4/25: Hello readers and friends. I'm still recovering from a surgery I had on 4/11, so I'm unable to attend events and do typical coverage. See this post for the latest update. I'll work as I can and I'm improving every day! Thanks for all your support 🙏. - Jonathan Maus, BikePortland Publisher and Editor

Police battle speeding drivers as death toll piles up

PPB Traffic Division social media post. Inset: BikePortland Fatality Tracker yeart-to-date traffic death toll.

New roadside memorial sign program offers hope these deaths won’t go unnoticed.

On Sunday, February 4th at 8:46 pm, the Portland Police Bureau Traffic Division posted to X (formerly Twitter): “Extremely excessive speeds in Portland this week. Mustang: 137 in a 45 on Marine drive racing a motorcycle. BMW: 122 in a 60 at I-84/148th Ave.”

Three hours before that post, a pedestrian was killed by a car driver on SE Foster and 97th. And 24 hours after that post, two more people who were walking on Portland streets were hit and killed by car drivers. One of them was killed while walking on SE 82nd near Flavel in the early morning hours of Monday morning. The driver in that collision did not stop and police are still looking for the suspect. The other person was killed while walking at NE Gertz Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd on Monday evening. Police who responded to that scene said they received calls about, “a person struck by multiple vehicles.”

The deaths on 82nd Avenue underscore the urgency for design changes being drawn up by the Portland Bureau of Transportation, and help explain why many local advocates don’t feel the city is going far enough to keep people safe.

These are just three of the five pedestrian fatalities to happen in Portland in the past two weeks, putting us on a pace that’s already ahead of our abysmal, tragic, and unacceptable traffic death toll in 2023. Just 37 days into 2024 we have endured the deaths of seven people using Portland roads — six of whom were what Oregon statute refers to as a, “vulnerable user of a public way.”

Given the current state of our traffic culture, I shudder to think how many people will be killed in traffic this year. Will it be someone I know? A member of family? Me? And what is being done about it? We have city leaders who say they’re aware of this crisis and that they care about it, but I don’t see any major shift in approach to the problem. It’s as if we think mere acknowledgment of the problem is enough to stop it from being a problem.

New sign that will begin appearing where someone is killed in traffic.

Some local road safety activists are trying something new this year they hope will appeal to peoples’ conscience, raise awareness of the responsibility we all have as road users, and reinforce the tragic consequences of shirking it. Volunteers with BikeLoud PDX have partnered with Families for Safe Streets OR/WA, The Street Trust, and Oregon Walks to create high-visibility signs that will be posted at the site of every fatal crash. Based on similar signs used in New York City (where the nonprofit Families for Safe Streets began), they read, “Our Neighbor Was Killed Here: Demand Safe Streets for All.” The signs include links to resources where people get involved in the fight for safe streets or find legal or mental health resources.

Each one of these crashes leaves a trail of trauma and grief among survivors. Families of survivors and the family of a driver that killed someone have reached out to me in recent weeks, wanting to make sure the community understands what they are going through. Next week, the family of Jason Ruhmshottel will accompany local activists to place a ghost bike on North Portland Road where he pedaled his trusty commuter bike for the last time. We can only hope people slow down enough to see it and let its meaning sink in.

Job: Programs Mechanic Coordinator – Community Cycling Center

Buffered Bike Lane with a bike symbol and arrow pointing forward

Job Title

Programs Mechanic Coordinator

Company / Organization

Community Cycling Center

Job Description

Programs Mechanic Coordinator
Status: Hourly, 32-40 hours/week
Pay: $22-24 per hour
Union/Non-Union: Union, ILWU Local 5
Location: Portland, Oregon
Benefits: Includes health & dental
Reports to: Education Manager
Start date: Monday March 4th

Organizational Overview

We love Portland and bikes. So, we put our two passions together nearly 30 years ago, creating a nonprofit organization on a mission to broaden access to bicycling and its benefits.  Our goal is to help create a healthy, sustainable Portland for all community members. Our vision is to help build a vibrant community where people of all backgrounds use bicycles to stay healthy and connected. We believe that all Portlanders—regardless of income or background—should have the opportunity to experience the joy, freedom and health benefits of bicycling. This is the motivation behind everything we do. 
 
