2025 Archives

From cars to cargo bikes: City seeks ‘micro delivery hubs’ in city-owned parking garages

The City of Portland has taken a step toward decarbonizing its freight system. The Portland Bureau of Transportation wants to turn downtown parking garages into cargo hubs where electric bikes and other small vehicles would load up with goods and deliver them to customers nearby.

PBOT issued a request for information (RFI) last month for their “Micro-Delivery Hub Pilot in a City-Owned Parking Garage” project. It’s the latest extension of Portland’s effort to eliminate toxic emissions, improve street safety, and create a more vibrant, human-centered city by reducing the number of large delivery trucks in dense, commercial areas.

“This is a unique opportunity to explore the feasibility of repurposing space in a parking garage… Their relatively small footprint lends them to be well suited for the transfer of deliveries from a larger vehicle to a smaller vehicle, such as an e-cargo bike, that is better suited for short distance deliveries in a dense urban contexts,” reads the RFI.

PBOT owns and operates five “SmartPark” garages downtown. The pilot would utilize three of them, including locations at NW Naito Parkway and Davis, SW 10th and Yamhill, and SW 3rd and Alder.

PBOT has been dreaming of small delivery hubs full of e-bikes since at least 2021 when the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability first floated the concept to the Old Town Community Association. Since then the bureau has adopted the 2040 Portland Freight Plan, which prioritizes testing of “novel interventions” like micro-delivery hubs.

The idea is that these hubs would be tiny logistics facilities for private companies. Larger vehicles would transfer goods to smaller vehicles, like e-cargo bikes, for the last-mile delivery. Microhubs are already in use in New York City and the concept has worked in Paris and London. And PBOT isn’t new to this space. In 2023 they won a federal grant to establish a zero emission delivery zone. That project uses digital tools to monitor curbside traffic and sets aside several loading zones downtown where only zero emissions vehicles can operate.

Through this RFI, PBOT hopes to find local companies who see the potential of repurposing the valuable location of SmartPark garages. At the top of the list is B-Line PDX, a business founded in 2009 that owns and operates a fleet of electric cargo trikes and boasts dozens of clients who depend on Portland’s bike lanes to get their products to market. Other possible partners would be coffee roasters, bakeries, restaurant suppliers, and so on.

In the MicroDelivery Hub Feasibility Study published by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability late last year, the city said, “To ensure their effectiveness, these hubs should be located near a well-integrated city bike network. This integration allows cargo bike riders to efficiently navigate the city after collecting deliveries from the hub.” PBOT is also exploring possible zoning code and other regulatory changes (such as reducing space for off-street vehicle loading if developers create space for cargo bike loading and parking) to facilitate the hubs.

“Portland is laying the groundwork for a future where sustainable deliveries thrive, emissions are reduced, and the urban fabric is safe and walkable,” the feasibility study states.

The RFI won’t issue any contracts, PBOT is simply probing interest at this point. View the bid solicitation here.

Bike ride planned to ‘Tesla Takedown’ this Saturday

This Saturday, March 1st, Portland will join 74 other cities in a protest against Tesla, the company owned by Elon Musk. And of course someone has organized a group ride to the event.

Musk has become a lightning rod of controversy since President Donald Trump took over the presidency last month. As an unelected member of Trump’s inner circle, Musk has haphazardly slashed workforces at government agencies, throwing thousands of lives into disarray. His motivations and actions have been based o personal grudges and business interests. Musk also made a Nazi salute at an event in January, then brushed it off as if it were just a joke.

“The news is pretty grim these days. If Congress won’t act, how can anyone stop a hostile government takeover by Nazis?” reads the Ride to Tesla Takedown Protest event description. “#TeslaTakedown is a grassroots, leaderless movement to take down Elon Musk’s greatest source of wealth: his over-inflated car company.”

Organizers behind Tesla Takedown say 74 cities across America have signed up to participate. The plan is to meet up and make signs, then ride to a Tesla dealership to discourage new customers, implore existing owners to sell their Teslas, and to dump stock in the company.

