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Another lacklustre, long-exposure, night photograph: We're looking at Oak Street, a block-or-so on the North side of Broadway Avenue. I think the grade is over 20° at this point. On our left, going North, Oak gets even steeper -- over 30°, as it drops down to sea level to meet False Creek.

Years ago, on an August afternoon, I had a heart-stopping bicycle "ride" exactly two streets West, down the slightly steeper Alder Street. A sudden light rain shower -- the first after literally weeks of hot sun -- brought out the oil in the asphalt, and I could not stop -- my front and back brakes were clamped. The wheels weren't turning, but I was picking up speed. Looking ahead of me (looking down really), I didn't see my life flashing in front of my eyes, just the cars speeding to and fro along West 5th Avenue. I was able to use my body to lean into a turn and managed to crash-land in some bushes at the intersection of an alley between 6th, and 7th Avenue. I didn't have a bike trailer, or the story would have a different ending.

During particularly heavy rain, the three North-South streets, Oak, Spruce, and Alder are blocked off on the North side of West Broadway Avenue, because they are so steeply graded they can literally become water slides. Some parts of the concrete sidewalks have raised strips to act more like steps. Click the image to enlarge it.