In addition to delivering dynamic programs that benefit underserved communities, we operate a storefront space in NE Portland offering a DIY workspace, retail shop, and community classroom. We also collaborate with community partners to generate pathways to numerous supports to meet the needs of the people we serve.
   
The Community Cycling Center (CCC) is an equal opportunity employer and strongly values diversity, equity and inclusion. Individuals with diverse backgrounds, abilities and experiences are encouraged to apply. 

Essential Functions

The Programs Mechanic Coordinator provides material support to meet the bicycle maintenance and repair needs of the programs department. This role also provides limited instructional support focused on the repair and maintenance of commuter bicycles. A successful Programs Mechanic Coordinator will apply a student-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive teaching approach to support students and program participants in developing new skills, self-confidence, and independence.

In addition to supporting the programs department’s service needs throughout the calendar year, this role will also provide in field support for the STEM program at alternative high school sites, the Repair Hub in north Portland, as well as a variety of community events that take place around the region. The Programs Mechanic will provide some level of support to shop operations, which may include the facilitation of fee-for-service maintenance classes.

The Programs Mechanic Coordinator is supervised by the Education Manager. They work a 32 hour per week schedule on average across the year, with up to 40 hour weeks during the summer months. Successful candidates will have enthusiasm and experience working with and teaching underserved youth as well as an interest in active transportation and transportation justice.

Bike production and service (30%)
● Assist the Education Manager in accomplishing the Programs Department’s bike build and service needs across the span of the calendar year.
○ This includes but is not limited to building new bikes from the box for Bike Clubs and Bike Camp participants, refurbishing used bikes for teen/adult program participants, supporting Holiday Bike Drive production, maintaining programs bike fleets through consistent service, and providing seasonal tune-ups for programs staff’s work bikes,.

Direct Service Support (30%)
● Support the New Columbia Repair Hub operations May through September as the lead mechanic. This includes working on site for some portion of shifts throughout the season.
● Support STEM classroom instruction as needed with Education Manager
● Support community events that involve remote repair. May include providing mechanical support to community rides.

Administration (25%)
● Engage in the production and service schedule as managed by the Education (STEM) Manager
● Work with the shop’s Bicycle Production Coordinator to establish best practices for bicycle repair out of the Repair Hub space.
● Attend Repair Hub meetings
● Support Hub youth interns during the Repair Hub season (May-September)
● Support Hub volunteer mechanics during the Repair Hub season (May-September); access to volunteers mechanics will be facilitated by the Volunteer Coordinator
● Assist with grant reporting process as assigned

Other responsibilities (15%)
● Support shop-based, fee-for-service classes, and other shop operations as needed
● Other duties as assigned

Required qualifications and experience

● 3+ years of bike mechanic experience. This can be a combination of volunteer, and professional experience.
● Prior personal, professional, or volunteer experience working with children and adults from low income backgrounds, communities of color, and/or immigrant communities
● Prior personal, professional, or volunteer experience in group facilitation (i.e. instructing at a summer camp or after-school program, lived experience as a parent or raising young family members, volunteering at a group home for youth, facilitating a shift meeting for a former job, etc.)
● Proven commitment to advancing equity and creating and maintaining an inclusive environment that is welcoming for all identities and abilities
● Ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, students, families, and supervisors
● Ability to balance competing priorities and meet deadlines
● Ability to maintain composure and a respectful, cooperative attitude in high stress situations
● Passion for cycling and other forms of active transportation
● Basic computer skills, especially familiarity with the Google Suite. Willingness to engage with project management software (we currently use Asana).`
● Ability to ride a bicycle 5 miles per day and lift up to 50 pounds
○ Reasonable accommodation will be made for staff with a disability
● Because this position works directly with youth, a background check is required

Preferred

● 5+ years of professional bike mechanic experience.
● Proficiency in one or more languages spoken in Portland’s communities (e.g., Spanish, Vietnamese, Somali, Russian)
● Lived experience as a member of a marginalized community
● Existing relationships with North, Northeast, and/or East Portland Title I school communities
● Experience leading group bike rides with youth and/or adults
● Prior experience coordinating volunteers
● Valid Driver’s License

