(File photo)
Yesterday I had a meeting at the new OHSU Wellness Center (near the tram) and I was amazed at the number of bikes parked around the building.
They overflowed the available racks and were locked up to light posts, benches, anything that was metal. In the general area around the tram, I estimated well over 150 bikes.
When I first reported about the bike facilities in this area back in December, I wondered if planners had underestimated the number of cyclists that would park and ride now that the tram lifts them effortlessly up the hill.
I tracked down a graduate student who said she thinks there was a huge pent-up demand from employees, physicians, and students who always wanted to bike to OHSU but chose not to because of the hill. She added that the secure, fenced-in bike parking facility in the underground parking garage is also full to capacity.
This is a great problem to have and I don’t fault the planners at all. There are a lot of racks, but there’s a need for many more.
I noticed all the bikes had a flyer attached to them by someone from the OHSU Bike Commuters Group. Perhaps they’re already aware of this problem and they’re looking for support to do some lobbying.
(File photo)
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(File photo)
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