This weekend is the official re-opening celebration of the St. Johns Bridge (Sat 11-11, Sun 11-6)…but it will be hard for many in the bike community to celebrate. As you may recall, the folks at the Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT) decided to provide zero bike facilities on the bridge. This was despite the input … Read more
Jessica Roberts of the BTA was recently featured in an OPB radio interview about the Three Bridges Project. The Three Bridges Project will help cyclists navigate the Springwater Corridor trail from the Willamette east through Sellwood and beyond via new bridges at Johnson Creek, Hwy 99, and over the Union Pacific RR. The image below … Read more
Snapped a few photos of the new bicycle boulevard pavement markings I mentioned a few days ago. These are the first of “700 or so” that the city will install in the next few weeks. These markings will guide cyclists onto low-traffic through streets and will be yet another sign to motorists that they aren’t … Read more
In January 2006 the City of Portland will begin installation of 4 “bike oases” structures on Hawthorne Blvd (see photo). The oases are being designed by Rick Browning of Browning Shono Architects and will likely be placed at SE Elliott, SE 36th, Ave, SE 38th Ave, and SE 48th Aves on Hawthorne Blvd. According to … Read more
Portland’s pedal-friendly profile continues to to grow outside of Oregon. Just days after an AP story hit nationwide, a recent article in the Christian Science Monitor focuses on our new lane markings called “sharrows.” Roger Geller and Mia Burk – local bike advocacy stalwarts – were quoted in the story. Here are a few excerpts: … Read more
First we told you about the new “sharrows” coming soon to select Portland streets…now I’ve just got word from the city that “700 or so” additional pavement markings will be installed on bicycle boulevards starting next week. Bicycle boulevards are designated, low-traffic bike routes without bike lanes, such as SE Ankeny, SE Salmon, NE Tillamook … Read more
As I reported a few weeks ago, sharrows are coming soon to Portland streets. If you’d like to know more about them, head over to Sam Adams’ blog where someone from his staff just posted a good explanation and several links to more information. I’m excited about sharrows and I believe they will make our … Read more
Just noticed this over at News4Neighbors: “The City of Portland was awarded a federal grant to develop a comprehensive signing system for Portland’s bikeways. For the past year we have been designing a signing system that will use two types of signs: destination signs and route confirmation signs and markings. We identified more than 70 … Read more
Just reported on Wired.com is a new program in Lyon, France that may be of interest here in Portland (photo on left). This well-designed and high tech rent-a-bike system seems to be a major improvement on the old “Yellow Bike” program. It simply requires a credit card to “check out” a bike. The fee is … Read more
[update: I have been notified of several incorrect facts in my account and have made appropriate changes.—Jonathan] A few months ago, the bike lane in front of the Benson Hotel on SW Broadway was the scene of an ugly incident involving a delivery truck, a cyclist, and several cops, summoned by the Benson valet via … Read more
Some great news about a new bike lane marking called “sharrows”. From the Portland Tribune: Sometime in the next few months, the city will start using shared-lane pavement markings, known as “sharrows,” along 12 city blocks, mostly on Northwest 18th and 19th avenues. The markings will depict a cyclist as well as arrows, indicating motorists … Read more
Ryan Hume at the Willamette Week did a great job with his story on the St. Johns Bridge and cyclists in this week’s Willy Week. I met with Ryan and exchanged several emails about the story and I can honestly say he is a solid reporter. But I can’t resist commenting on his line that … Read more