What a difference $24 million would make

I came across an interesting graphic at a meeting this morning that helped put into perspective how much is at stake in making sure we pass the Safe, Sound, and Green Streets funding proposal.

The proposal — which is currently getting revamped prior to being put on the November ballot — includes (at this point) $24 million to fund 114 miles of low-traffic, “bicycle boulevard” streets.

Just how that money would impact our city is hard to conceptualize until you see the graphic below…

This graphic shows the reach of our current bike boulevard network compared to what we could have with the $24 million that was in the initial version of the Safe, Sound, and Green Streets funding proposal.
Click to enlarge (104K, gif)

Currently, 31% of Portland’s population lives within a half-mile of our existing 30 or so miles of bike boulevards. If we built out that network to 114 miles, a whopping 87% of our population would live within a half-mile of a safe, low-traffic street where bicycles were the preferred mode of travel and people could pedal (and walk) in peace.

Seems like a great investment to me.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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Paul S
16 years ago

Is there a list some where of the notional bike boulevards? For example, I\’m struggling to make out what streets in outer SW PDX (currently unserved by any bike boulevard) are bike-boulevardable. Any through street in that part of town is also a major arterial.

Bryan
Bryan
16 years ago

Wow, that\’s an amazing graphic. I hadn\’t really realized how much this proposed expansion would extend the boulevards. Thanks.

Marcus Griffith
Marcus Griffith
16 years ago

the $24 million would indeed do a lot to increase access to bike boulevards and thus promote bike usage. However, with the Oregon leadership fretting over the $30 million cost of making the new I-5 crossing bike and ped friendly (depsite the $30 being about 0.07% of the total crossing budget), I wonder if someone like Sam Adams might kill the project to fund the street repair tax levy?
But the less people drive, the longer roads last so the bike project should be funded.

Todd
Todd
16 years ago

I remember in my pavement design courses, the impact of people (light vehicles) driving is pretty negligible. We\’d just design for multiple axle heavy freight/buses/garbage trucks.

It would be nice to see that in a little more detail so we could all critique where they\’re putting those bike boulevards. But with that being said, any signage that alerts drivers to be cautious of bicycles (and bikers to be cautious of people) is good in my book.

el timito
el timito
16 years ago

For Paul (comment# 1),
You can check this story –
http://bikeportland.org/2007/11/21/southwest-group-unveils-latest-bikeway-improvement-recommendations/
for a map of potential bike boulevards. Be sure to read the comments on that post for Keith Liden\’s note about the process for identifying these.
For Marcus (comment# 3),
I might worry about the Bikeway improvements being dropped if Betsy Johnson was proposing the Safe, Sound and Green Streets project. With Sam, no. He\’s been very consistent and strong in supporting biking as a significant part of Portland\’s transportation system.

erin g.
erin g.
16 years ago

That is a very helpful graphic. Thank you, Jonathan. I want to do all possible to make sure that the measure passes this fall. I look forward to possibly getting involved as a volunteer/consultant with whatever group takes on the task of developing a detailed strategy for outreach, messaging, and success. I would love to help, and I would love safer, greener streets. Thanks for keeping us all posted!

John Russell
16 years ago

Now to convince the majority of the voting public how beneficial this would be to the city.

wsbob
wsbob
16 years ago

\”The proposal — which is currently getting revamped…\” J Mause/editor

Is information available about how the proposal is being revamped?

Even as I hear that many planned bike boulevards will be generally limited to defined, painted off parts of streets, this seems, never the less, as though it will be a very valuable aid to the overall objectives of the proposal, as stated in its name.

Visibility of bike presence on streets is key to promoting the appeal of biking as practical urban transportation. It\’s kind of the \’foot in the door\’ for introducing biking to people that are hesitant to try it for fear of being completely overwhelmed by motor vehicles where there isn\’t some kind of bike visibility infrastructure.

Opus the Poet
16 years ago

Just a thought, but wouldn\’t a bike boulevard be a safer place for kids as well as bikes? There you go, a built in constituency, families of young children.