START DATE: MONDAY MARCH 4th

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume with “Programs Mechanic Coordinator” as the subject line to jobs@communitycyclingcenter.org

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Community Cycling Center is an equal opportunity employer. We will not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex, age, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, veteran status, marital status, sensory disabilities, physical disabilities, mental disabilities and/or any other bases protected by state and federal law. We take proactive measures to ensure against discrimination in hiring, compensation, promotions, and termination of staff, selection of volunteers (including board members) and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, customers, clients, volunteers (including board members), subcontractors, vendors, and other members of our community.

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume with “Programs Mechanic Coordinator” as the subject line to jobs@communitycyclingcenter.org

Comment of the Week: A quiet voice from 82nd Ave

Last week’s post about PBOT’s newly released design for 82nd Avenue brought out an interesting bunch of comments. I liked reading all of them, I think because they were so authentic. Not too much internet grandstanding, mainly just people sharing their thoughts. Altogether a “no drama” group of responses.

There was one calm comment which has kept worming its way into my mind over the past few days. Clearly this commenter hadn’t yet picked up that confident and commanding internet “voice.” The comment’s lack of bombast was endearing, even kind of soothing.

Here’s what a commenter named “E” had to say about bike riders on 82nd:

I live near 82nd closer to the southern city limit and drive on 82nd often for groceries/shopping. I see more people biking on 82nd (they have to use the inadequately narrow sidewalk to do so) than on some other commercial streets in Portland. Whereas I would never want to bike along that street in its present form, my guess is that a lot of people are forced to bike on it to get to businesses that serve their basic needs or to and from work. At the same time, I think these folks are hardly going to participate in PBOT’s outreach sessions and take the time to fill out surveys or make their voices heard. I think that there is a real need for bike facilities along 82nd, which would most likely not be reflected in PBOT data.

Thank you E for contributing to BikePortland. If folks want a recommendation for a comment thread to read, I’d pick this one, there are some neat ideas in it, and it doesn’t get bogged down with arguing. You can read E’s comment directly in context with others here. Enjoy!

Monday Roundup: School pick-up hell, price of cars, and more

Welcome to the week.

Here are the most notable stories our community came across in the past seven days…

Sad but true: Really important deep dive into the data and demographic trends that have led to the “end of the school bus era” and the explosion of really terrible school pick-up lines. (Washington Post)

Dutch formula: Figured we can always use another reminder of why so many people bike in Dutch cities: Driving is hard and inconvenient and biking and transit are easy and convenient. (Global Cycling News)

Height matters: More solid research that draws a direct line between an increased chance of fatal pedestrian collisions and the height of vehicle hoods. (Streetsblog USA)

Saudi cycling league: There’s buzz in the pro cycling world about a possible $270 million infusion from Saudi investors into a new cycling league that would count some of the sports biggest teams as founding members. (Reuters)

Cargo bikes > cars: A survey of over 2,500 people in Germany found that 18% of them decided to get rid of at least one car after experiencing the joy and convenience using a cargo bike. (Ars Technica)

Price of cars: The collusion between Big Concrete, Big Rubber, Big Oil, automakers, and DOTs becomes a lot easier to understand when you read this article about how car companies are pulling in billions while Americans who need cars get squeezed and the option of simply making transit better is hardly mentioned. (The Guardian)

Nashville too: It’s simultaneously comforting and frustrating that in almost every American city, folks working to make cycling better, are frustrated by the lack of physical protection and terrible behavior by drivers. (The Contributor)

“Mobility imaginaries”: Armed with the premise that, “Radical change of mobility requires radical ways of thinking,” and “Radical ways of thinking requires new imaginaries,” someone collected a list of powerful visuals they help will change how society sees the role of streets. (Linkedin/The Lab of Thought)

Group ride etiquette: The nationally syndicated “Miss Manners” column featured a question many of us can relate to. (Washington Post)

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.

