Comments on: Hey, guy from Vancouver BC, we’re listening

By: lyle

lyle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:28:38 +0000

The separate path system doesn’t totally work. If you take the waterfront route you generally accept that there will be oblivious people with dogs on stretched out leashes blocking your path. For some reason the ubiquitous bike logo painted every 20 metres doesn’t register with a lot of people.

Whenever I ride in Portland I wish our city was more like it.. and you guys feel the same. I guess the grass is always greener.

By: feralcow

feralcow — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:40:09 +0000

Yeah, I’m suggesting a seperate path, and given the beating that the grass currently gets, I’m not sure more concrete would be a bad idea. Something like this:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/98363636_230e6497b2_o.jpg

By: cold worker

cold worker — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:43:35 +0000

Thanks Elly. I always forget to check Shift. I wrote that site off some time ago as I always thought it was full of stuff I had little to no interest in. I have probably wrongly associated it with stuff like wacky rides. I’ll stop hating on everything and check Shift from time to time.

By: Michael M.

Michael M. — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:40:41 +0000

ferralcow (#3) & JM’s caption to the first photo — So what you’re both suggesting is that we need more pavement and less grass/trees in Waterfront Park? Or are you suggesting somehow separating what is now a multi-use path into two paths, one for walking, one for cycling?

I’m not sure I like either idea.

By: ME 2

ME 2 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:10:48 +0000

Corey #7, The city of Vancouver itself doesn’t have much pull when it comes to those bridges you cited as it is the provincial government responding primarily to the constituents in the cities surrounding Vancouver.

When the city does have a say in bridges, they are able to give a lane to cyclists like the Burrard Bridge http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/07/vancouver-burrard-bridge-bike-bicycle-lane-trial.php.

Imagine if Portland city leaders had the same ability to do that to one of the bridges that spans the willamette?

By: RWL1776

RWL1776 — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:44:06 +0000

“he’s a noted thought leader on urban planning and transportation.”

He gets paid to think? How does one land a gig like that. LOL!

By: Elly Blue (Editor)

Elly Blue (Editor) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:03:55 +0000

Cold Worker, I hear you about events. There’s no global bike event calendar in Portland and that’s a huge need — unfortunately it’s also a huge technical challenge and at least one full time job.

The Shift calendar (http://shift2bikes.org/cal) is great for free events (though this one wasn’t on there for some reason). Events are also often prometed on the Shift listserv, and occasionally promoted on our forums.

I did include tonight’s talk in our weekend event guide which was published this morning at 10am, so arguably you had more than 2 hours’ notice, though I agree that’s hardly enough. The BTA also promoted this event farther in advance on their blog and in their newsletter. But yeah, we do need a central clearinghouse for events. That’s a job I surely don’t want, but maybe someone reading this does?

By: bikieboy

bikieboy — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:21:52 +0000

I’ve seen Gordon’s presentation (actually, presentations, because he morphs it constantly) probably a half dozen times over the last 15 years and it’s always fascinating. If you missed it tonight, he’ll be back again next fall for the PSU class.

By: Corey Burger

Corey Burger — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:42:09 +0000

Sadly, Vancouver is not all sunshine and light when it comes to bridges. The provincial government has been building new bridges across the Fraser like mad, including the new tolled Golden Ears bridge and the suggested Port Mann bridge. Much like Portland’s struggles with their state DOT(s), the higher governments are firmly stuck in 50’s la-la land when it comes to transportation infrastructure.

By: cold worker

cold worker — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:16:39 +0000

Jonathon. Is there any way you could get information like this out sooner? as in the case of this guy speaking; you posted this at 2 and he’s speaking a mere 4.5 hours later. Is there somewhere you check that has this info that we can check too? this is not the first time this has happened. not totally griping, and i know you’re a busy dude. it’s just i would have been very into going if i’d known about this like a couple days ago, or heck, even yesterday.