SW Yamhill Street.
(Photo: PortlandMall.org)
As part of their Portland Mall Light Rail project, TriMet has announced several “major changes” for bike traffic on 5th and 6th Avenues.
According to TriMet Planner/Bike Programs staffer Colin Maher, effective January 12th, bikes (and cars) must obey the following traffic laws:
- Make no right turns on 5th and 6th avenues unless otherwise posted.
- Do not stop in the left-hand traffic lane except as required by traffic signals.
- Ride only in the left lane-don’t cross the bumpy, double white lane divider.
- Be alert of buses on the Portland Mall-stay out of the transit lanes.
Maher adds that,
“Exactly how bikes will be able to make right turns on 5th and 6th Aves. remains TBD, but for now the same regulations apply to both bikes and cars.”
When the new mall opens, it will operate with three lanes. The right lane will be a bus/MAX boarding lane, the center lane will be reserved as a travel lane for transit, and bikes, cars (and everything else) will share the left lane (that’s why no right turns will be allowed because cars/bikes will always be on the left of transit).
Also on January 12th, bus operators begin training on the new mall, car parking on 5th and 6th will be the removed and new traffic signals will go live.
I should clarify that the January change only applies to the blocks that buses will use for training. There will still be construction and parked vehicles on the rest of the Mall until March. Only then will striping and new regulations be in place for the entire Mall.
**UPDATE: In a comment below, Colin Maher added that,
“…the January change only applies to the blocks that buses will use for training. There will still be construction and parked vehicles on the rest of the Mall until March. Only then will striping and new regulations be in place for the entire Mall.”
Bus service on the new mall is slated to begin on May 24 and light rail will be running by September 2009. Check out PortlandMall.org for more information.