Comments on: City's first two-way cycle track planned for South Waterfront District http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287 Portland Oregon bicycle news, events, culture, travel and opinion. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:42:47 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: City to rebuild Alder St. near UO, could put in Eugene’s first cycletrack « We Bike Eugene http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1516227 City to rebuild Alder St. near UO, could put in Eugene’s first cycletrack « We Bike Eugene Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:08:05 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1516227 [...] been tested in numerous cities with very positive results, including Portland in both one-way and two-way versions.  A cycletrack would remove the danger and fear induced by a contraflow bike lane.  The [...] [...] been tested in numerous cities with very positive results, including Portland in both one-way and two-way versions.  A cycletrack would remove the danger and fear induced by a contraflow bike lane.  The [...]

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]]> By: BikePortland.org » Blog Archive » TIGER project comes with Portland’s first two-way cycle track http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1505560 BikePortland.org » Blog Archive » TIGER project comes with Portland’s first two-way cycle track Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:15:28 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1505560 [...] I wrote about this new cycle track back in June and Mayor Sam Adams’ spokesperson Roy Kaufmann reminded me today that these TIGER funds mean the cycle track will now be built. Dashed line shows approximate location of cycle track. [...] [...] I wrote about this new cycle track back in June and Mayor Sam Adams’ spokesperson Roy Kaufmann reminded me today that these TIGER funds mean the cycle track will now be built. Dashed line shows approximate location of cycle track. [...]

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]]> By: Dave http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1358482 Dave Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:09:30 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1358482 There is an Oregon law stating that if there is a "bike lane" you have to ride in the bike lane - however, there are so many exceptions to it, I can hardly imagine it being enforced much in Portland proper. I'm pretty sure there are a good number of people who already violate this one (like the masses of people riding down Hawthorne off the bridge not in the bike lane) and never getting tagged for it. There is an Oregon law stating that if there is a "bike lane" you have to ride in the bike lane - however, there are so many exceptions to it, I can hardly imagine it being enforced much in Portland proper. I'm pretty sure there are a good number of people who already violate this one (like the masses of people riding down Hawthorne off the bridge not in the bike lane) and never getting tagged for it.

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]]> By: daily commute not in portland http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1357742 daily commute not in portland Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:59:44 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1357742 Will Portland cycle tracks come at the price of the right to ride on the road? Or does Portland have enough confidence in the design that it will still be legal to ride on the road? Will Portland cycle tracks come at the price of the right to ride on the road? Or does Portland have enough confidence in the design that it will still be legal to ride on the road?

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]]> By: Brian http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1320048 Brian Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:48:27 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1320048 The grade will be raised up to 14 feet in the north district only, i.e. the area between the Marquam and Ross Island Bridges where OHSU's new campus will be built. This is to raise the land out of the flood plain and to allow for underground parking. Moody needs to be completely rebuilt and moved slightly west anyway due to light rail and to accomodate two-way streetcar on Moody. The increased grade does not affect Moody street south of Gibbs (where the tram is located). The grade will be raised up to 14 feet in the north district only, i.e. the area between the Marquam and Ross Island Bridges where OHSU's new campus will be built. This is to raise the land out of the flood plain and to allow for underground parking. Moody needs to be completely rebuilt and moved slightly west anyway due to light rail and to accomodate two-way streetcar on Moody.

The increased grade does not affect Moody street south of Gibbs (where the tram is located).

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]]> By: Erin F http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1318908 Erin F Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:13:16 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1318908 I'm not understanding the raising of Moody by 14 feet. What is the purpose of this? And someone earlier mentioned that it will be okay for autos to bypass it - but, seriously - how will autos bypass this construction, considering there are two streets through the area, each going one way? Is the raising of the street only for the area where it's two way, which is really only one block (right next to the OHSU building) unless you consider everything north of OHSU to be part of the "District"? Why do these changes need to be made anyway? There is very little traffic through the area. I would support making Gaines a two-way between Moody and Bond (especially since I see cars driving the wrong way down that street several times a day). But the rest of it is fine. I totally support the cycletrack though. That area is sketchy to start with, so anything that can be added there will be great. I'm not understanding the raising of Moody by 14 feet. What is the purpose of this? And someone earlier mentioned that it will be okay for autos to bypass it - but, seriously - how will autos bypass this construction, considering there are two streets through the area, each going one way? Is the raising of the street only for the area where it's two way, which is really only one block (right next to the OHSU building) unless you consider everything north of OHSU to be part of the "District"?

Why do these changes need to be made anyway? There is very little traffic through the area. I would support making Gaines a two-way between Moody and Bond (especially since I see cars driving the wrong way down that street several times a day). But the rest of it is fine.

I totally support the cycletrack though. That area is sketchy to start with, so anything that can be added there will be great.

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]]> By: Daniel Ronan http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1318292 Daniel Ronan Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:19:52 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1318292 So I have read a little bit of Jeff Mapes' Pedaling Revolution. And he touched upon cycletrack streets, I believe referencing this project. He spoke of a Mighk Wilson, the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator of Orlando who was not in favor of cycletracks. (p. 86 if you have the book) Mighk mentioned that he thought it would be unethical to build cycletracks from merely the novelty aspect to encourage biking. This, I guess, because, due to the fact that there won't be too many cycletracks in Portland, it would be a dangerous novelty to become used to? Anyone want to perhaps take a crack at what this Mighk guy is referencing? I am at a loss. So I have read a little bit of Jeff Mapes' Pedaling Revolution. And he touched upon cycletrack streets, I believe referencing this project.

