First look at another new on-street bike parking design from PDOT
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on September 25th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
posts (instead of flexible plastic
bollards).
(Photos © J. Maus)
Continuing on their program to create more on-street bike parking facilities, the Maintenance Division of the City of Portland Office of Transportation began work today installing a new bike corral in North Portland.
The location is the southwest corner of the intersection of N. Killingsworth and N. Williams. This is the same location that I reported about a few weeks ago where the adjacent business owner, Ethos Music (the non-profit founded by City Council candidate Charles Lewis), was told the project was held up by design issues.
Well it looks like PDOT has figured out those design issues. This facility has solid metal posts with reflective tape and a chained cable strung between.
The racks are expected to be installed tomorrow. Here are a few more photos.
Full report and more photos to come.
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Wow! This looks great. Is it bigger than the new ones by Powell's and the Ace Hotel? Thanks, PDOT!
RecommendedI agree. Thank you PDOT. Here's their web site: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/, but does anyone know of a good email address to send thanks to?
RecommendedIt looks great to me. In addition to providing much needed bike parking, this appears to be an excellent safety improvement at a fairly dangerous intersection for all modes. I would expect this project to work like a low cost curb extension - increase visibility without cars parked near the corner and slowing vehicles by tightening the turning radius for cars.
yippee, thanks ethos and pdot
RecommendedI suggest sending a note to Sam Adams (samadams@portland.ci.or.us) and chief traffic engineer Rob Burchfield (robert.burchfield@pdxtrans.org). A note to Sarah Figliozzi, new PDOT bike parking coordinator, would be nice too (sarah.figliozzi@trans.ci.portland.or.us).
RecommendedLooks great, but shouldn't the posts be painted orange or yellow for high visibility? They are safer than previous designs, but will not hold out a vehicle for long.
RecommendedI'll thank Rob Burchfield when he approves sharrows for widespread use, but no sooner
RecommendedI have a question not just about corrals,but bike parking in general: are the standard 'staple' racks the best design for secureing a bike,or has anyone encounted a better all around bike rack? I just think they are ugly,but haven't seen anything I like better, yet.
RecommendedSo.. any update on Xtracycle accommodation?
like... will mine fit?
Thanks so much
Recommendedfor bike racks, two-point frame support is best, 'staples' meet this criteria
RecommendedThe design looks great, but they need to be much brighter (posts and cables). The standard for cables like that similar to ones that run across road closures with either a cable or chain would have a color or something reflective hanging from them. The other design by Powells is really great, it should be the standard or PDOT should just decide on a standard so everyone gets the look and how it all works.
RecommendedCould also use some visibility aids on those cables, maybe reflectors. I can see some one crossing the street at night and getting clothes lined, or even a cyclist thinking they can go between the posts to park.
RecommendedBurr, #6 and #9
#6 Sharrows are being held up by the federal government, not anyone at the city or state level. Rob is most definitely not the bad guy in that at all.
#9 Portland city code deos require that bikes be able to be locked by frame and one wheel, without removing wheel, which is pretty much what staple racks get us.
Mark Ginsberg
RecommendedI like this design better than the ones they've thrown up downtown. I think the metal posts will be great, until someone hits them, which is inevitable. the cables look like they're fine, too. If I remember right, that corner is pretty well lit, you'd have to be in a pretty big hurry to miss them, and they're too low to clothesline someone. Also, I think the reflective strips on the post make up for the fact that they're not eyesore yellow.
Recommended@ Mark #12: San Francisco, Denver and several other cities have already implemented sharrows without waiting for the federal government to act, and Portland has implemented other bike infrastructure improvements without federal approval; the reality is that the only thing holding up sharrows implementation in Portland is Mr. Burchfield.
RecommendedI don't understand why PDOT doesn't want cyclists entering and exiting the parking corrals on the street side, that's how all other vehicles enter and exit parking spaces and it would seem to make the most sense for cyclists as well.
Recommendedvery cool. those old ones looked a bit sketchy.
RecommendedThis rack situation is an improvement from similar ones in Portland. Of course, it is a learning process: put up a rack park like this, learn from the mistakes, and make improvements.
Here is a photo of a similar rack situation with notes (move the cursor over the photo) on why the idea is good, but it is not the best design.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wittcogmbh/2423508647/in/set-72157607516927202/
Feel free to add your own thoughts.
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