TriMet’s Bicycle and Pedstrian Access planner Colin Maher has accepted a new position in Australia and plans to leave the agency at the end of this month.
Maher, a graduate of Portland State University’s urban and regional planning program, came to TriMet as their bike programs intern back in 2007. He has since become their go-to guy for all things bike, handling everything from controversial policy questions to nuts and bolts planning. His new position will be as Senior Planning in the Office for Cycling and Walking at the South Australia Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure in Adelaide.
Yesterday I asked Colin to reflect on the the past four years and share some of his memories and other insights…
What bike-related projects were you most proud to work on?
Bike & Ride – not only pilot projects, but the fact that bike parking was an integral part of the Portland-Milwaukie project from the beginning. Rose Quarter bike lanes – really the model for how city/transit/advocate partnerships can work. The Portland-Milwaukie bridge will a the lasting image of Portland’s transportation priorities, so just being at the table was a great experience that will leave an impression. Also, BTA and TriMet working together on bus operator training.
Any big bike/transit lessons learned in the past few years?
The difference between policy and reality. Bike-friendly policies are important to send the message that bikes are welcome, but the reality is that there are limits to how many you can fit before it starts to affect the service for everyone else.
What was the hardest thing about your job?
That said, it is still frustrating to get complaints – whether the bike rack is full or it’s safety-related – you want to provide the best customer service possible.
What do you think is the next big thing for the bike/transit nexus in Portland?
Besides the Open Trip Planner? Self-serve bike rental at suburban stations to complement the proposed bike share in the Central City. Also, fixes for bike-bus leapfrogging.
TriMet spokesperson Mary Fetsch shared with me this morning that, “Colin has helped take TriMet to the next level to balance the growing demand for both biking and transit in our region. He has been extremely creative in finding solutions that support the integrated use of both modes and extend the benefits of both.”
Fetsch says TriMet plans to recruit a new “Active Transportation Planner” position to replace Maher.
Maher says he’s excited for the opportunity that awaits him in Australia. In an email to colleagues he wrote, “Adelaide presents a whole new set of questions, starting with which one to bring on the train first: my bike or my surfboard?” (which, believe it or not, is an actual FAQ on the Adelaide transit system website).