1. The Bridge Effect The Bridge Effect
Understanding the Effects of the Physical
Linking of Small Islands to Mainlands
Godfrey Baldacchino
Canada Research Chair (Island Studies)
University of Prince Edward Island, Canada

2. Bridges:
Progress – Communication - Integration

3. Bridge to Valentia –by Donald Murray
There are some who have swapped their birthright
for a stretch of tar.
A bridge that will allow their cars
to link with roads
that lace mainlanders together
permitting islands to become
like a landlocked place.
Surrendering their separateness
to loop with these larger shores
becoming both part
and prisoners of the whole.
Bridge to Valentia –by Donald Murray

4. When is an island not an island?
When the European Union decides it is not.
An island is not an island if it has fewer than 50 permanent residents, is attached to the mainland by a rigid structure, is less than 1km from the mainland, or is home to the capital of an EU state.
The Guardian (UK), 21 January 2003, page 5

5. Prince Edward Island OR Peninsular?

6. Confederation Bridge: Federal Promise Fulfilled or Rupture with Identity?

7. An Inexorable March? PEI gets connected to the world:
1813-Postal Service
1852-Telegraph Cable
1876-Public Ferry Service
1910-Telephone Cable
1941-Regular Air Carrier
1990-Cell Phone Service
1993-Internet Access
1997- Fixed Link Access?

8. Aldabra Atoll – World Heritage Site
Aldabra Atoll – No Permanent Human Population – Restricted Access
Aldabra Atoll – World Heritage Site

9. Ohio Key, Florida – Yacht Haven
Ohio Key FL – Yacht Haven – No Permanent Population – Restricted Access
Ohio Key, Florida – Yacht Haven

10. Pepparholmen Island – Oresund Bridge
Pepparholmen Island – Restricted Access
Pepparholmen Island – Oresund Bridge

11. Canso Bridge, Causeway… & Loss of Clout?

12. Who Benefits, Who Loses? Short-term versus Long-Term
Traders, Tourists, Consumers, Seasonal Residents, Mass Tourism Operators, Fixed Link Maintenance Firms & Crews - Gain
Endemic Species, Local Practices, Local Producers, Ferry Operators & Workers, Local Shopkeepers, Local Home Buyers – Lose
Short-term versus Long-Term

13. Bridges Save Communities?
Irish Islands – after Royle & Scott 1996

14. Fixed Links: Bring More Tourists from Closer Locations, Less Visitor Nights? (Distance Decay)
Tourist Visitors to Atlantic Canada: NS=Yellow; NB=Pink; PEI=Blue

15. Conclusion .. of sorts All islands are ‘linked’.
Isolating Bridge Effect is best with an experimental versus control group strategy
IF Island is too small; and IF Mainland Flow to Island is too big: Gentrification is likely with fixed link.
Change will depend on access costs, opportunity costs (money & time) and cultural gap/lag.