Site icon BikePortland

A look back at a look ahead: Portland’s bikeway evolution

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward


Please note: I’ve posted an updated version of this animation that is much more detailed.

Portland’s paltry network of bike-specific
infrastructure, circa 1980. See how it has evolved below.

Portland’s bike network was not built overnight. Most of our bike-specific infrastructure was built in the mid to late 1990s, but it really started in the early ’80s. About seven years ago (before many of you even knew about BikePortland), I stitched together an animation showing how Portland’s bike network has evolved.

Yesterday, something on Twitter sparked my memory of the animation, so I shared it again. Given how it has spread overnight, I figured many folks might be interested in seeing it again (or for the first time). The animation shows the spread of bike-specific infrastructure in Portland from 1980 through 2005 (and then into the future) in five year increments. Check it out:

bikewayanimation

This really puts what has happened here into perspective don’t you think?

And by the way, the graphics are taken from a presentation given by City of Portland Bicycle Coordinator Roger Geller. Thanks Roger!

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