Comments on: A closer look at bikes and the Sellwood Bridge Project http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 21:19:16 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: NPbike http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-505325 NPbike Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:53:32 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-505325 The designs I\'ve seen actually look great for bike/ped, better than the hawthorne for sure. Just shows how far we\'ve come. Re: Temporary bridge...how about the old Willamette River Water Taxi...could solve a lot of problems. As for cantilevering, I suggest trying it on the fremont bridge first. Does anybody else desperately want this? The designs I\'ve seen actually look great for bike/ped, better than the hawthorne for sure. Just shows how far we\'ve come.

Re: Temporary bridge...how about the old Willamette River Water Taxi...could solve a lot of problems.

As for cantilevering, I suggest trying it on the fremont bridge first. Does anybody else desperately want this?

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]]> By: VR http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-505157 VR Wed, 15 Aug 2007 23:16:26 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-505157 DK: You do realize that the Sellwood bridge is failing under it\'s own weight? On top of that the west side piers are slowly sliding towards the river, putting even more stress on the failing parts of the approaches. To \"fix what\'s there\" would probably cost more than building a whole new one, and would net us little in return. DK:

You do realize that the Sellwood bridge is failing under it\'s own weight?

On top of that the west side piers are slowly sliding towards the river, putting even more stress on the failing parts of the approaches.

To \"fix what\'s there\" would probably cost more than building a whole new one, and would net us little in return.

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]]> By: DK http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-505132 DK Wed, 15 Aug 2007 22:14:17 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-505132 Fix what\'s there, add wider sidewalks on both sides for peds. and bikes, and make the west side easily accessible without having to fear for your life! Fix what\'s there, add wider sidewalks on both sides for peds. and bikes, and make the west side easily accessible without having to fear for your life!

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]]> By: rixtir http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-505093 rixtir Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:49:37 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-505093 The obvious solution would be to discourage inter-county commuters by keeping traffic speeds low on Tacoma, and and limiting it to two motor vehicle lanes. Then hint broadly to Clackamas County that they need to lift their end.... The obvious solution would be to discourage inter-county commuters by keeping traffic speeds low on Tacoma, and and limiting it to two motor vehicle lanes.

Then hint broadly to Clackamas County that they need to lift their end....

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]]> By: Doug http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-505087 Doug Wed, 15 Aug 2007 21:33:57 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-505087 I\'m disappointed that there doesn\'t seem to be much support for a transit only lane on the bridge. In order to help the city overall we need to think about more than what\'s best for us, I think making room for transit is going to be a key part of getting people out of their cars. In my opinion option D offers a good compromise between the needs of cyclists and non-cyclists. I\'m disappointed that there doesn\'t seem to be much support for a transit only lane on the bridge. In order to help the city overall we need to think about more than what\'s best for us, I think making room for transit is going to be a key part of getting people out of their cars. In my opinion option D offers a good compromise between the needs of cyclists and non-cyclists.

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]]> By: bicycledave http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-505049 bicycledave Wed, 15 Aug 2007 20:11:17 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-505049 I commute across this bridge every day by bike and I wholeheartedly agree with a. O. that there should be no more than 2 auto lanes. Rush hour traffic on Tacoma is already saturated by the current two lane bridge. And remember, the traffic is further limited by the narrow width of the lanes and a weight limit. Even a new bridge limited to 2 lanes will feed more traffic onto Tacoma because larger trucks and Tri-met will be allowed back on the bridge. I commute across this bridge every day by bike and I wholeheartedly agree with a. O. that there should be no more than 2 auto lanes. Rush hour traffic on Tacoma is already saturated by the current two lane bridge. And remember, the traffic is further limited by the narrow width of the lanes and a weight limit. Even a new bridge limited to 2 lanes will feed more traffic onto Tacoma because larger trucks and Tri-met will be allowed back on the bridge.

