First look inside Portland’s new bike box
My five year-old daughter tests out Portland’s new bike box. By Monday it will be painted green just like the colored bike lane next to it.Slideshow below(Photos © J. Maus)
Infrastructure
Landmark decision gives bike projects regional funding priority
“What this does is elevate bikes and peds as important and meaningful modes.”–ODOT Government Liaison Shelli Romero The wheels of change continue to spin toward a more balanced transportation system in our region. Yesterday, Metro’s Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT), for the first time ever, voted unanimously to put bicycle and pedestrian projects … Read more
Spending on bikes: We get what we pay for
A comparison of bikeway spending and resulting bike use shows that Portland is way behind in opening up its pocketbook to pedaling. Along with the rising profile of bike boxes, bike boulevards, bike trails, and bikes in general in Portland will come an increased scrutiny on how that infrastructure is paid for. Skeptics (or just … Read more
Council approves funding boost for parks, trails
The Springwater Corridor Trail is a Portland Parks facility.(Photo © J. Maus) Yesterday, the Portland City Council voted unanimously to adopt a new “system development charge” (SDC) package that will raise roughly $240 million for parks, bike/ped trails, and natural areas over the next 12 years. SDCs are one-time fees assessed on new development (commercial … Read more
Clinton Street will get extreme bike boulevard makeover
One of Portland’s most popular bikeways has been selected by the Portland Office of Transportation to become the city’s model bike boulevard. Already a magnet for bikes, SE Clinton Street is poised for a major makeover by PDOT.(Photo © J. Maus) As part of an ongoing effort to expand and improve Portland’s network of bike … Read more
Updated: Backers begin effort to re-use Sauvie span in the Pearl
[NOTE: *I have updated this post at 12:30pm on 3/12 to correct my errors in the funding numbers and sources for the project.] The effort to re-use the old Sauvie Island bridge span for a bike and pedestrian-only bridge over the 405 freeway at NW Flanders has been renewed and backers of the project say … Read more
Local product designer hopes to solve bike parking shortage
Start-up company BikeRacker will look to supply its temporary bike racks to local events and businesses. BikeRacker founder Jeff Castro.(Photo: Jeff Castro) Nearly every Portlander who goes by bike has experienced it: You get to an event (sometimes even a bike-related event) and there are not enough places to park. Or, the spaces that are … Read more
Bike box billboards, bus ads debut
PDOT says installation of “Portland’s new green space” could start as early as this Thursday. New bike box billboard on N. InterstateAve., just south of Greeley. The Portland Office of Transportation’s bike box education campaign is in full swing. Their “Get Behind It” slogan can be seen on 14 billboards throughout the central city and … Read more
How the EPA does bike parking
This story is part of my ongoing coverage of the 2008 National Bike Summit. See the rest of my coverage here. The EPA practices what they preach.(Photos © J. Maus) One of the highlights of my first day at the 2008 National Bike Summit had nothing to do with meetings, networking, or keynote speakers — … Read more
What a difference $24 million would make
I came across an interesting graphic at a meeting this morning that helped put into perspective how much is at stake in making sure we pass the Safe, Sound, and Green Streets funding proposal. The proposal — which is currently getting revamped prior to being put on the November ballot — includes (at this point) … Read more
BTA unveils Bicycle Boulevard Toolkit
Screenshot from BTA website. Continuing their campaign to push for a comprehensive network of low-traffic neighborhood streets in Portland, the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has unveiled their Bicycle Boulevard Toolkit. The toolkit intends to educate communities on the why, what, and how of bike boulevards and includes a robust set of resources all in one … Read more
UPDATED: Economist contends new I-5 bridge will “induce traffic,” use up transportation budgets “for a decade or more”
UPDATE, 3/3: The Columbia River Crossing project staff have issued a memo refuting Cortright’s claims. Download that memo here (300 KB, PDF). Economist Joe Cortright(BikePortland file photo) Economist Joe Cortright, who reported last June that Portland’s “green policies” add $2.6 billion into the local economy, has once again set his sights on debunking the Columbia … Read more