“If you know of someone who owns a Tesla, encourage them to sell it and trade up for an E-Bike or Electric Cargo Bike (or one of the many other better EV’s on the market!” organizers of Saturday’s event say.

The ride will meet at 9:00 am at Floyd’s Coffee in Ladd Circle, then ride to the Tesla showroom on South Macadam. More details on the Shift calendar.

Portland ecologist mixes passion for plants, pollinators, and pedaling

A 2024 planting site. (Photos: Kim Brown/Portland Beecycle)

Parking strips next to sidewalks planted with nothing but grass are like wide roads intended solely for cars: They serve a purpose, but they hurt the planet and could be doing much more to make our city great.

To Portlander Kim Brown — an ecologist, master melittologist (study of bees) with the Oregon Bee Atlas and secretary of the Native Plant Society of Oregon — those strips of grass are a canvas waiting to be painted with native plants. And those roads? Well, that ecosystem also needs a wider mix of vehicles, preferably bicycles.

Brown is the woman behind Portland Beecycle, an annual event that brings together plants and pedalers to help pollinate parking strips citywide. Last month she put out a call for homeowners who’d welcome a re-planting of their front yard strips. When I saw the announcement and realized the work would be done by folks who arrive by bike, I had to learn more.

“Beecycle is about creating beautiful, accessible spaces in our urban areas that benefit wildlife and the community,” Brown shared in an email to BikePortland this week. She said her inspiration to organize the events comes from three places: to create more native plant areas in neighborhoods; to improve conditions for pollinators, birds, and other wild things; and to help bring a beautiful garden to someone in need.

“We have amazing access to park spaces in Portland, but many people do not actually interact with these areas on a daily basis,” Brown shared. “For many, our daily interaction with nature is our neighbors yards and street strips.”

Brown first got her shovel dirty working with Portland nonprofit Friends of Trees, who’s been doing tree plantings-by-bike for many years. Planting a successful garden is a bit more complicated than planting one tree, so Brown has partnered with the Oregon Native Plant Society and Twinflower Natives, Portland State University’s Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank, and Friends of Backyard Habitat to make her plantings possible.

Each year she seeks out homeowners who apply to have their strip planted. Brown then selects 2-3 homes, makes sure the location is safe for a few dozen cyclists to work at, develops a plant list and garden design, then fundraises for seeds, plants and other supplies.

She’s organized successful rides since 2023. They take place in middle to late September, to make sure the plantings don’t get baked in the summer sun. Riders meet at a park, then ride to the planting locations, then grab a bite to eat nearby.

The event has grown to include hundreds of plants and related supplies. This year, Brown hopes to transport everything by bike, so she’s hoping folks with cargo bikes will join the ranks.

If you’re interested in taking part, follow @PortlandBeecycle on Instagram and stay tuned for updates about the 2025 ride.

Kenton Cycle Repair has reopened under new ownership

New shop owner Thomas Lawn tries to work and not get distracted by the box of donuts gifted to him by a sales rep. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

“The amount of people coming in has been really, really solid.”
– Thomas Lawn

Kenton Cycle Repair has been saved! The small but mighty neighborhood bike shop just off North Denver Avenue in the heart of Kenton’s commercial district reopened on February 7th. Behind the counter is new owner Thomas Lawn, a 37-year-old California transplant who moved to Portland in 2013 and previously managed the service department at Joe Bike in southeast Portland.

“I played around with the idea of having a bike shop for a long time now,” Lawn shared when I stopped by last week. Years as a mechanic had started taking a toll on his body and his mind wandered toward the possibility of a different role in the industry. “At some point I felt like, if I’m in this [for the long haul] having my own shop should be on my radar.”

When he heard Kenton Cycle Repair was looking for a new owner, he reached out to former owner Rich Walker and the two reached a deal to keep the shop open. Lawn not only has his first bike shop, but he’s inherited thousands of dollars worth of Walker’s tools and bins of parts so Lawn can hit the ground running. The shop is fully open and ready for service. When I was there a steady trickle of folks popped in, including a sales rep who brought a dozen donuts.

