striking. First off, you can buy unlimited use tickets in 1,2,3 and 4 day increments, and I think there's a monthly option too. Plus it's pretty cheap, no doubt subsidized by the (gasp) government. Second, the ticket works for all forms of transit. So you can jump from a commuter rail train, to the metro, to an above ground streetcar or bus. Can you imagine one ticket working on BART, MUNI, the ferries and CalTrain? Third, the longest we had to wait for a metro (subway) train was 2 minutes on the weekdays, and 3 on weekends. Most times there was a train there in under a minute. Plus they had little signs telling you exactly how long the next train was going to be. Oh, and the stations were a little hot and funky, but once on the train it was clean and nicely air conditioned, and never super packed. In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in. and ... they pass out free jamon (govt. subsidized) @ every metro station. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: DanTheMan on October 29, 2009, 11:50:32 AM In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in. +1 On time and easy to use. I like the highspeed trains 170mph, we should get on between here and LaLa land. Id use PT here if it was fast, efficient, cheap, and convenient. In the south Bay its not practical. In the City, id be all over it, but it sucks up there. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: bigiain on October 29, 2009, 12:58:30 PM Oh...and bicycling is pretty cool too, if you can swing it. Low cost, fairly self-sufficient, and it takes care of the exercise quota. Goddaned mungbean-eating patchouli-oil-stinking _hippy!_ Get out there and burn some dinosaurs! Do your bit, I can't make global warning happen all by myself! Do you _want_ the planet to be overrun by bloody polar bears and penguins? Sheeh! big (I was gonna add "lycra-clad" in that first sentence, and now I have to bleach my inner vision...) Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: desmoquattro on October 29, 2009, 01:30:43 PM Goddaned mungbean-eating patchouli-oil-stinking _hippy!_ Get out there and burn some dinosaurs! Do your bit, I can't make global warning happen all by myself! Do you _want_ the planet to be overrun by bloody polar bears and penguins? Sheeh! big (I was gonna add "lycra-clad" in that first sentence, and now I have to bleach my inner vision...) Dude, I own a giant land whale truck, two pollution-spewing full-aftermarket-exhaust Ducatis, and a literbike Yamaha...and I shoot guns. My troglodyte credentials shouldn't be in question ;D Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: DanTheMan on October 29, 2009, 02:51:17 PM A work of the BB Troll
Bay Bridge troll Where: East span of Bay Bridge, north side. Story: When construction crews repaired the Bay Bridge after it collapsed during the Loma Prieta earthquake, a troll took up residence. He's still there, sitting on the north side of the bridge, on the upper deck, out of view of motorists. Ironworkers repairing the span gave an artist a chunk of metal and had him create a troll. The creature has a barrel-like body and spindly arms and legs. He's leaning forward slightly, and holding what looks like a rod. "It's there to protect the bridge from future earthquakes," said Bart Ney, a Caltrans spokesman. "That's what trolls and gargoyles do - protect bridges and buildings." But the east span is being replaced, and the existing span will be demolished. The troll may be retired to a museum or attached to the new single-tower suspension span. (http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2009/02/20/ba-144_oddities__0499813339.jpg) Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: bigiain on October 29, 2009, 03:56:51 PM I'm _so_ gonna have to use that Bay Bridge Troll as my avatar whenever I get drunk and come into Ducati MOB to cause trouble!
