(Photos © J. Maus)
A reader got in touch with us yesterday to share concerns about a problem with the new cycle track in NE Cully Blvd. To refresh your memory, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) recently completed a complete street rebuild on Cully from Killingsworth to Prescott. With a clean slate, PBOT decided to try the city’s first ever, separated cycle track.
As I reported when it first opened, it’s quite a dramatic improvement over what the street was before the project (a high-speed, neighborhood arterial with no sidewalks).
One issue of concern was that cars would park in the cycle track. While the bikeway is on a separate grade, it’s a very small, and mountable curb that is easy to roll over. In my own observations, I haven’t seen many cars parked in the cycle track (I did see a U.S. Mail truck servicing some mailboxes last month however).
Reader Bjorn Warloe, who rides Cully regularly, agrees that parking in the cycle track is, “going much better” than he expected. Warloe’s concern is “the plethora of trash cans in the bikeway.” trash cans. Warloe says the problem isn’t just on trash day, but that some people leave their cans out all week.
“I thought parking in the bikeway was going to be an issue,” wrote Warloe via email, “but I see that maybe once a week, the cans are a constant issue.”
Warloe has noticed that when garbage trucks try to pick up the trash, their automated equipment doesn’t work when the trash is on the curb (adjacent to the sidewalk, where it should be). But, residents have nowhere else to put it. The cycle track is for bicycling, the parking lane is for parking, and the roadway is for through vehicle traffic.
“I think in the future maybe garbage cans need a dedicated space.”
Warloe is already in contact with the City and heard back via Twitter from Mayor Adams’ staff. Ultimately, Warloe says it’s not a huge problem, just an “unexpected annoyance.” He hopes that a combination of education about the issue and perhaps dedicating a few parking spots on each block for trash cans might solve the problem.
Have you noticed cans or cars obstructing the new cycle track?