education effort.
(Photo © J. Maus)
The City of Portland is working with Portland Streetcar and streetcar project contractor Shiels Obletz Johnsen on a new educational video about how to ride a bicycle around streetcar tracks.
City spokesperson Dan Anderson said the idea to do a video was spurred by a “desire to increase education awareness” about how to best ride a bike around the tracks. Anderson adds that the video, expected out in mid-October, will include detailed information on how to navigate around the new tracks and roadway configurations in the Pearl District.
“Safety is our number one priority,” wrote Anderson via email, “and we believe this kind of outreach will make all users safer and more predictable when it comes to navigating streetcar tracks.”
Julie Gustafson of Shiels Obletz Johnsen is looking for input on what people think are the “most pressing issues a video could help address.” To help make sure the video covers all the bases, Gustafson is in contact with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, Active Right of Way, and the City’s Bicycle Advisory Committee.
Rail track and bike safety issues have been around for many years in Portland and have sprung up lately as tracks installed for the Eastside Streetcar Loop have dramatically impacted bike routes in the Pearl District.
When completed in about a month, the video will be posted on the PBOT and Portland Streetcar websites, and will be available via YouTube. Anderson with the City says that they will conduct a media outreach effort to spread the video even further.