Nike bike share clogs bike parking at Beaverton Creek station

Could you find a better example of Bike Share’s value when combined with transit? To all those that think bike share would compete with transit- this picture speaks one-thousand words. Solving for the “last mile” is one of a transit planner’s toughest challenges. Bikes excel at those trips that feel just a little too long to walk.

Bikes parking packed by transit is exactly the right problem to have. It sounds like perhaps Nike needs to do some balancing or active management of the bikes, not just letting the users do it organically, but the problem will be solved by more racks. Visit most European cities and you will see lots of chaotic, improvised bike parking near the train stations: a sign of success!

These pictures illustrate the challenge of actively balancing a bike share system. I’m glad to see that it is being used for trips to and from the Max.

I DO hope that TriMet doesn’t add to the capacity by installing more wave racks. This world would be a better place if no more wave racks are ever installed.

Ten bikes isn’t much of a show of popularity. A hundred, or several hundred bikes would be saying something. Like the number of bikes routinely parked in the parking lot for bikes at the base of the tram in Portland. It’s Nike’s employee bike share system, and accordingly, for the overflow on existing bike racks its’ system is producing, Nike should be providing bike racks for their bikes.

The type of bike rack shown should be made obsolete. I can’t believe they’re still being used. They are worthless if you want to lock your rear wheel unless an end piece is available. Get rid of these dinosaurs.

How much did Nike make last year? and the year before that ? And TriMet is waiting for a grant, of public funds I presume, to add bike parking and improve the path to Nike?
Come on, Nike, show the way, and get it done! We know you fought like hell to avoid becoming “citizens” of Beaverton to avoid their taxes, but come on! Just Do It!

If Nike would pay taxes, maybe Trimet wouldn’t have to hope for a state grant to build facilities for them.

Yesterday, about 5pm, I rode by the Merlo Rd station. There again, the Trimet bike share rack was near full, 8 or so, of Nike bike share bikes.

Question I have, is what exact type of use has brought them there, and for how long. Wondering whether this is day shift workers riding from the campus to the station to go home for the night, leaving the bikes locked there overnight. I’ll guess it’s a 15-20 minute walk from the center of the Nike campus to this station.