Podcast: In the Shed – Ep 11

Eva Frazier and I are back with another episode of “In The Shed.” This episode was recorded earlier today in the BikePortland Shed as unseasonably warm weather beckoned us outdoors.

As usual, we had a really great chat about a wide range of stuff.

Thanks to Brock Dittus of Sprocket Podcast fame for our fantastic theme music. Listen in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening!

New loading platforms coming to SW Broadway bike lane

Three more platforms like this one in front of the Schnitz are being built this month. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

If you see city construction crews tearing up the bike lane on SW Broadway through downtown, don’t fear. They are not removing the protected bike lanes so many riders depend on for their safety every day. The work is part of an expected project from the Portland Bureau of Transportation to install new loading zone platforms.

If you recall from our coverage back in late September, before the big Broadway bike lane kerfluffle, PBOT was talking to managers and operators of hotels along the street about how to mitigate safety concerns voiced by valet staff, guests, and road users. As early as March 2023, PBOT staff told hotel operators they could receive the same type of loading platform in front of their business that the city had already installed in front of Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The platforms raise the bike lane to sidewalk level, include green color for added visibility, and provide easier access to business entrances for people who park adjacent to the bike lane. The combination of the ramp, along with more robust signage and pavement markings increase awareness of the potential conflict zone for all users: valet staff, hotel guests, and bicycle riders.

PBOT announced on Monday they’ve begun construction on three new platforms. At a cost of about $90,000 each, they’ll be installed in front of the Benson (SW Oak), Heathman (SW Salmon), and Vance (SW Columbia) hotels. Each location should take about two weeks to build and you should expect a work zone environment as you cycle through. PBOT hopes to button up construction by mid-March. Final pavement markings won’t be done until spring because crews need dryer, warmer weather to install the materials.

In addition to building these platforms, PBOT said back in September they would release an evaluation of issues on SW Broadway and proposed upgrades that reflect the concerns from the public and business operators Commissioner Mingus Mapps and PBOT Director Millicent Williams used as justification for their planned changes. That evaluation would come with public outreach so a true, community-wide conversation could be had about how to improve SW Broadway. Three new signal upgrades at SW Oak, Taylor and Jefferson to separate bicycle through traffic from right-turning cars were also promised.

According to PBOT Public Information Officer Dylan Rivera, the evaluation report is ongoing. PBOT staff have prepared concepts and have presented them at the Central City in Motion Workin Group on October 18th (and the Downtown Neighborhood Association). The draft “hardening concept” shows concrete medians and protected corners throughout the corridor between NW Hoyt and SW Clay. Rivera says more public engagement is planned once they secure funding. As for the promised bike signals at Oak, Taylor and Jefferson, Rivera says two of them (Taylor and Jefferson) will be bundled with the upcoming SW 4th Avenue bikeway project slated to break ground this spring. PBOT still hasn’t found the funding to install the third signal (at SW Oak).

Learn more:

15 Minutes With City Council Candidate Mariah Hudson

Portland City Council District 2 (N/NE) candidate Mariah Hudson joined me for a brief interview today. I was first introduced to Mariah through her role as chair of the PBOT Bureau & Budget Advisory Committee. When I heard she was running for council and was a daily rider who bikes with young kids, I knew I had to chat with her.

The interview above (and just posted to the BP YouTube channel, which you should subscribe to!) is part of a new series, “15 Minutes With” where I chat with interesting folks for 15 minutes (or so). Thanks for your patience while I dial things in and make this part of our regular offerings. I’ve got an exciting list of folks I want to talk to; but if you’ve got ideas or want to be interviewed yourself, please send me an email – maus.jonathan@gmail.com.

Now, back to Mariah…

In our interview she shares that she’s got two kids in Portland Public Schools (first and seventh grades) and is a daily bike commuter from the Alameda neighborhood to OHSU where she works in public health communications. Mariah is also on the PPS budget committee and has served as a leader of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods. Asked why she’s running for council, Mariah said, “To try and make a difference, to clean up the city, to help people with safety so that my kids and others will want to live here and can afford to live here in the future.”

