promises. Has he kept them?
(Photos © J. Maus)
On May 26th, less than one week from today, Mayor Adams will have been in office for 100 business days. Shortly after taking office he released his “100 Day Action Plan” which contained a range of promised accomplishments from many different bureaus within the city.
Among the promises was an entire section devoted to bike-related projects and policies. It contained five separate promises and was labeled: “Enhance the safety and accessibility of bicycling for everyone.” He also promised a “world-class” bike facility on the new I-5 bridge (if and when it’s ever built).
Below, we take a closer look at each promise and whether or not Adams has made good.
Announce the release of an updated Bicycle Master Plan for the city
Bike Master Plan the jolt of energy
it needed.
The Bureau of Transportation has just wrapped up a series of public open houses for their updated Bike Master Plan and work on the plan has ramped up considerably since Ellen Vanderslice became the project manager back in December. According to her, the plan is set to be in front of City Council on October 21st. From what I can tell, the update is moving along nicely and it seems the schedule will pan out.
Will Adams “Announce the release” of the plan by this coming Tuesday? No. It’s not a done deal when exactly it will be released (it could still hit some unforeseeable snag). This plan update is way overdue, but it’s not for lack of trying (it had been woefully understaffed before Vanderslice came on board and before Adams was Mayor).
Unveil the City’s first Cycle Track in a high-visibility, high-use location to promote safety and increase bicycle use
cycletrack on Broadway.
If “unveil” means simply to share plans (versus actually build it), than Mayor Adams has fulfilled this promise. Adams’ office originally picked to locate the cycletrack in the North Park Blocks, but after the Fire Department objected, they then decided on SW Broadway (which they claim they were considering all along).
Is the Broadway location “high visibility” and “high use”? Well, given that it’s adjacent to the most popular bike destination in downtown (Portland State University) and that it’s a major thoroughfare street, I would say yes. Will it “promote safety and increase bicycle use”? That depends on who you ask. Ask me and I’d say yes.
Identify 15 miles of Bicycle Boulevards for implementation in 2009
PBOT has put a lot of work into their bike boulevard push and they have definitely identified 15 miles of boulevards. Right now, their top projects are: SE Spokane from 20th to the river; Wabash/Hamlin from Willamette to Columbia; and N Going Street from Concord to NE 74th (thanks to a big assist by the BTA). They’ve also identified boulevards on Bryant (from Wabash to Interstate), SE Mill (from 60th to I-205), and others.
But how about the “implementation” part? PBOT traffic safety staffer Mark Lear says they’ve already “programmed” over 15 miles of boulevard work with their Maintenance Operations Group (which means they’ve budgeted staff time and put the projects on the official radar).
Complete the next link in the Bike Boulevard network on N Wabash, connecting N Willamette Blvd to the bike path along the Columbia River
installed by PBOT in April.
(Photo: PBOT)
This promise has only been partially fulfilled. I spoke with Mark Lear about it to learn more. He informed me that they’ve already completed two projects on Wabash and that a third will get underway in June. PBOT has widened a path through an existing diverter median (making it much nicer for bikes and pedestrians) and installed bollards so cars won’t be tempted to use it. They’ve also installed a new curb ramp to create a nicer connection between Hamlin and the Columbia Blvd. multi-use path.
The final piece of “completing the link” will be to address a speeding problem on Wabash from Lombard to Willamette, says Lear. On June 4th he and other PBOT staff will hold a public meeting to discuss the installation of speed bumps between Lombard and Willamette Blvd, the crossing treatment at Willis, and stop sign changes (more on all this in a separate post).
Deliver on-street bike parking corrals in four or more high-demand locations
PBOT and the Mayor’s Office have delivered on this promise. In March they significantly expanded the corral near the Pacific Northwest College of Art and just last week they put in three more: one in Northwest, one in St. Johns, and one in Northeast. These installations followed the installation of four corrals downtown back in November.
PBOT planned to have a corral installed in front of Widmer Brewing on N. Russell at Interstate (along with the three installed last week), but an ongoing sidewalk project has stalled that installation. I also learned from PBOT that they plan to roll out 30 more on-street bike parking corrals over the summer.
Secure world-class bicycle and pedestrian accommodations on (and accessing) the Columbia River Crossing
favored bike/ped facility
design on the CRC.
(Below motorized traffic)
Adams has not made good on this promise. He has been vocal and engaged with this issue (he delivered a strongly worded letter to the Urban Design Advisory Group about it), but so far he has not “secured” anything in writing from project staff. Adams’ transportation policy director Catherine Ciarlo puts it this way: “[This promise] is not secure but Mayor Adams has been very vocal within the context of the UDAG [Urban Design Advisory Group] about the need to hear input from the bike/ped communities and he’s been very strong in pushing back or being spoon-fed any particular design.”