The 1,400 square foot shop is located in an old building on N Kilpatrick just a few doors off Denver. Lawn and his crew aren’t planning any major changes, but the look and feel of the shop has already morphed a bit. The counter is now right in the center as you walk in and there will be a lot more new products and accessories than before. Look for a quality used bike section and consignment service in the future. New bikes are also on the way from brands including Breezer, Fuji, and SE. Kenton Cycle Repair won’t sell e-bikes, but is happy to do minor fixes like flat repairs (as long as it doesn’t include work on the motor or battery due to insurance issues).

In the back of the shop are shelves full of old parts left by the previous owner. Lawn says he looks forward to “modernifying” older used bikes for customers. Sifting through boxes with hundreds of old derailleurs, Lawn said these parts are like an insurance policy. “If the bike industry apocalypse happens, we’re kind of OK. Or if tariffs blow everything up, we have some parts to keep bikes running.”

Lawn shopped at Kenton Cycle Repair just a few times before becoming its owner. Now he says he’ll try to make it a place he’d like to frequent as a customer. According to Lawn, the pillars of the shop will be: “competent repairs, reasonable prices, and a welcoming environment.”

Between taking phone calls, Lawn told me he lives in the South Tabor neighborhood and has enjoyed the new commute to north Portland each day. When he’s not working, you might see him at a Coffee Outside event, or on his bike in Forest Park or Powell Butte. He moved back to Portland (after a stint in Philadelphia which he said was too hot and humid) in 2020 right before the pandemic and has worked at Joe Bike ever since — so he’s been through a challenging time in the bike business; the uncertainty of Covid, followed by the boom in riding and then supply-chain issues.

Given how many small shops have closed recently, I asked Lawn if that made him nervous. “No one has said to me, ‘What are you doing?!’ when I told them I was opening a shop.” We agreed that’s a good sign.

“If I’m up late at night laying in bed thinking about money or whatever, the anxiety is real,” Lawn shared. “But when I’m here in the shop, all those voices are quiet. Everything makes sense when I’m in this space. Not to get all woo-woo, but this feels right. And the community response so far and the amount of people coming in has been really, really solid and it reinforces how I feel. It’s clear this area needs a bike shop and the customers are here.”

Follow Kenton Cycle Repair on Instagram to get more info about shop hours and updates about a grand opening party soon.

Sticker Swap at Bike Happy Hour tonight!

From our last sticker swap in September 2023. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

We will have lots of sun and a high of 60 degrees when Bike Happy Hour begins at 3:00 pm tonight! That’s enough reason to come out and join us at Migration Brewing on North Williams Avenue.

But it’s also Sticker Swap night, which will add even more merriment to our weekly gathering. Stickers are the currency of bike culture and primary purveyors of propaganda. If you’re a sticker hound, grab a few handfuls of stickers from your collection to share, swap, or show-off. If you’re new to town and need inculcation to local lore via these symbol-filled signposts, don’t miss a great opportunity to start a collection of your own and adorn your bike with that sought after, lived-in look. Bike shop or other local industry staffer? Promote your brand and give away freebies!

I’m also happy to announce a special exhibit: In 2006, facing a rash of road rage incidents, the City of Portland launched an education campaign that centered around the mantra “I Share the Road” (they initially wanted just “Share the Road” but I was in the meeting and suggested putting the “I” in there, wanting to ultimately expand the campaign to a series of billboards with portraits of Portlanders repeating the mantra). The touchstone of the campaign were thousands of “I SHARE THE ROAD” bumper stickers. The stickers were everywhere! Eventually, a group of silly cycling activists took it upon themselves to prank PBOT and doctor the stickers. Somehow I ended up with a collection of them (see above) and will bring them tonight.

And of course other types of printed ephemera is welcome too so bring your coolest spoke cards, etc…

As per usual, we’ll have two piles: One for display only (for rare, cherished items), and one for stickers that are up-for-grabs. Trades can be made privately among two willing parties.

