Soquel Avenue was a four lane road over the San Lorenzo River. Note that the sidewalk portion of the bride was barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The bridge could have been designed as a grand esplanade, but was instead merely a bland road.

San Lorenzo River was full and appeared healthy. The total width of the overall basin was part of past attempts at flood control. Note that high tides and storm surges can push salt water and sand up river to just past the Soquel Avenue bridge from which this photograph was taken.

Two I-beams were embedded in the mud of San Lorenzo River. Notice how shallow the river actually was.

Downtown Santa Cruz was visible from the Soquel Avenue bridge over the San Lorenzo River. Note the parking lots between the river and the town. This kind of layout implied that the town had always considered the river an eye-sore. Contrast that to European towns which typically embrace their rivers.

A bicycle path ran under the Soquel Avenue bridge on the downtown side of the San Lorenzo River. This trail was part of a much larger bikeway system throughout the town and surrounding countryside.

Santa Cruz was served by a typical bus system called the Santa Cruz Metro .

The Soquel Avenue bridge as viewed from the bicycle path on the downtown side of the bridge.

An odd looking fence surround part of a sand bar located in the middle of the San Lorenzo River basin half way between the Soquel Avenue bridge and the pedestrian bridge.

A pedestrian bridge crossed the San Lorenzo River half way between the Soquel Avenue bridge and the Water Street bridge. This was a narrow but practical bridge.

Interesting stair-step risers supported the bridge. Note the pedestrian viewing platforms along the edge of the bridge.

Another four lane road crossed the San Lorenzo River at Water Street. From a distance the bridge looked somewhat European. But closeup it was just another wide road over a river.