For what it’s worth (and I say that because the CRC project itself seems to be on life-support politically right now), the current design for the bike/ped facility favored by project staff — a “stacked bridge” design that would put it under the motor-vehicle lanes — is not facing any serious objections from local bike advocates and insiders. At a recent meeting of the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, the BTA’s Michelle Poyourow said she could support an below-the-deck bike/ped path as long as she got a commitment that it would be maintained and secured 24/7.
Given the circumstances that have clouded his administration — and his perhaps compromised ability to advocate for something that some in our city feel is just a fringe activity (read the comments on bike stories at KPTV or OregonLive lately?) — Adams has made very admirable progress in fulfilling bike-related promises during his first 100 days.
It might also be worth noting that tonight the community will weigh in on his proposed budget, which includes $4.8 million dollars for bike projects and programs.
“Adams has made very admirable progress in fulfilling bike-related promises during his first 100 days.”
Sure, if you redefine admirable to mean abysmal.
With all considering, I am quite pleased with what he has done.
Overall I’m pretty impressed. This isn’t an easy time to try and push new projects and improvements, especially for bicycles.
Thanks to Sam, Greg and the rest of the team there. I hope the next 100 days are even more productive.
I’m seeing progress, and while we should always be demanding more, demeaning this effort seems pretty foolish to me.
Since this posting only has a few comments, can I make a request to the inevitable Sam Adams bashers who are going to put him and these efforts down: tell me which other candidate for mayor in this city would have done more for cyclists, and how they would have done this. Yeah, I’m asking you to put your criticism in a constructive context.
Adams has indeed shown an admirable job pushing for bike-friendly infrastructure and the funding for it.
I do however agree with Jeff Bernards regarding Sam’s interest in financing other city projects which do not benefit the city and the money for which could be used to vastly improve the safety of our streets
When it comes to his list I think Adams did a pretty good job of delivering.
Thanks, Jonathan, for using BP to impose this kind of accountability on our political leaders. Given the current budget crunch, it’s imperative that the bike community forces politicians to respond to our agenda (which we should present in itemized, specific fashion during each campaign season) and then follow up to see how they’re keeping their promises and hold them accountable. This is a terrific example of holding their wheels to the fire. We should do the same with the commissioners and other public officials who have budget and decision making authority over bike related issues.
Adams is much more interested in spending hundreds of millions of dollars on projects that we don’t need that will benefit a billionaire (Merrit Paulson’s stadiums), some big construction companies (Convention Center Hotel), and burb dwellers from the Couve (12 lane CRC).
I’d rather have a mayor who spent our tax dollars on projects we need, like schools, a new Sellwood bridge, basic social services…..
I am all for funding bike related infrastructure, but not if it means supporting a mayor who’s priorities and ethics raise major red flags.
From a biking standpoint, I can say that I am overall pleased with what he has done to promote cycling in the city. Jonathan makes a good point in that it is viewed by others in the city as a “fringe” activity because, yes, I have read comments at Oregonlive and other media outlets. Considering the budget and how everyone is pinching pennies, I think he is doing okay.
I, like many others, and not thrilled about the CRC and the stadiums being built. Social services and schools are more important. And, honestly if having one fewer bike boulevard means a teacher does not get laid off or a person with Schizophrenia gets his meds, I can deal with that.
I am all for funding bike related infrastructure, but not if it means supporting a mayor who’s priorities and ethics raise major red flags.
Uh oh, we got another Mayoral Sex Life obsessee.
You must be getting paid to be on his staff. He has done very little on anything bike related that I can see. The cycletrack is a total waste of resources, bike boulevards are a pretty nebulous idea that I can’t see take a lot of resources but happy talk. The CRC idea could fund about 100,000 miles of bikepaths, putting up a few bike corrals is a real accomplishment? He is a lame duck already and will be a one term mayor. I guess getting a $1000 dollars in parking tickets while “commuting by bicycle” to work gets you a free pass here.
He has done very little on anything bike related that I can see.