Tell your friends! Everyone is welcome. Can’t wait to see everyone in a few hours!

Get ready for two major naked rides this summer

The 2024 World Naked Bike Ride Portland on S Harbor Drive. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Portland will get double the fun this summer as two major naked bike rides roll onto the streets.

Last June, when organizers of the traditional World Naked Bike Ride unexpectedly took a year off after 20 years as hosts, a different crop of leaders emerged to fill the void. The new organizers confused some folks by using a very similar name — “World Naked Bike Ride Portland” instead of “Portland World Naked Bike Ride” — and there was a bit of an intra-community riff behind the scenes.

This year both rides will happen: The Portland World Naked Bike Ride will be Saturday, July 26th and the World Naked Bike Ride Portland is Saturday, August 9th.

Portland’s original naked ride is supported by a nonprofit known as Umbrella. The event had turned into a massive party and major destination ride over the years, drawing thousands of participants — many of whom seem to dust their bikes off solely for that one night only. Last year’s ride with new leaders was decidedly different. It was much smaller in size with a crowd in the hundreds instead of thousands, and the focus was clearly on the activist roots of the ride. The route stopped at the headquarters of Zenith Energy in the northwest industrial area where a mass die-in was staged to protest fossil fuel dependency. Zenith Energy is embroiled with Portland City Council and local environmental activists for its pursuit of a permit to transport and store vast quantities of toxic oil along the Willamette River.

The leaders of the original ride say they’re excited to be back after the year off with new leaders and a new theme. “Given deepening global and domestic tensions, the PDXWNBR leadership team decided that community needs to take center stage this year,” reads a statement about the ride. The new theme is “Baring All & Building Bridges” and organizers say it’s all about, “strengthening our local community and its support systems.”

They’re looking for volunteer ambassadors to help support the ride. If you’re interested, be sure to follow @PDXWNBR on Instagram for updates.

Now in year two, the World Naked Bike Ride Portland invites riders to, “Join a ride of celebration, solidarity, and protest under the Sturgeon Full Moon.” The ride will once again focus on environmental justice and be a protest against oil dependency, especially the role of Zenith Energy and their ongoing business in Portland.

Both rides look to make big statements about the need for safe cycling, body positivity and self-expression.

Bike bus group presses city council for safer neighborhood streets

The bike bus movement in Portland isn’t all about fun bike rides to school. It’s also a platform for advocacy. And as those rides have grown, so too has the ability of their leaders to pressure city council for safer streets. After all, an elected can’t say they support bike buses if they don’t also support making sure kids can join them safely.

At the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee meeting in City Hall on Monday, Glencoe Elementary School Bike Bus Leader Rob Galanakis told councilors it’s time for Portland to step up and capitalize on the remarkable bike bus momentum. “The bike bus is the software for change, the social infrastructure,” Galanakis said, wearing the bright yellow rain poncho that’s become a de facto bike bus flag. “But we need the city to provide the physical infrastructure, the hardware.”

That “hardware” is modal filtering — an approach that uses hard infrastructure to limit cut-through traffic while still allowing people to walk and roll. (“Modal filtering” is a preferred word of some activists who feel talk of “traffic diverters” leads to irrational opposition.) Modal filters are cheaper, quicker to install, more effective and more modular than speed bumps.

Galanakis on screen during his testimony (which clearly delighted Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane).

Galanakis (a candidate for Portland Public Schools Board) spoke on behalf of Bike Bus PDX, a coalition of 25 bike bus leaders from across Portland. Galanakis said all the time he and other bike bus leaders have put on the roads in the past four years have made it clear that even Portland’s vaunted neighborhood greenways are still too littered with car drivers. The number one threat to the success of bike buses are drivers and their cars. It’s essential that Portland limits the number of drivers on residential streets if our city wants to see more kids and families ride bikes — not just to school but in their daily lives.

