15 October 2008 Archives

Parade will mark opening Rose Quarter bikeway improvements

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

New bike facilities in Rose Quarter Transit Center-5

Time to celebrate.
(Photo � J. Maus)

A parade is planned for Thursday (10/16) to celebrate the new bike access and safety improvements through the Rose Quarter Transit Center.

The project was the result of collaborative effort between TriMet, the City of Portland, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, and the Lloyd District Transportation Management Association.

A statement about the event issued by TriMet referred to the previous configuration of the transit center as a “critical barrier for cyclists”, and that “the alternative bike route around the transit center was difficult to navigate.”

PDOT’s Rob Burchfield and Matthew
Machado presented ideas for changes to
the dangerous the Broadway/Williams
intersection last night.
(Photos � J. Maus)

The Office of Transportation has struggled for years to figure out how to safely manage bike and car traffic flow at the intersection of Broadway and Williams.

Following two fatalities due to right-hooks last fall, PDOT placed the intersection on a list of the 14 most dangerous in the city and initially planned to install a bike box. However, after further study of the intersection, it was determined that a bike box would not be a good solution at this location.

Kidical Mass

Freak Bike Fall

Brown Bag Discussion – Cycle Zones

Shift Meetup

Portlanders get Copenhagenized

Mikael Colville-Andersen leading a group
of Portlanders on a tour of Copenhagen
last week.
(Photo: Jay Graves.

The recent, Metro-sponsored field trip to Copenhagen and Amsterdam concluded last week. The trip was intended as an inspirational master class on how those two cities have created a safe, efficient, and comfortable bike network that’s used by well over 30% of their residents (of all ages) on a daily basis.

One concept on the table is
the creation of a new public plaza at
the end of Ladd Ave.

As I reported last month, the Office of Transportation and the Bureau of Planning have embarked on a project to improve the 7 Corners intersection (where SE Division, Ladd, 20th, and 21st streets converge).

At last night’s Bicycle Advisory Committee meeting, Tom Armstrong from the Bureau of Planning introduced the three design concepts and received feedback on how the designs might impact bike traffic.

Armstrong told us that the two goals of the project are “How can we enhance this area to give it a more distinctive place, while at the same time maintain mobility through the intersection.”

In 1993 an upstart bike advocacy group called the Bicycle Transportation Alliance — headed by Rex Burkholder (now a Metro councilor) — filed a lawsuit against the City of Portland because of a lack of bicycle facilities around the Rose Garden Arena.

This morning, 15 years after that legal battle (which ended after the BTA backed off two years later, their point being made), PDOT crews (with the blessing of TriMet) began the striping and installation of new bike lanes through the Rose Quarter Transit Center — making passage through the area for bicycles safer, more efficient, and legal.

Looking south from NE Holladay. N. Interstate Ave is in the background.
(Photos � J. Maus)

Parade will mark opening Rose Quarter bikeway improvements

Following collision, PDOT puts Broadway/Williams back into play

Freak Bike Fall

Kidical Mass

Freak Bike Fall

Freak Bike Fall

Brown Bag Discussion – Cycle Zones

Shift Meetup

Portlanders get Copenhagenized

Planning Bureau unveils design concepts for 7 Corners intersection

First look: New green bike lanes in Rose Quarter Transit Center

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