I guess you didn’t read the article. Here, I’ll post a link for you: http://bikeportland.org/2009/05/21/how-has-mayor-adams-done-with-his-bike-promises/
Hart, nice reply, I did read the article, but I guess I didn’t see much there he has done. Bike corrals, wow, I am excited! Bike boulevards, geez, what do you have to do but put up some signs? The proposed cycletrack is the biggest waste of resources there is. Do you think this is worthwhile? Probably the easiest stretch of road in downtown so we need to spend a lot of money to put cyclists on some kind of stupid bike lane? I prefer to just ride in the street like everybody else who travels around town. We are not freaks and don’t need to be treated as such. Bicycling increased 100% under the last mayor and no one in the cycling crowd gave him any credit. There is a cult like worship of Adams that I don’t think he deserves. He is not a cyclist, just claims to be one to get your vote and obviously has succeeded. HE GOT OVER $1000 of parking tickets last year. What more do you need to know?
Uh huh.
Waste of resources? What resources, the thirty gallons of paint it will take? Is there some shortage of paint in the part of town where you live, pally?
I doubt there’s any area of cycling infrastructure improvement you WOULD find commendable if it came from Sam Adams.
Adding more bike boulevards, re-striping wider lanes, adding more racks, and allocating permanent funding for future improvements seems like a hell of a lot in only three months.
And as far as parking tickets go, downtown $1,000 is only about three tickets. I should know. I used to park a car down there.
Uh HUH Hart? Maybe do some research before you hit the keyboard. The “thirty gallons of paint” is going to cost $47,000 dollars. What is it with you and Sam? Are you on the payroll?
Being that some sharrows on the bus mall were going to cost $20,000, I could see 30 gallons of paint from the city costing $47,000!
Government official: “One dollar to project, three to me.”
Here’s my presentation form the meeting.
I want to thank the council for working so hard on the budget and allowing me to express my opinion on the budget. I’m here today to testify in support of more spending on bike infrastructure. The cities spending priorities are out of touch with our national goals. I support President Obama’s agenda of Health Care, Education, Energy & Climate Change solutions. Your current list of “stimulus” spending addresses none of these issues. The Soccer stadium, Baseball Stadium, Convention Center Hotel and the CRC tackle none of our pressing national issues. If you borrow money for these “extras” when it comes to projects that truly help the citizens of Portland, there won’t be any room left on the credit card. It’s time to forgo these “extra” things and address what really matters to Portlander’s. Obama restricts use of stimulus money, it can’t be used on sports field facilities, that should tell you how important that kind of spending isn’t. Bike infrastructure creates jobs, yet helps Portlander’s directly by saving money on transportation, reduces our dependence on oil, reduces CO2 & encourages a Healthy Lifestyle. This type of spending addresses our national priorities. The soccer and baseball can coexist at PGE park, life will go on, trust me.
I am totally against the raising my water bill. You shelved Green Streets because it seemed like a tax increase, what’s the difference of raising the bill. We don’t have to filter our water, so the money isn’t going for that, I feel it’s being used for projects that have nothing to do with water. We already have the highest rate in the country and we don’t even live in the desert.
I attended a meeting several years ago when Portland had an extra $33 million & Sam was looking for ideas on how to spend it. At that time I said you should fix Burnside. You told me it would take all the money to do just that, it’s been 2 years and it’s still not fixed.
What is it with you, old&slow – did Adams run over your dog? Just because someone disagrees with you, or supports Sam doesn’t mean they’re on his payroll (or that they merit personal insults).
Stick to the facts rather than the insults – your argument is stronger that way.
old&slow (#13). If cycling did increase 100% under Potter, do you not think gas prices had anything to do with that? Just saying. . .
Matt, sorry if you took them as insults. I just don’t get the Adams worehip from the bike community. I think he is a phoney and gets support he doesn’t deserve. Projects like the cycletrack are just window dressing designe to make the community think he is doing something. There was a lot done for the bike community under Tom Potter and he never got any hero worship here. I just think Adams get a pass because he does photo ops posing on a bike all the time.
i really don’t think there has been “worship from the bike community” for Adams. Have you not read the many negative comments toward him on this site?
As for Potter, he was not engaged with bikes at all. The irony of your “photo ops” claim about Adams is that Potter committed the ultimate photo op when he rode with Critical Mass right when he came into office but then proceeded to do very little or nothing about bikes during his tenure… he did however cut funding for the Bicycle Master Plan update and he was instrumental in killing the plan to re-locate the Sauvie Island Bridge to NW Flanders as a bike/ped only bridge.
Phoney or not, window dressing or not… bottom line is that Adams is doing something for bikes, whether you like the projects or not.
old&slow (#20) – when you imply that someone’s remarks are because they are on Sam’s payroll, you are questioning or disputing their integrity. That’s an insult. In post #11, it wasn’t an implication – you said it flat out.
I’m pointing it out because, in general, your posts contain logic and a lot of facts – and because of that, your arguments have merit. Facts might sway an Adams supporter, but implying that their opinions are because they’re getting some sort of kickback almost certainly won’t.