Bike Bus PDX has gone further than just ask for more modal filters. They’ve submitted the “Bike Bus Friendly Neighborhood Greenway Resolution” and are asking councilors to force the Portland Bureau of Transportation to strengthen their approach to traffic diversion.

Currently, PBOT’s preferred average daily traffic volume on a neighborhood greenway street is 1,000 cars per day (measured as average daily traffic or ADT). According to their 2020 Neighborhood Greenways Assessment Report, 1,500 cars per day is “acceptable” and 2,000 cars per day is the maximum. The reason those thresholds are in place is so they can trigger a variety of infrastructure responses by PBOT. Depending on traffic counts, PBOT will decide what type of mitigation is necessary, and (in a perfect world) they’ll continue those interventions until the number is acceptable.

The Bike Bus PDX resolution calls for a pilot program that would change the lower volume to a maximum of 500 cars per day. The idea is modeled after guidelines in use by the City of Vancouver, British Columbia. Their “all ages and abilities (AAA)” cycling routes aim to have fewer than 500 motor vehicles on them per day, which will result in most cyclists encountering just less than one driver per block (in peak hours) on average. The resolution also calls on PBOT to try the lower ADT threshold on 25 neighborhood greenway routes (where active bike buses or walking school buses already exist) prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

To pay for the resolution, Bike Bus PDX says they’d target PBOT’s Fixing Our Streets program which has money set-aside for safety projects (and which the group helped PBOT pass when it was up for another vote last year).

During his testimony yesterday, Galanakis said if PBOT isn’t given the tools to improve safety on neighborhood greenways, the bike bus movement will lose momentum and, “We will lose this critical opportunity to advance city goals.”

Read the full text of the resolution here.

Councilor: Turn streets into plazas, gardens, or cul-de-sacs to save money and fight climate change

If only we could end the repair and repave cycle. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

“You should… take some streets out of service.”
– Mitch Green, Portland city councilor

Portlanders have heard for years that our transportation agency cannot keep pace with required road maintenance. As our pavement buckles under the pressure of an ever-increasing number of cars, no one wants to pony-up the funding it takes to keep roads smooth and safe. Something’s gotta’ give.

What if instead of playing catch-up, we reduced the amount of lane miles we maintained, thereby lowering the city’s overall financial burden? That’s an idea I’ve heard in activist circles for years, but closing streets to motor vehicle access to save on maintenance costs had always seemed like a fringe notion. Today it was thrust closer toward the mainstream by a Portland city councilor named Mitch Green.

Speaking at a meeting of the city’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee this morning after a presentation on what Green called the “dire” financial state of the Portland Bureau of Transportation, Councilor Green said, “Every mile of road is a liability in terms of unfunded, ongoing operations and maintenance, which will then be always costlier in the future.” Then, speaking directly to PBOT Director Millicent Williams and Deputy City Administrator of Public Works Priya Dhanapal, Green continued:

“You should work with and have some conversations with the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and talk about opportunities to take some streets out of service. Turn them into superblocks, turn them into cul-de-sacs, turn them into plazas… Community gardens even. Because if we do that, I think we can lower our expenses over time. I think we can create more buildable land, create more housing density, which will then allow us to have a transit and active transportation-forward city, which is always going to be less costly than continuing to rely upon vehicular lane mileage.”

Councilor Mitch Green at the meeting this morning. (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Surprisingly, PBOT Director Williams said her agency is already considering the idea. “Our planning team is actively engaging in that conversation,” she replied. “There are a number of projects that are underway that speak specifically to what you’ve outlined.”

I’m still working to get more details from both Green and PBOT (to clarify what exactly Director Williams was referring to), but it’s worth noting Green’s inspiration. Before being elected to city council in November, he was an energy economist for the Bonneville Power Administration and previously taught economics at Portland State University. He also believes addressing climate change is, “the most pressing issue of our time.” It’s the twin emergencies of PBOT’s fiscal cliff and the very real impacts of climate change that are behind Green’s comments.