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]]> By: Martha R http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-504999 Martha R Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:38:00 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-504999 I second Tbird\'s suggestion that the bike lane be wider than the ped lane. A spacious bike lane with ample room for passing slower cyclists would be great. Also, allowing bikes on the sidewalk while there are bike lanes will create confusion -- peds will see the striped lanes and expect that all bikes will be (or should be) in the lane. That doesn\'t bode well for bike/ped interactions. I second Tbird\'s suggestion that the bike lane be wider than the ped lane. A spacious bike lane with ample room for passing slower cyclists would be great.

Also, allowing bikes on the sidewalk while there are bike lanes will create confusion -- peds will see the striped lanes and expect that all bikes will be (or should be) in the lane. That doesn\'t bode well for bike/ped interactions.

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]]> By: Tbird http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-504978 Tbird Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:35:16 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-504978 I\'d really like to see a model for replacement that shows: 1) A separated bike lane, a barrier from auto traffic. and, 2) the bike lane to be wider than the ped lane. I think the models showing a 16\' ped lane and 5 \' bike lane are backward. Why should the 2-3 peds that walk across the bridge each day get such a wide space while bikes are STILL being relegated to last place. I\'m glad the bridge is getting a proper replacement, but I am disappointed to see we are still looking at bike users as an after-thought instead of the primary concern. This is a great opportunity for Portland to make a bold statement that BIKES COME FIRST. I\'d really like to see a model for replacement that shows:
1) A separated bike lane, a barrier from auto traffic.
and,
2) the bike lane to be wider than the ped lane. I think the models showing a 16\' ped lane and 5 \' bike lane are backward. Why should the 2-3 peds that walk across the bridge each day get such a wide space while bikes are STILL being relegated to last place.
I\'m glad the bridge is getting a proper replacement, but I am disappointed to see we are still looking at bike users as an after-thought instead of the primary concern. This is a great opportunity for Portland to make a bold statement that BIKES COME FIRST.

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]]> By: David Feldman http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-504976 David Feldman Wed, 15 Aug 2007 17:31:24 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-504976 I don\'t live in Sellwood--or even in Portland--but I hope that the bridge does not expand beyond two automobile lanes. The Sellwood neighborhood has 19th century streets and buildings--how does anyone think that it can handle more car traffic? Rebuild Sellwood before it falls into the river, but also consider a second bridge, perhaps an enhanced West Linn-Oregon City bridge. I don\'t live in Sellwood--or even in Portland--but I hope that the bridge does not expand beyond two automobile lanes. The Sellwood neighborhood has 19th century streets and buildings--how does anyone think that it can handle more car traffic? Rebuild Sellwood before it falls into the river, but also consider a second bridge, perhaps an enhanced West Linn-Oregon City bridge.

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]]> By: a.O http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project-4786#comment-504959 a.O Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:55:19 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/2007/08/15/a-closer-look-at-bikes-and-the-sellwood-bridge-project/#comment-504959 Great piece, Jon. As you know, I want no bridge. The livability of my neighborhood is reduced by so much motor vehicle traffic and I would like to see it go elsewhere. But at this point it\'s clear we\'re not ready to put cars in their rightful place, so as long as we only have two motor vehicle lanes on the bridge, I\'ll be satisfied. Also, I think there is a fundamental fairness issue with Multnomah County tax payers paying for a bridge used mostly by Clackamas County residents. If we\'re going to build a new bridge (and apparently we are), I think there should be some cost sharing. Great piece, Jon.

As you know, I want no bridge. The livability of my neighborhood is reduced by so much motor vehicle traffic and I would like to see it go elsewhere. But at this point it\'s clear we\'re not ready to put cars in their rightful place, so as long as we only have two motor vehicle lanes on the bridge, I\'ll be satisfied.

Also, I think there is a fundamental fairness issue with Multnomah County tax payers paying for a bridge used mostly by Clackamas County residents. If we\'re going to build a new bridge (and apparently we are), I think there should be some cost sharing.

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