Mariah rides a Rad Power Radwagon, longtail e-cargo bike and said, “It’s been a game changer, especially in terms of going into work.” Having the e-bike has made her 10-mile round trip commute often quicker than driving and she can show up to work without being sweaty.

Here are a few other exchanges from our conversation:

What are some things about PBOT’s budget you were surprised about or learned by being on the committee?

“Our group is a community advisory group for the budget, and it’s intended to provide accountability and really make sure that community priorities are reflected in those budgets. I think something that would surprise a lot of people is how much of the PBOT’s transportation budget is really not flexible, it’s committed to long-term projects — everything from the Sellwood Bridge to long-term road projects. There’s really only about 20% of the budget that’s flexible in any given year that can be assigned to things like safety or potholes or special projects or Sunday Parkways that’s not already committed.”

How should Portland balance the tension between solving transportation congestion problems through maintaining a lot of car traffic like we have now, or shifting that space and using it for mass transit and bike lanes?

“Well, you’re right, there is a tension and oftentimes that tension plays out in terms of ‘Do people really have the ability or not to shift modes easily?’ And when I say the ability, I mean the ability within our current system. Like, if it’s 20 minutes to take a bus downtown and it’s 10 minutes to drive. It might be more like an hour if you’re coming from certain parts of Portland. How feasible that is for you is something that we absolutely need to consider.”

Given you experience with schools, what’s your opinion about school pick-up and drop-off lines and do you think there’s something that a city council member could do about that issue?

“Well, my personal pick-up and drop-off line is very, very short because I can scoot on my bike or I can walk my kids. I’m also in the Alameda neighborhood, so I take the bike bus with my kids sometimes on Wednesdays. And I will say I think that’s a great direction that our city can expand in terms of getting kids to school and really thinking about those safe routes to school. And there’s safety in numbers. We’re also training kids for the future, showing them it’s possible, showing them it’s fine to ride in the rain.

I don’t know what the answer is at the [school entrance] for cars, but you know, for people who are a little farther out, giving them that taste of what it could be like to ride or to walk is a great place to start.”

Listen to the full interview above, and come to Bike Happy Hour next week (Weds, 2/7) to meet Mariah in person. Learn more about her at MariahForPortland.com.

Weekend Event Guide: Caddyshack, illuminated bikes, film screening, and more

The recent weather and this shot from the Rose Ride on June 16th, 2023 has me pining for spring! (Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

Happy weekend everyone! Remember, I always appreciate an email or other message about the event you’re hosting or ride you’re leading. I try to track everything, but I sometimes miss stuff.

Also, Sunday is fareless transit citywide thanks to TriMet and their efforts to honor Rosa Parks, a Black woman who changed the course of history when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955.

Have fun planning your weekend!

Friday, February 2nd

WeBike Winter Light Fest Ride – 6:00 pm at Lloyd Center (NE)
Enjoy a fun route on opening night of the PDX Winter Light Fest. This ride is “for anyone who does not benefit from cis male privilege.” More info here.

Saturday, February 3rd

Caddyshack Ride – 12:00 noon on I-205 Path (NE)
It’s the 14th annual Bill Murray tribute ride that rolls through a selection of public golf courses. First 20 riders get a commemorative spoke card. Led by Maria “Bicycle Kitty” Schur! More info here.

Ride to Illuminated Bike Ride – 5:45 pm at Beaverton Transit Center (Westside)
Join friends from the westside for a group ride to the Light Fest ride. More info here.

In the Dirt Film Screening – 7:00 pm at Clinton St Theater (SE)
This is it folks! Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to see a cool new documentary about how members of the Navajo Nation are building community around biking on their land. Stars of the film will be on-hand for questions. More info here.

Illuminated Bike Ride – 7:30 pm at Rose Equipment Annex Parking Lot (SE)
The official group ride to kick off the 2024 Portland Winter Light Festival. Led by NakedHeartsPDX, expect a family-friendly vibe, good music and good times. More info here.

Sunday, February 4th

Palm Tree Ride – 10:00 am at Bipartisan Cafe (SE)
Shawn from Urban Adventure League will take you on a journey of tropical delights as he informs you about interesting palms that live in our city. More info here.

