Substantive bridge improves safety for cyclists-pedestrians

The 20th Street Bridge in Chico is a much needed connector for those who are not in cars. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

What a difference a bridge makes.

When I first got to Chico I took my bike on several of the paved routes around town. One was Bikeway 99. When I got to 20th Street it had me meander into parking lots and onto city streets—exactly what I was trying to avoid.

I no longer have to do that.

The 20th Street pedestrian-bicycle bridge in Chico that opened last fall is a major connector along Bikeway 99, which goes from Eaton Road to Skyway—about 7 miles. The 99 is a nod to Highway 99, which the bike route parallels on the east side.

The bridge keeps walkers-cyclists away from traffic. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

“This bridge improves safety by eliminating vehicle, bike and pedestrian conflict points, conflict points that too often result in tragedy,” Brendan Ottoboni, Chico’s director of Public Works Engineering, told the Chico Enterprise-Record. “Since the initial feasibility study began in 2015, Chico has experienced 29 fatalities and 126 serious injuries involving bicycles and pedestrians.”

This bridge reminds me a bit of the 15th Street bridge in South Lake Tahoe that was a major accomplishment in what I think was 2002. I didn’t appreciate at the time how it was a missing link to mobility sans four wheels. Nor did I appreciate how expensive it is to build things. And in that case, across a marshy area.

The 20th Street Bridge in Chico is lighted at night. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Chico’s project is grander in terms of physical presence and price tag—nearly $24 million. More than $18 million of that came via state and federal grants. It’s a big steel arch of sorts, that is aesthetically pleasing to look at—which I do almost any day I go directly home from the tennis courts. It’s also wide, so easy for people to be going in both directions.

This bridge obviously eliminates having to cross congested 20th Street at street level, but it also has offshoots that get people onto sidewalks along 20th Street—sort of like having off-ramps for cyclists-peds.

With the lights, the bridge’s presence is even more pronounced while driving at night.

Now this is what I call a good use of taxpayer dollars.