Councilor Green, a Democratic Socialist, is also an avid BikePortland reader who very well might have perused our recent guest opinion from Sam Balto that advocated for creating more cul-de-sacs throughout Portland as a way to improve quality of life.

Either way, given that PBOT is on the ropes in the fight for a balanced budget, it’s the perfect time for bold, out of the box thinking. And if you consider that PBOT already has mature street plaza, neighborhood greenway, and road diet (or what they call “lane reconfiguration”) programs; decommissioning even more lane miles in order to reduce financial liability and get closer to climate and transportation goals doesn’t really seem all that fringe anymore. (Also worth noting that PBOT has a lot of experience in this realm, like when they’ve partnered with folks to create “play streets.”)

The PBOT 2025-2026 budget proposal is expected to be released at the end of this week. The Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will then make a recommendation to the finance committee. There are more conversations to be had before Councilor Green’s idea is one of them, but at least the conversation has begun.

UPDATE, 4:30 pm: PBOT Communications Director Hannah Schafer has clarified their position on Councilor Green’s comments:

“Because we are investing so little in the maintenance of our streets right now, this wouldn’t actually create any significant cost savings, but it would reduce our risk and potentially add a small amount of savings to our overall $6B in deferred maintenance.

Today, we approach this work through the reallocation of lane space – i.e. changing the way we use our existing roadway space by allocating more pavement from heavy vehicles to less heavy uses such as bikes that will impact our assets less over time. Our street plazas are another example of reallocating pavement for public use. We are also partnering with organizations like Depave to transform lane miles to places through co-investment with adjacent businesses and community, but that is not representing any significant savings at this time (though there are certainly other important benefits!).”

In related news, tonight (Monday, 2/24) is the Streets of Possibility: Well Beyond Cars event hosted by the PDX Design Collaborative as part of their City of Possibility event series. More info here.

Monday Roundup: Road lobby, rural transit, bike bus and more

Welcome to the week. Here are the most notable news items our community has come across in the past seven days…

Rural bus service: Oregon recently ended service of a key bus route in eastern Oregon, and it’s an unfortunate trend that rural transit is being sacrificed to the budget gods. It doesn’t have to be that way says former Metro President David Bragdon. (EnoTrans)

Exposure risks: It’s a truism of transportation that fewer miles traveled by car equals less exposure to the dangers cars pose. So it makes sense that pricing travel and reducing VMT, like NYC did in Manhattan, would lead to safer streets. (Daily News)

Depoliticization: Want to win the debate of whether cities and states should invest in bike lanes or wider freeways? Think about how you frame the debate. (Omer Rafael Bor on Substack)

Social media is good, actually: When it comes to building the bike bus movement, social media has been vital. And I can prove it by sharing what happened when someone tried to popularize the idea before we had social media. (Note: I did not write the headline.) (The Guardian)

Cars are the new cigarettes: “New Zealand’s ‘road lobby’ uses the same tactics as the tobacco industry to obstruct transport policies like walking and cycling, a new University of Otago study says.” (RNZ)

It’s a global epidemic: Lest you think the stubborn scourge of road traffic deaths is an American thing, don’t forget that developing countries across the globe have it much worse. This expert thinks road planning and safety should be treated like a public health epidemic. (The Guardian)

Pay up: Washington D.C. has a law on the books that allows the city to file a lawsuit against out-of-state drivers who don’t pay traffic fines. (Washington Post)

SF is moving from the center to the right: Not politics, but a major bike lane that was piloted in the center of a busy commercial street is being moved curbside — and still folks are mad. (ABC News)

Thanks to everyone who sent in links this week. The Monday Roundup is a community effort, so please feel free to send us any great stories you come across.

Jobs of the Week: Castelli, Metropolis, Kerr Bikes, ODOT, TomCat, Cascade Bikes

Need a job? Want a better job? Just looking for a change? You are in the right place. Don’t miss these recent job announcements. (Remember, you can always stay abreast of jobs as soon as they get listed by signing up for our Job Listings email.)

For a complete list of available jobs, click here.