Opus

Tony
Tony
16 years ago

The Stakeholder Committee is being reconvened on March 17. Committee members received \”thank you for your work\” letters from Commissioner Adams just the week before, so this is kind of a surprise.

As for what – if anything- may be involved in a \”revamping\” is anyone\’s guess.

The resolution that was adopted by Council doesn\’t provide any real insight or parameters. There is no mention of a public vote or any specific type of local fee or tax.

This is what was resolved:

\”RESOLVED, that the City of Portland supports the efforts of Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) to raise funds to address maintenance and safety deficiencies of the transportation system and requests PDOT report to council on or before July 16, 2008 on how to remedy the situation.\”

You can read the full resolution – preamble included – here:

http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=185894

All the best,

Tony

MIKE
MIKE
16 years ago

I got $5 on it. Sign me up that is incredible.

hickeymad
hickeymad
16 years ago

vance: did you design your website yourself or did the right-wing hatemongers help you out?
just seems odd you were able to figure I\’d out given what appears to be your, ummm…child-like discourse.

Vance
16 years ago

#13 – That coming from some one posting comments in a public forum as, \”hickeymad\”. I criticize fanatic leftists, therefore I\’m a fanatic conservative? Great logic. Where\’s the link to your blog, so that I may engage in the same presumptuous derision?

a.O
a.O
16 years ago

Vance, is it still a blog if nobody reads it?

Ian S.
Ian S.
16 years ago

Thanks for sharing this graphic, Jonathan. It really brings home the message of how important it is to secure this funding and how dramatically it will help improve our city for everyone.

HyphenC
HyphenC
16 years ago

Back to the topic at hand:

Holy frijoles!

bahueh
bahueh
16 years ago

here\’s what I want to know..
is this initiative actually going to create street signs for drivers INFORMING them that the street are bike thoroughfare\’s? because that doens\’t currently exist in this city and I think drivers could be more aware that such boulevards are designated, instead of simply wondering why \”all these damn bikers are on the road\”…

cheap…informative, pointed sigs might do the cycling community a world of good….drivers, if they don\’t like us, can avoid those streets once they\’re informed of their purpose..

Joe
Joe
16 years ago

I\’m curious to see what the definition of a bicycle boulevard is? If the $24 million is for spending a bunch of money on planning studies and then erecting some \”bike route\” signs I might be tempted to vote against this measure even though I am an avid cyclist.

Helen Wheels
Helen Wheels
16 years ago

It wouldn\’t be difficult to raise money for these types of improvements if our so-called leaders had the cojones to institute tolls over the I-5 interstate bridge and to drive into downtown.

According to the NY Times, 2-13-08, the mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who introduced a daily congestion charge on trucks and cars entering central London, in 2003, to cut traffic and pollution, has increased the amount drivers of 4x4s, high-powered sports cars and other high-emission vehicles will have to pay, come October, to $49 a day from the current $16, while the most fuel-efficient vehicles will get a free ride. Trucks and less-gas-guzzling cars will continue to pay $16.

Let the Vanloserites whine. They can afford a toll and they\’ll pay whether they like it or not. The price of gas hasn\’t stopped them from driving to work everyday, clogging our streets and polluting our city. In any other realm people pay a price for bad choices. Why should this be any different?

Wouldn\’t it be nice to have clean air in Portland? I\’m really sick of breathing disgusting smelling air.

benschon
benschon
16 years ago

I want to be part of the \”whopping 87%\”. As Bud Clark might say, \”Whop whop!\”

Shamus
Shamus
16 years ago

Joe (comment #19)-
It\’s more than just studies and \”Bike Route\” signs. See Jonathan\’s earlier post on the BTA\’s \”Bike Boulevard Tool Kit\” : http://bikeportland.org/2008/02/28/bta-unveils-bicycle-boulevard-toolkit/

In short, it\’s re-engineering streets to slow and redirect motor vehicle traffic – giving preference to local auto traffic and bikes. This does include signage, but to address bahueh\’ comment #18 – much better signage than currently exists.

– Shamus