Belmont Goats Ride – 10:00 am at Parkrose/Sumner Transit Center (NE)
Portland Bicycling Club is leading this intermediate-paced ride (13-15 mph) that will be about 25 miles long. Expect a bakery stop! More info here.

Transit Equity Day – 12:00 pm at The Street Trust Hub (Lloyd Center NE)
It’s free fare day in honor of Rosa Parks and what better way to celebrate than by learning how to put your bike on a TriMet bus and get all your burning multimodal questions answered by experts while you indulge in transit-friendly swag with other train and bus lovers? More info here.

— Don’t see an event? Please tell us about what’s going on in your neighborhood by filling out our contact form, or just email me at maus.jonathan@gmail.com if it’s easier.

Trees to tame heat, medians to tame drivers, and wider sidewalks star in latest 82nd Ave plans

Play animation to see before/after.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation has released fresh renderings of the future 82nd Avenue that they plan to break ground on this summer. With a total of $185 million in funding spread across several concurrent projects, PBOT says they’ve reached a major milestone on the biggest piece of the puzzle: the $55 million 82nd Avenue Critical Fixes: Major Maintenance project that will bring changes to a 2.5-mile stretch of the road in southeast and northeast Portland.

We last checked on this project in March 2023. On Wednesday, PBOT released updated plans that bring the project up to a 60% design completion level.

In a statement yesterday, PBOT said this project will bring, “transformative maintenance upgrades” to two separate sections of 82nd Ave: from NE Fremont to Schuyler, and SE Mill to Foster. The city plans to completely rebuild and repave some sections of the roadway from the ground up and build new or updated traffic signals and safer crossings at 10 intersections (more crossings and signals are planned as part of a separate project). This project also includes new center medians, 250 new street trees (up from 138 back in March), and repair or construction of 15,000 linear feet of sidewalk.

Two of the crossings — at SE Lafayette and Raymond — will look like this. Note the red stamped bricks and setback of trees at intersections to allow emergency vehicle access.

Trees are a key part of this project, and the city will go to great lengths to make sure they are large and healthy. Unlike the small concrete wells trees are typically confined to, PBOT will fully excavate the medians down to the soil and the entire median island surface will be landscaped with ground covers and shrubs. These plantings could make the street safer, will create a more “main street” atmosphere, and help cool the area during heat waves. New streetscape renderings released by PBOT show large trees on both the sidewalks and in medians. Where there are no plantings, PBOT will use a red stamped brick material on the medians.

While most of the budget for this project will go toward new pavement and concrete work, bicycle users and walkers will specifically benefit from changes like new leading pedestrian intervals (where walkers get a head-start before right-turning drivers) at some signals, new bicycle-only signals, as well as painted bike boxes and improved signal detection where neighborhood greenways cross 82nd.

While PBOT does not show any bike or bus-only lanes on these latest renderings — changes of that nature will be considered in separate projects. This project is about helping people cross 82nd and taking initial “critical fixes” to redesign the street in a way that tames car drivers.

Intersection details.

The need to balance safety and reduce stubbornly high traffic fatality numbers, while still allowing drivers robust access to destinations along the corridor, is a key dynamic facing PBOT and City Hall in this project. They are very well aware of business owners along the street who worry that medians and other “access management” measures will make it too hard for car drivers to turn into their businesses.

Hoping to avoid a repeat of publicity and political problems that plagued their SE Division project (and in addition to standard community outreach to inform their design process), PBOT staff did extensive canvassing of business and/or property owners in the project area. They went door-to-door to 218 businesses and met one-on-one with 50 business and/or property owners.

In a public engagement summary posted on the project website, PBOT reports dueling feedback: “Many people have been personally impacted by the current unsafe conditions, through witnessing a crash, personally or knowing someone who has been involved in a crash, and/or experiencing a close call,” reads one excerpt. But they also heard, “Businesses said getting customers to the businesses is most important.”

PBOT’s outreach to businesses on 82nd paid off when the 82nd Avenue Business Association endorsed their plan in December. And in a statement yesterday, PBOT Commissioner Mingus Mapps — who launched a controversial plan last fall to remove protected bike lanes downtown in a bid to appease business owners — said, “I’m especially glad that PBOT has made adjustments to the plan, so we can ensure businesses have the access they need.”