He spoke of a Mighk Wilson, the bicycle and pedestrian coordinator of Orlando who was not in favor of cycletracks. (p. 86 if you have the book)

Mighk mentioned that he thought it would be unethical to build cycletracks from merely the novelty aspect to encourage biking. This, I guess, because, due to the fact that there won't be too many cycletracks in Portland, it would be a dangerous novelty to become used to?

Anyone want to perhaps take a crack at what this Mighk guy is referencing? I am at a loss.

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]]> By: Lenny Anderson http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1317841 Lenny Anderson Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:20:49 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1317841 Small matter: on the west side, would it not be better to use the street trees to separate peds from motorized traffic rather than bicycle traffic? Admittedly the sidewalk on the west side will see little use as OHSU campus will be on the east side with the wider sidewalk. Unless there are development plans...parking garages...for the west side land up to I-5 Small matter: on the west side, would it not be better to use the street trees to separate peds from motorized traffic rather than bicycle traffic? Admittedly the sidewalk on the west side will see little use as OHSU campus will be on the east side with the wider sidewalk. Unless there are development plans...parking garages...for the west side land up to I-5

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]]> By: joel http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1317577 joel Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:45:09 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1317577 oh - and so as not to sound completely negative - im super-stoked on the separated cycle track aspect of this design. while i will likely still use the auto lanes for those times when i need to be down long macadam now now now on a rush delivery, the separated cycle track will make the other times a lot nicer. and while i wish this kind of alignment were being tried out somewhere more high-profile, i realize that its a lot more feasible to work this in in an area being developed rather than an existing zone. hopefully it can work as an example for other sections of town, though 6 years is a long time to ask those other areas to wait... oh - and so as not to sound completely negative - im super-stoked on the separated cycle track aspect of this design. while i will likely still use the auto lanes for those times when i need to be down long macadam now now now on a rush delivery, the separated cycle track will make the other times a lot nicer. and while i wish this kind of alignment were being tried out somewhere more high-profile, i realize that its a lot more feasible to work this in in an area being developed rather than an existing zone. hopefully it can work as an example for other sections of town, though 6 years is a long time to ask those other areas to wait...

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]]> By: joel http://bikeportland.org/2009/06/24/citys-first-two-way-cycle-track-planned-for-south-waterfront-district-20287#comment-1317566 joel Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:41:11 +0000 http://bikeportland.org/?p=20287#comment-1317566 interesting. on the surface, i like it... but 2 things... 1. what of the existing streetcar alignment "on" moody (single track, two-way, off-street to the west)? will this be realigned? it appears so, as the graphic doesnt mesh with my knowledge of the current alignment 2. mixing streetcar with car traffic AGAIN. argh. when will we learn to physically separate light rail from automobile traffic? as far as im concerned, this is the great failing of the majority of the portland streetcar line (excepting, ironically enough, the current off-street moody alignment) as well as the downtown max lines. light rail that has to share a lane with other traffic, even bus traffic, loses the advantage it has over such traffic. light rail stuck in traffic may as well be a freaking bus. this is just DUMB, and i do not understand why we keep planning things this way. all it takes is a slight elevation above the roadbed, a small curb, something like that. its SO easy, but it takes a willingness to relegate auto traffic to second fiddle in transit corridors, and we apparently dont have the cajones to do that yet. its tiring. i LOVE that portland is spending time on bringing light rail back. LOVE it. every chink in the street i see with 30s era rails peeking through nags at me, so its great to see this stuff coming back. but while mixed-traffic light rail worked in 1930s era lower car ownership, its a huge mistake in this day and age. light rail and other public transit needs to be prioritized at the expense of auto travel if it is really going to find the chinks in its armor and exploit them. i realize moodys traffic is nowhere near the traffic the streetcar runs into on the rest of its route, but with all the development going on down there, it is likely to reach those levels in the future - and proper separation of light rail is one way to stave that off. interesting. on the surface, i like it... but 2 things...

1. what of the existing streetcar alignment "on" moody (single track, two-way, off-street to the west)? will this be realigned? it appears so, as the graphic doesnt mesh with my knowledge of the current alignment

2. mixing streetcar with car traffic AGAIN. argh. when will we learn to physically separate light rail from automobile traffic? as far as im concerned, this is the great failing of the majority of the portland streetcar line (excepting, ironically enough, the current off-street moody alignment) as well as the downtown max lines. light rail that has to share a lane with other traffic, even bus traffic, loses the advantage it has over such traffic. light rail stuck in traffic may as well be a freaking bus. this is just DUMB, and i do not understand why we keep planning things this way. all it takes is a slight elevation above the roadbed, a small curb, something like that. its SO easy, but it takes a willingness to relegate auto traffic to second fiddle in transit corridors, and we apparently dont have the cajones to do that yet. its tiring.

i LOVE that portland is spending time on bringing light rail back. LOVE it. every chink in the street i see with 30s era rails peeking through nags at me, so its great to see this stuff coming back. but while mixed-traffic light rail worked in 1930s era lower car ownership, its a huge mistake in this day and age. light rail and other public transit needs to be prioritized at the expense of auto travel if it is really going to find the chinks in its armor and exploit them. i realize moodys traffic is nowhere near the traffic the streetcar runs into on the rest of its route, but with all the development going on down there, it is likely to reach those levels in the future - and proper separation of light rail is one way to stave that off.

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