PBOT adds green box to help with crossing of N. Interstate

As part of their N Vancouver/Wheeler Access to Rose Quarter project, the Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has added a green box to the median island on N. Interstate.

The idea is to help make the southbound left turn from NE Wheeler to Interstate easier and safer. It was interesting to watch bike traffic respond to the new treatment this morning.

When no auto traffic was present in either direction, people on bikes would turn left far south of the green box…

But when there was southbound auto traffic, they’d seek the safety of the box…

In addition to this change, the northbound bike lane on Interstate just past the signal near the Steel Bridge off-ramp now has a one-foot painted buffer, as does the southbound bike lane on NE Wheeler just past Weidler. Learn more about this project in my story from last week.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

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Jim F
Jim F
13 years ago

Personally glad to see it, but not sure what good the green box will do, since almost everyone just blows through the intersection at full speed. I think I am the only one in town who stops at this stop sign.

NF
NF
13 years ago
Reply to  Jim F

The visibility is great on the approach, so I presume those that blow the stop sign are doing so with confidence and safety. When oncoming traffic is present, I bet you see more yielding, stopping, and as wonderfully illustrated by Jonathan, use of the new green box.

Schrauf
Schrauf
13 years ago
Reply to  Jim F

Part of the problem is heavy, fast cross traffic. Common sense would say in that case it is even more important to stop, but in the real world you have to go for it quickly, when there is a gap, and that might involve looking both ways to ensure it is safe and then rolling the stop sign.

It seems to work. The alternative is installing traffic lights, and there are already too many lights in this short stretch.

craig
craig
13 years ago

Another improvement is that the splitting of northbound traffic into two lanes north of Oregon street has been moved further north beyond the intersection, so that bikes southbound on Wheeler have one less lane of traffic to cross at Interstate. Satellite photo of old lane configuration.

Joe
Joe
13 years ago

watch bind spots, glad to see green 🙂

Heather
Heather
13 years ago

I am thrilled to see this! I’m not sure if this infrastructure will be what it takes to get the “interested but concerned” folks to navigate this intersection, but it definitely brings more visibility to the fact that bikes are crossing here, as well as provide a bit of a refuge.

seeshellbike
seeshellbike
13 years ago

For those of us going trying to go from Interstate to Multnomah-Holladay, this was the area that I would use to wait so that I wouldn’t have to stop in the bike lane (south) blocking bicyclists. There is NO other way to get from Interstate to go east on multnomah/holladay except to ride on sidewalks. Now what am I suppose to do. The green box isn’t two-way.

Lance P.
Lance P.
13 years ago
Reply to  seeshellbike

There now will be a turnout to go east onto Holladay. This will be installed with the new Holladay bike improvements.

Spiffy
Spiffy
13 years ago

I find it very odd that bicyclists needed a reminder that it’s ok to use the center lane before merging onto the road…

before the box did everybody just wait until both directions were clear before they crossed the closest lane?

gumby
gumby
13 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

It also helps motorists accept that cyclists have the right to stop and wait there. I’ve had motorists honk and cuss at me when I stopped there before.

craig
craig
13 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Note that the lane striping has also changed and the new refuge is MUCH wider than the non-lane space that existed before the restriping. What was there before was not a center lane, and was far too narrow to be used safely or confidently as a refuge.

shirtsoff
shirtsoff
13 years ago
Reply to  Spiffy

Yes, I would wait until traffic was clear in both directions before proceeding. Like gumby mentioned, some drivers would take offense to a cyclist using the center (turn) lane on busy roads and while I certainly have a right to, I’m also inclined to do what creates the least conflict. Waiting for both directions to clear may not be the most efficient method and foregoing legal rights, but sometimes I find myself slipping into that comfortable, if unnecessary, spot.

deborah
deborah
13 years ago

As someone that has seen some REALLY close calls here I’m happy for the improvement. Thanks PBOT!

ambrown
13 years ago

Well, my commute just got safer. Thanks PBOT.

PedInPDX
13 years ago

Sweet! Gf will appreciate that one.

Now if only they’d add a crosswalk there…

007
007
13 years ago

Big safety improvement. That’s a wide intersection. I’ve had a close call there before.