As for the cycletrack, I don’t see it as window dressing, or as useless. We’re innovating in Portland. No one has any idea if it’ll work. It’s amazing how each of these projects has so many naysayers when we’ve never used them, and in many cases, they don’t exist anywhere in the US – or if they do, they’re brand-new, and no data on their effectiveness is available. We’re all learning how to build a better infrastructure, one that allows all modes to coexist, and that requires experimentation. Portland is at the leading edge of that, and is setting the agenda. I fully support that, and I fully support testing out the cycletrack.
Of course, if the cycletrack is a total failure, and the city doesn’t remove it at that point, you’ll hear me singing a different tune.
Maybe do some research before you hit the keyboard. The “thirty gallons of paint” is going to cost $47,000 dollars.
We all know the cost, you’re not enlightening anybody on that. You said it was “a waste of resources”, not a waste of money. So I questioned your assertion, since it is obviously a project that requires very little resources.
Since you think more bike lanes are a waste of resources, more staple racks are a waste of resources, more boulevards are a waste of resources, and securing more funding is waste of resources, I’d like to hear one positive thing that Sam Adams should do.
Or are you afraid that suggesting positive alternatives would prevent you from attacking the person who implements them?
Just wanted to add my quick 2 cents-
I’ve had the opportunity to ride a cycletrack in Montreal. I was quite impressed. I realize ours would be much shorter and I believe it’s not separated as well. Still, I would hope this could be a baby step towards eventually having some major bike arterials that have large stretches of cycletrack.
I heard some smack-talk regarding bike boulevards which is off. A bike boulevard doesn’t require a ton of infrastructure so one could technically call it, “a bunch of signs and some paint.” But that’s like saying a school is just, “A bunch of books in a building.” A lot happens in both places.
Turning a few stop signs, adding signals over arterials and signing it as a bike route is a HUGE deal. And it costs so little to do. It’s simple and elegant. It’s using resources we already have. It’s like pulling up the lawn and putting a vegetable garden there instead with only a bunch of seeds.
Jonathan, everyone,
Might there be a nice, comprehensive page on the cycletrack out there for out-of-towners watching your progress to check out?
Kevin, here’s the PBoT website information:
http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=50254
It’s encouraging to see those who DO support Portland’s advancement as a sustainable, vibrant cycling community refrain from the kind of language they so embrace over at OregonLive.
Ok, someone needs to offer this mayor some serious bike fashion advice.
stoopid, but didn’t the ‘first 100 days’ end like on April 10th? but whatever, you know?
Tuesday by simple math is MUCH closer to Sam’s 150th day in office than his 100th. Simple fact, Mr. Maus. You might want to check them. It significantly detracts from your point.
Mr Carper,
The 100 Days are based on business days. Also, I am using the date that the Mayor’s office is using.
Thanks
I see the cycle track as being somewhat like the monorail in Seattle was in the 1963 worlds fair. A showpiece of a concept, it runs from point A to point B, 46 years later it still runs between point A and point B and has never ben expnded on. As sweet as it might be, it dosn’t pencil out in the real world. How many millions was it to put cycletrack down cully from prescot to killingsworth? (I hope that one never happens as planned) That same money could be used much more efficiently to expand the bike infrustrucure in a broader area of town. Maybe sam will try and push through some pet projects while he is still in office? It’s too bad the city’s spending priorities are so screwed up. Maybe we will close some more schools… and build some more hotels…
So wait, Jim. You’re attacking the cycletrack because you can apparently see into the future fifty years and know for fact that it was never expanded upon. But then you attack the Mayor for wasting money on trying to expand upon it. You can’t have it both ways.
I bet they will make one segment of cycletrack and that will be the end of it
I guess my view of Sam Adams is a little more nuanced. I voted for him, and probably would again if the choice was the same. Yet, I oppose his position on the CRC, the hotel, and the stadium. All of these projects are not in keeping with the kind of person we thought we voted for. Yet, I don’t think they’re aberrations – those programs are part of Sam’s view of how a mayor should operate, and I believe he doesn’t see them as in conflict with his other “greener” positions. It is this blindspot that troubles me most about the mayor. My way of dealing with it is to support Sam Adams on the projects I agree with, and to oppose him on projects I do not agree with, and to give him a hard time about those projects at every opportunity. If we can get him to face his inner conflicts, and come to the realization that they don’t make sense, then the city wins. If we can get a better candidate to run against him, the city wins. But if he gets weakened and retreats into conservatism, or if candidates emerge from the business community, we all lose.
The trouble I see with that line of thinking, peejay, is that the issues you support him on are relatively trivial. Those you oppose him on are monumental.
