River Crossing Spaghetti and Spandrels - Do we Really Want More Ramps?

In a comment on another post, Doug said

Here's the "evaluation" of the impact of the new bridges on walking and bicycling:

There would be no changes to the pedestrian and bicycle facilities on the existing bridges. The proposed bridge would include, in each direction, a 10‐foot‐wide raised sidewalk facility (separated from the paved way by a barrier) and a 10‐foot‐wide bike lane/shoulder adjacent to the far right travel lane. This would have a beneficial effect because it would increase the facilities for bicycles and pedestrians.

There is no mention of the re-routing of pedestrians and bicyclists necessitated by the freeway-style ramps, particularly on the east side. One has to wonder whether the people who write this crap ever get out of their motor vehicles.

Here are some pictures of the connectivity and creative placemaking that ramps typically entail. Lots of garbage, chain link fencing, and concrete walls!

Mission Street Between 12th and 17th

Center and Marion St Bridges - Downtown

Center and Marion St Bridges - Wallace Park

Maybe the emphasis here is too much on the underramp decrepitude, waywardness, and the archetype of "trolls," and not enough on the out-of-direction travel on the approaches to the ramps. But I'm not exactly sure the best way to represent the screwy routes ramp spaghetti enforces on people who walk and bike.

As I am out-and-about I will add to this post, or perhaps even replace images, in hopes of creating a library of Salem's existing ramp spandrels. If you have a good image of Salem ramp spaghetti, ramp blight, or ramp barriers - send it on! Let's document the "beneficial effect" of "increased facilities for bicycles and pedestrians."

For more on the River Crossing see a summary critique and all breakfast blog notes tagged River Crossing.