(Photo © J. Maus)
As we reported earlier this month, the Portland Bureau of Transportation has decided to take a few more months before making any changes to North Williams Avenue.
Last night, KOIN-TV (the local CBS affiliate) filed a story on the project. There are a few things of concern about their coverage that I want to clear up. First, watch the clip below…
It’s very unfortunate that KOIN opens with “Bicycles versus cars” and then refers to the situation with the project as a “controversy.” That type of characterization, while convenient and attention-grabbing, is wholly inaccurate.
At the meeting where the project delay was announced, I watched as advocates for the bikeway sat down to chat amicably with community members who oppose the direction of the project (I think they were making plans to get coffee and discuss it further). I also watched the PBOT project manager hug those in opposition to the project and thank them for sharing their concerns. Hardly sounds like a project mired in controversy to me.
Another important thing that KOIN got wrong is, the main proposal on the table to improve bike access does not include removal of any parking* in that stretch of Williams (near N. Failing Street). The plan is to enlarge the bikeway by having only one through vehicle lane where there now exists two. (*Note this comment from project consultant Michelle Poyourow, which clarifies the issue.)
Based on what I assume is an inaccurate leading question by the KOIN reporter, here’s how the exchange with the owner of EAT Oyster Bar went (in case you didn’t watch the video):
“Tobias Hogan owns an oyster bar on North Williams called EAT. He appreciates the desire of the city to make Williams even more bike friendly. However, he’s worried about the impact that could have on his business. ” I think anything that makes it more difficult for people to come to this neighborhood and patronize our places would hurt our business,” said Hogan. “I think taking away parking spaces would probably have an adverse impact on our business.””
I hope someone tells Hogan that there are no plans to remove parking. I also hope that someone tells him a PBOT analysis presented at the last meeting shows that, the street would remain under full capacity even if there was only one through standard vehicle lane (assuming the lane reconfiguration is coupled with improved signal timing and detection).
The implication that this project is getting “push-back from businesses” is far from the case. Yes, there are some businesses on the street that don’t support the plans; but from my sources and my sense of the street, there are more business owners in support than in opposition.
As this project moves forward, I don’t expect the discussion to be void of emotions based on how the street has changed dramatically in the past few years; but I hope those emotions can at least be based on fact and accurate reporting.