There appears to be a ‘blindspot’ in your logic. You are rationalizing your support for someone who’s clearly not representing your interests, in trade for a few shiny baubles.
There seems to be an emotional attachment to Sam by many, to their detriment.
I bet they will make one segment of cycletrack and that will be the end of it
So what’s your wager then?
I wage that if I’m right – I’m right
If I’m wrong -I’m wrong
jim #33, you seem like a practical minded guy. You at least know how not to lose very much in a bet.
In comment #33, you mentioned “…cully from prescot to killingsworth…”, and how you hoped the improvements, including a cycle track planned for that section of road would never be built as planned.
That got me wondering whether you had some ideas of your own about how it should be built. I thought maybe you’ve walked along that section of Cully Blvd during rush hour, and would have some impression of how conditions are on that street for people on foot or riding a bike.
What do you think ought to be done with places such as Cully Blvd, where people on bikes and on foot struggle with harsh conditions resulting from the effects of high volumes of motor vehicle traffic on that street?
Re; Adams and his campaign promises: Living out in Beaverton, I’m interested in what Adams does to live up to his campaign promises. As the mayor of the metro areas largest city, Adams ideas, decisions actions and are significant to those that other local government leaders might make. Smaller city governments and citizens in the metro area may be inspired to follow Portland’s lead if Adams makes good decisions and follows through on his promises.
I don’t keep a point by point count like some people commenting here have, but on a simpler, subjective level, Adams seems to be doing o.k. .
He’s regained some of the vivacious energy he had before getting caught with the underage boy bimbo in a city hall restroom. There haven’t been any further blowups or rumors of other similar relationships since. That’s good.
It sounds like Adams is showing up to work, venturing opinions and making decisions that seem to have some thought behind them even if not everyone likes them. He seems to be listening to what people are saying. So it seems he’s still in the game. If he keeps this up, any recall effort is probably going to be a big ‘ph-h-h-h-t!!’. Just as well. Once that’s in the past, he may have more energy to exert towards accomplishing what he promised.
From the shot of Mayor Adams, it looks as if he needs access to a good end-of-trip facility where he could shower and change into his Mayor clothes after his ride into City Hall.
wsbob
I have bean up cully thousands of times at all hrs.. I think it is terrible that in one of the poorest parts of town where there are so many famillies that rely on their feat for transportation that they don’t even have sidewalks to walk on, they either walk in the street or off to the side in grass or dirt. Sidewalks are a high priority. Also bicycles are high priority for all the cyclists in or passing through the neighborhood. A simple bike path would suffice just fine, just a strip of blacktop can’t cost all those millions of dollars. bikes aren’t heavy weight and don’t require a lot.
The 5 way stop is confusing for a good portion of drivers who don’t remember if it’s their turn to go or what? I’m suprised ther arn’t more accidents there. The city engineers need to take a good look at that one. As far as the unpaved roads in the area, the people who live on those streets generally live there for that reason- they want to be left alone. Some of those streets are ridiculassly bad though and should be made so cars do not get stuck.
I guess what I’m getting at is to spread the money aroung on more frugal projects to do more good for more people.
Maybe save a few dollars for spelling lessons for jim
Jim, thanks for expanding on your comment. Glad to hear that you feel Cully residents need better conditions on Cully Blvd to travel in ways other than motor vehicles.
I hope you had a chance to ask city officials what the cost savings in price for a simple strip of blacktop compared to a more elaborate cycle path would be. They’d probably appreciate your concern about using the money as efficiently as possible. If there was a big difference between the two, enough comments from people favoring the simple treatment might have swayed the design decision in that direction.
I am not a local to Portland, and so I am not too into the politics yet. My wish list is more places to lock up my bike, there are MANY of them, but also an increasing number of bikers. I am not intimidated by sharing a lane with a car, but I would want the law to be on my side, and I feel more like I am just given a blind eye, the ability to bike, but little in the way of keeping drivers responsible when they act callously to bikers. I also see this being an issue with Bus drivers, they are often rude on the road, and assume weight makes them right, even though they sometimes violate the traffic laws I try as a cyclist to live up to.
I think the efforts here sound nice, but a more simple, and viable approach could be taken to simply make streets nicer in general for everyone, fresh paint on the ground so lanes are distinguishable, and fill up some of the MANY potholes? Police should take charge to put pressure on cars to SLOW down, and be respectful to the others they share the lanes with, INCLUDING other cars.
Just my 2 cents, but I definitely enjoyed reading this, and I am excited that the topic gets some attention, where I am from cyclists are practically hanged for riding on site.