[evil] big Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: desmoquattro on October 29, 2009, 04:05:24 PM ^^ Awesome ;D
Now it needs gremlin bells too... Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: Michael Moore on October 29, 2009, 08:01:20 PM However, I am outraged that the 2 most expensive areas in the US don't deliver my most treasured personal liberty. The ability to drive (and park) wherever and whenever I want. But surely you see the relationship between expensive places to live and poor driving/parking conditions? They both are a direct result of a place's popularity. Great city = lots of people = high prices & no parking. If you go to some place that is not in demand (Detroit, Indianapolis, etc.) you'll find low prices and plenty of parking. It's just cause and effect. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: DucNrun on October 30, 2009, 06:40:12 AM OK, a bit of a threadjack here, but I just got back from a vacation in Barcelona, and the differences between public transit there and here are striking. First off, you can buy unlimited use tickets in 1,2,3 and 4 day increments, and I think there's a monthly option too. Plus it's pretty cheap, no doubt subsidized by the (gasp) government. Second, the ticket works for all forms of transit. So you can jump from a commuter rail train, to the metro, to an above ground streetcar or bus. Can you imagine one ticket working on BART, MUNI, the ferries and CalTrain? Third, the longest we had to wait for a metro (subway) train was 2 minutes on the weekdays, and 3 on weekends. Most times there was a train there in under a minute. Plus they had little signs telling you exactly how long the next train was going to be. Oh, and the stations were a little hot and funky, but once on the train it was clean and nicely air conditioned, and never super packed. In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in. Politics??? Really??!!! Can't this be the one place we come and not have to deal with politics? Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: desmoquattro on October 30, 2009, 06:42:43 AM Politics??? Really??!!! Can't this be the one place we come and not have to deal with politics? That was more of a rant on how much easier it is to get around in Europe. Only in the US does transit become a verbotten political topic :) Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: Spidey on October 30, 2009, 06:50:59 AM GWB was a f'n genius and if you don't agree, you're a a blame-Amurrica-first turrist who hates the troops and loves furners and illegals and teh gheys. There, now THAT's some politics for ya. [laugh]
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: TCK! on October 30, 2009, 07:36:43 AM (http://scifiwire.com/pics/CostumesFired1.jpg)
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: Spidey on October 30, 2009, 08:02:56 AM Lil Bastard is wearing exactly that same costume to day care today (minus the alien). [laugh]
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: sroberts152 on October 30, 2009, 09:18:03 PM Just a heads up: Bay Bridge isn't going to open this weekend and might not be ready on Monday morning for the morning commute.
http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_13680567 (http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_13680567) Plan accordingly. Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: ducati_tim on October 31, 2009, 08:55:36 AM OK, a bit of a threadjack here, but I just got back from a vacation in Barcelona, and the differences between public transit there and here are striking. First off, you can buy unlimited use tickets in 1,2,3 and 4 day increments, and I think there's a monthly option too. Plus it's pretty cheap, no doubt subsidized by the (gasp) government. Second, the ticket works for all forms of transit. So you can jump from a commuter rail train, to the metro, to an above ground streetcar or bus. Can you imagine one ticket working on BART, MUNI, the ferries and CalTrain? Third, the longest we had to wait for a metro (subway) train was 2 minutes on the weekdays, and 3 on weekends. Most times there was a train there in under a minute. Plus they had little signs telling you exactly how long the next train was going to be. Oh, and the stations were a little hot and funky, but once on the train it was clean and nicely air conditioned, and never super packed. In addition to healthcare, I think the Europeans have got the transit thing pretty well dialed in. My muni pass is good for a month of unlimited rides on buses, BART (within the city), munimetro, streetcars and cable cars. Looks like the city has the goods. It's the poor suburban dwellers that are left out :'( Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: bigiain on October 31, 2009, 07:40:02 PM Interesting write up with lots of pics about what "broke", how they repaired it, and how the repair failed...
http://www.sci-experiments.com/BrokenBridge/BrokenBridge.html (http://www.sci-experiments.com/BrokenBridge/BrokenBridge.html) big Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: sroberts152 on November 01, 2009, 04:15:34 PM Still closed for tomorrow's morning commute:
http://www.ktvu.com/news/21444672/detail.html (http://www.ktvu.com/news/21444672/detail.html) Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: remy on November 02, 2009, 07:23:17 AM It's open now, everyone.
Have a safe commute. http://www.511.org/baybridge/default.asp (http://www.511.org/baybridge/default.asp) Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: mostrobelle on November 02, 2009, 09:10:10 AM I was there when they opened it. Don't ever let me complain about my commute again. Having that bridge is awesome.
Title: Re: Ooops! Who needs to cross the bay bridge? Post by: remy on November 02, 2009, 08:49:06 PM I was there when they opened it. Don't ever let me complain about my commute again. Having that bridge is awesome. Hehe. Commuting home from San Mateo back to Oakland (yep, I got a job again!) was taking me an hour and a half instead of 40 mins with the Bay Bridge closed. I think the entire Bay Area is relieved. |