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You are correct that it cannot force people to take the bridge; they could turn around and go back the way they came, although it does usually force bicyclists to dismount if they want to get across the river.
I’ve personally tried to “trials ride” through them, when no one else is around, but it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make such tight short turns.
There is nothing preventing a bicyclist from hopping back on their bike on the bridge, once they’re through the gate, and then hopping off again to pass the gate at the other side. But since they had to dismount, that removes most of the dangerous momentum and starts pedestrians and bicyclists off on equal footing as they cross the bridge, instead of leaving it 100% up to the bicyclist for deciding when to slow down and become a pedestrian.
I’m not sure what you mean by “take the road instead” – everybody is in the road, until it gets to the bridge, which the road doesn’t cross.
Wheelchairs, like pedestrians, have close to a zero turn radius capability. A person riding a bike does not. So put some right angle turns close to each other, and some one can walk through with their bike, but not easily ride through. (Although it is a fun challenge.)
I get putting them strategically to gate places where bicyclists and pedestrians will mix. I don’t like when planners use them to gate road (auto) crossings – the auto should be the one slowed down, not me. Or at the very least, it should be equal.
I did a quick search to find some images, and found a site explaining that some of these types of gates ARE sometimes impassible barriers to different types of bikes, bikes with trailers, etc, and there are better ways to slow bicyclist speed at an intersection.
It can ask, but then don’t be surprised when many people don’t do that or some take the road instead.
The footbridge is the only way across.
You are correct that it cannot force people to take the bridge; they could turn around and go back the way they came, although it does usually force bicyclists to dismount if they want to get across the river.
I’ve personally tried to “trials ride” through them, when no one else is around, but it is very difficult, if not impossible, to make such tight short turns.
There is nothing preventing a bicyclist from hopping back on their bike on the bridge, once they’re through the gate, and then hopping off again to pass the gate at the other side. But since they had to dismount, that removes most of the dangerous momentum and starts pedestrians and bicyclists off on equal footing as they cross the bridge, instead of leaving it 100% up to the bicyclist for deciding when to slow down and become a pedestrian.
I’m not sure what you mean by “take the road instead” – everybody is in the road, until it gets to the bridge, which the road doesn’t cross.
If its so difficult you can’t cycle through it, could you even get a wheelchair through it?
Although sounds like this is more a one off single bridge rather than a general thing.
No it is very common here.
Wheelchairs, like pedestrians, have close to a zero turn radius capability. A person riding a bike does not. So put some right angle turns close to each other, and some one can walk through with their bike, but not easily ride through. (Although it is a fun challenge.)
I get putting them strategically to gate places where bicyclists and pedestrians will mix. I don’t like when planners use them to gate road (auto) crossings – the auto should be the one slowed down, not me. Or at the very least, it should be equal.
I did a quick search to find some images, and found a site explaining that some of these types of gates ARE sometimes impassible barriers to different types of bikes, bikes with trailers, etc, and there are better ways to slow bicyclist speed at an intersection.
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/barriers-on-cycle-paths
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