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Job: Master Mechanic – Cascade Bikes

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

We are seeking an experienced and skilled Mechanic to join our team. As a Mechanic, you will be responsible for repairing bikes, checking in bikes, and helping provide customers with solutions that work for them. We are looking for someone who has 5+ years of Mechanic experience to help fill out our established service department.

Duties

– Follow work orders to carry out repairs

-Inspect bikes during the check in process and provide the customer with an estimate cost of repairs

-Maintain a clean work station and help maintain the general cleanliness of the shop

-Interact with customers of all experience levels

-Provide excellent customer service

Requirements

– 5+ Years experience

– Positive attitude while facing customers and coworkers alike

– professional communication and problem-solving skills

– Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

This role offers the opportunity to work with a experienced and fun team, develop your skills, and contribute to the success of our small local business. If you have a passion for bikes and are looking for a challenging and rewarding role, we encourage you to apply.

How to Apply

Please send a resume to steven@cascadebikes.com, we will be in further communication from there!

Concrete curbs in South Tabor neighborhood aim to tame drivers’ donuts

Before and after images of SE Woodward and 59th. (Photos: David Binnig)

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has come up with an infrastructure solution to car users who do donuts and drive recklessly through neighborhoods.

The residential intersection of Southeast Woodward and 59th has an extremely wide opening that measures about 85-feet — that’s over three times the width of a standard neighborhood street. In large part because of that width, people have shared concerns with PBOT about dangerous drivers who speed around the intersection while sliding out their rear tires. This type of behavior is risky on any street, but SE Woodward is a neighborhood greenway popular with bike riders, walkers, and runners.

To remedy this issue, PBOT identified a small amount of funding through their Multimodal Missing Links program, a small and flexible pot of money the city uses to address hot spots and fill minor gaps in the network. The annual budget of the program is about $200,000.

In March of last year, PBOT reached out to people who live in the South Tabor Neighborhood to learn more about the Woodward and 59th intersection and present design concepts that would address its issues. They decided to build a traffic island in the middle of the intersection using 12-inch wide, 4-inch high concrete curb separators (similar to ones used on protected bike lanes citywide). The curbs will reduce the amount of space available for car users and create a more predictable flow of traffic. Most importantly, if someone tried to do a donut, they’d slam into the curbs and severely damage their car.

Local advocate David Binnig snapped a photo of the completed separators and shared it today on the Bike Loud Slack channel. He also shared a before photo that shows skidmarks.

I wrote an opinion piece in 2022 that encouraged PBOT to use basic traffic calming treatments like this to address street takeovers and burnouts. It’s great to see them take action and address this problem with a cheap and easy solution.

Now all that’s left is to do something with that space in the middle of the island. Folks on Bike Loud suggested it would be a perfect spot for a lemonade stand, some potted plants, or a shuffleboard court. It’s amazing what’s possible when we reclaim our streets from dangerous people and their vehicles!

UPDATE, 2/21 at 4:30 pm: PBOT has added signage, paint, and reflective wands to the curbs to increase visibility. Photo below by Liza Norment via Bluesky.

From cars to cargo bikes: City seeks ‘micro delivery hubs’ in city-owned parking garages

Bike ride planned to ‘Tesla Takedown’ this Saturday

Portland ecologist mixes passion for plants, pollinators, and pedaling

Kenton Cycle Repair has reopened under new ownership

Sticker Swap at Bike Happy Hour tonight!

Get ready for two major naked rides this summer

Bike bus group presses city council for safer neighborhood streets

Councilor: Turn streets into plazas, gardens, or cul-de-sacs to save money and fight climate change

Monday Roundup: Road lobby, rural transit, bike bus and more

Jobs of the Week: Castelli, Metropolis, Kerr Bikes, ODOT, TomCat, Cascade Bikes

Job: Master Mechanic – Cascade Bikes

Job Title

How to Apply

Concrete curbs in South Tabor neighborhood aim to tame drivers’ donuts

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From the Archives

Guest essay: A plan for a ‘passoire’-filled Portland