Purple People Bridge: Do You Care?

[The Interpreter]

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...S0103/902240330

[Gordon Bombay]

The Purple People Bridge is definitely something worth keeping around. How stupid it would be for both Cincinnati and Covington to let it go. Being able to go from beautiful Sawyer Point to all the activity at the levee so quickly is quite a valuable asset. Not to mention the entire East side of the bridge which once carried a freight rail line is still there and could easily be adapted for light rail/streetcars preventing anyone from having to build a new bridge or modify an existing one to carry a rail line.

[The Interpreter]

I'm still amazed at how short lived the ill conceived (IMHO) climbing experience was. . .such as it was. . .

[windshawne]

I really wanted to do that. Why did it get stopped anyway, liability?

[The Interpreter]

That and very, very few customers. Quite frankly, with the contraptions they subjected climbers to, I really don't understand what the point was. I would have wanted to do it myself, until I saw how it was done. As one who has climbed many tall structures many times (please don't ask..radio towers, anyone?), I was not amused or in any way enticed.

[BoddaH1994]

I think a light rail system would be perfect. It could take you from the levee to Sawyer Point, then shoot down towards the stadiums. It wouldn't be the most commercial way of doing things, but I think it could make a lot of the areas, especially the Levee, more profitable.

[Gordon Bombay]

^And thats the eventual plan, Boaddah. Phase 1 connects a streetcar line throughout Over-The-Rhine and central downtown with future phases calling for a connection up to the University of Cincinnati, the riverfront, then eventually over to the levee should an agreement be worked out with SORTA and Covington. Light Rail could eventually spur from the start of a street car line just as it did in the past, except maybe this time we will finish it.

[Monroe]

^Just to clarify Gordon, the street car system was finished, it was the subway that was not finished. This is an ok site, not the best but has some good pictures.

http://www.old-picture.com/american-histor...Street-Cars.htm

http://www.davesrailpix.com/csr/csr.htm

[Gordon Bombay]

My bad Monroe, I was referring to the fact that the subway was born out of the idea of how popular the streetcars were and in an effort to expand the city's light rail capacity. If the streetcars return and are once again successful we may see another push for light rail/subway system.....and this time we can complete it all.

[Monroe]

No bad at all, I just did not want any one to jump you about it. On a side note, I really hope they do it right from the get go. The original street cars in Cinci had a two wire over head system that was not compatible with northern KY over the suspension bridge. The trolleys from Kentucky had to raise a ground pole to run. Here is another article I found that has some good pictures.

http://www.cincinnati-transit.net/suspension.html

[Beast1979]

I have walked the Purple People Bridge many, many times, and is a fun and unique experience that would be foolishly removed from the city if torn down. I have always, always enjoyed spending the morning at the fabulous Sawer Point, walking across the river and then spending the afternoon at the live Newport area, seeing the aquarium, going through the mall, maybe an IMAX or two, but all that wouldn't be near as easy or fun if the simple walk from place to place was removed. Even the walk itself is enjoyable, out in the open air with the Cincinnati Skyline behind you, the huge Ohio River underneath, it's a great experience! Maybe sometimes I'll even see Reds game afterwards.

And also along the lines of making it accessable for trains and cars, how much of the width of the bridge is used for pedestrians? 1/3? IMO, it wouldn't be TOO much of a taxpayer burden to lay some rail tracks and a 2 way street down there, it's not like this is a "Either This Or That" ordeal.

Yes sir, I would be STEAMED if the bridge was to come down. Not. Cool.

[Gordon Bombay]

Monroe, thanks for those awesome links. Cincinnati-Transit is a GREAT website. I'm going on a tour soon in a few weeks and all this talk about streetcars and subways has really gotten me excited.

Beast1979, they wont open the bridge back up for automobile traffic or a "2 way street." The bridge fell into disrepair and was closed to automobiles before it reopened as the "Purple People Bridge." Not to mention, both its entrance ramps have been converted to pedestrian walkways. That's not the issue though, people aren't wanting it to go back to being an automobile bridge. As the article states, the bridge is costly to maintain and they're trying to see how many people use it determine if it's worth maintaining. As far as laying rail, no it wouldn't be hard, as already stated in the posts above you, the railroad right away still exists on the eastern side of the bridge. See the ending part of this article where you can still see what rail remnants remain on the purple people bridge: http://queencitydiscovery.blogspot.com/200...ad-history.html You can also see that the center walkway on the bridge was once a streetcar line.

[lance99]

Guys,

go to this website www.shadowlands.net and look under hauntings for cincy and they say that the old subway tunnel is haunted.

[BoddaH1994]

www.Cincinnati-Transit.net

Everything you've ever wanted to know about going anywhere in Cincinnati and more..

[CoastersRZ]

And for those curious about Cincinnati`s old railroads, streetcars and interurbans, you might want to visit this site: http://homepage.mac.com/jjakucyk/Transit1/#map. You`d be surprised how prevalent street cars and railroads were in Cincinnati in the first half of the 20th century.

[XGatorHead 8904]

I was going to take the Purple People Bridge Survey, but the 1st question is flawed and the answer I need isn't an option. The question is "Have you ever heard of the Purple People Bridge? If so, when was the last time you visited the Purple People Bridge?" The answer I would need is "Yes, and I have never visited".

Even though I've never visited, I wouldn't want it to disappear. It's a good idea, just one I've never had the opportunity to utilize yet.

[TOPGUN1993]

Is this the bridge they shoot fireworks off on labor day?

[Gordon Bombay]

^Yes, but in the past they've also launched fireworks from other bridges at times.

Here's a picture of the Purple People Bridge: