30 Days of Biking - More metal shoes

I mentioned the other day how much I love these sculptures of shoes on the Midtown Greenway. I still don't know who created these but I love the concept. When you cruise by on the trail unless you look closely you might think someone has just abandoned a pair of shoes.

I stopped today to look more closely at these since they also look like a pair of beat up hikers I own. 

The detail is great and adds to the realism. I am the kind of person who likes to see how things are made and, yes, there are little drain holes in the soles to let rainwater out!

30 Days of Biking - Bridge out

We have a fairly prominent cycling landmark in the Twin Cities known as the Sabo bridge. The structure swings out dramatically over highway 55 as it enters downtown Minneapolis. The bridge's designers used a cable suspension design that was much more visually imposing than your typical pedestrian bridge. Unfortunately, just a few years after its opening, metal plates that help anchor the cables to the structure began to fail. When bridges begin to fail...we close them. Bummer.

The bridge is...er...closed.

Even the temporary scaffolding bracing the deck makes for an interesting picture. 

Fortunately, no one was hurt when the cable plates failed. Also, there is an alternative route which involves crossing the rather treacherous Highway 55 at road level. Once this bridge is opened back up to bikes, I'm sure we will all appreciate the sense of safety it gives. At least from traffic.