Posted on 01/12/2014 9:26:28 AM PST by fella
FORT WORTH — The newly opened West Seventh Street bridge may have been a little more bike-friendly Saturday afternoon than officials were expecting.
A man who later identified himself to the Star-Telegram as Mat Olson, a professional BMX stunt rider, rode his bike over the bridge’s 24-foot tall arches to the astonishment of onlookers.
“It seemed like I was on top of a mountain,” Olson said. “It was all windy and crazy when I was up there. It was pretty exhilarating, that’s for sure.”
It was also, apparently, pretty illegal.
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
Please stop ....
I was born and grew up in Fort Worth. Familiar with where you are talking about. It’s just hard to remember as I haven’t been back for 30 years. LOL I think I remember the Parkview Apts. Wasn’t there a children’s museum around there? Maybe next to or across from the Will Rodgers where the Rodeo is held. Also, isn’t Amon Carter museum across from the Kimball?
I remember something know as an “attractive nuisance” from some legal class long ago. This looks like that. I can see drunks and dare devil kids running up and down these with lawsuits to follow. Why are there no barriers? I think the “owner” of the bridge has left themselves wide open for million dollar lawsuits.
I remember the Montgomery Wards building on 7th. How could I have forgotten Camp Bowie Blvd. Traveled that street more times than I can count. Ft. Worth is kind of artsy fartsy. I couldn’t believe they took down all those old mansions near downtown.
Will Rogers Auditorium, Amon Carter, MMoA and the Kimball formed a huge “square”. The Children’s Museum (Natural History/Texas History/Planetarium [and now also iMax]) is still there too.
The Parkview Apartments were right behind the Kimball and next to University. I really loved living in Fort Worth back then. Great place to walk or ride the bike. The Parkview was built in the forties, I believe. Hardwood floors and real wood Venetian blinds. All bills paid (have forgotten what that is like). Lots of characters lived there.
They have done similar but crazier stunts on 6 inch to 1 foot bridge beams. For me, 15-20 feet would be adequate.
About fifteen minutes ago I looked up the (bridge-riding) video on Youtube. It had 23,000 hits. Just now I looked again and it was up to 24,000. At this rate, it will go viral.
They hadn’t yet erected the barriers on the north arches. The south are already done.
Also, the stunt crew did some of their own bridge modification by filling in the gaps between arches.
As for the museums, the Children's Museum was rebuilt and expanded about five years ago, and they just added a new wing to the Kimball.
Finally, a bike line I can live with.
Lot of stuff going on there. Is the Amon Carter Museum still there? I am still trying to think where 7th Street begins between Camp Bowie Blvd and University. Is it the bridge by the Coliseum?
LOL I think I remember them. Isn’t University the cross street on 7th? The apts sound great. I remember when all bills were paid by apts. Don’t see that anymore. Probably much better built in the 40’s than now. Cheapy construction is mostly what you get. I remember the 7th Street theater and Kleinsmitdt(?) bakery. Loved their gingerbread men cookies.
Amon Carter Museum is still in place. The 7th Street Bridge crosses the Trinity River into downtown near Trinity Park. With all of the development on the 7th Street corridor, you might find it unrecognizable (other than the old Montgomery Wards building).
The Trinity River is the body of water I was trying to think of. Thanks. Sounds like Fort Worth is really changing.
I wonder if they cleared up downtown Fort Worth. Worked there in the 70’s. Everything was one way traffic. If I remember, you always had to go 2 blocks to turn to wherever you were going.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.