Zachary Lauritzen, executive director of the nonprofit Oregon Walks, called the latest PBOT plans, “good first steps to transitioning 82nd Avenue away from a high speed highway to a place where everyone can move around safely and comfortably.”

PBOT is accepting comments on these plans through March 31st and plans to finalize the designs shortly thereafter. You can find details on in-person meetings and other neighborhood presentation dates on the official project website. PBOT hopes to have construction approved by City Council in early summer and build the project before the end of 2026. This “lightning fast” timeline is due to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) which must be spent by the end of 2026.

Safety goes dark as intersection daylighting lags in Portland

The corner of SE Ellis and 48th where Melissa Kostelecky saw an elementary student on a bike get hit by the driver of that grey Subaru Monday afternoon. The child rolled out of the curb cut right behind that maroon SUV that is parked too close to the corner. (Photo: Melissa Kostelecky)

“Just saw a kid get hit by a car right across from Woodstock Elementary,” read a message from Portlander Melissa Kostelecky posted to a local advocacy forum on Monday. “This is exactly why we need to get on the city to enforce daylighting.”

Daylighting, or what the City of Portland refers to as “vision clearance at intersections” is a way to improve visibility by prohibiting on-street auto parking all the way up to the curb. It’s a well-known concept to local road safety advocates and one that should be well-known to local elected officials and policymakers.

Over the years we’ve seen lots of attention on the issue in the form of advocacy campaigns, promises from leaders, even a lawsuit from a bereaved family of a man killed as a result of poor intersection visibility. Despite all that, Portland has still not made enough progress on ridding corners of the scourge of parked cars.

Kostelecky was shaken-up after watching that crash on Monday. Luckily the child on the bike and the driver were going slowly and the driver was able to react before serious damage could be done. Kostelecky has since filed a report with police and with PBOT’s 823-SAFE system just to make sure it’s accounted for.

Kokopeli’s brilliant testimony at council this morning.

Another local advocate, Peter Kokopeli, used his three-minute testimony in front of Portland City Council this morning (watch it here) to raise awareness of daylighting. “This kind of situation is not safe for drivers or for anybody else,” Kokopeli said as he held up a printed sheet of paper showing a car parked over the corner on SE Belmont and 68th. He urged Mayor Ted Wheeler, PBOT Commissioner Mingus Mapps, and other council members to direct more funding to daylight intersections on all school routes, neighborhood greenways, bus routes, and all streets where pedestrians are prioritized. “They cost only $800 per intersection. It’s a really good deal,” he said.

“It’s truly one of the rare low-hanging fruits in the transportation space and I hope that we can work together to make this more widespread practice.”

– Mingus Mapps, PBOT Commissioner

Wheeler beamed at Kokopeli and he and Mapps said they appreciated his presentation. While they talked about funding, no promises were made. “It’s relatively cheap fix and it would be great to make progress in this area,” Mapps said. Then he added, “It’s truly one of the rare low-hanging fruits in the transportation space and I hope that we can work together to make this more widespread practice.”

If it’s “low-hanging fruit” and relatively cheap to implement, it’s surprising PBOT hasn’t done more of it. And of course, even if they took the step of painting curbs or adding “No Parking” signage — given the extreme entitlement of many Portland drivers who feel they can park wherever and however they want — it would only be effective if it were implemented with robust and impenetrable infrastructure and/or strong enforcement.

Speaking of enforcement, there’s already a state law (ORS 811.550) that prohibits cars from parking within 20-feet of a corner (with some exceptions), but it is rarely enforced.

One way to compel the City of Portland to take daylighting more seriously is to sue them, and that’s what local lawyer Scott Kocher is doing on behalf of the family of Elijah Coe, a man who was hit and killed by a driver while riding his motorcycle on E Burnside in 2019. In that case, a driver attempted to make a left turn onto Burnside (from SE 17th) and collided with Coe. “Mr. Coe’s death in the resulting collision, could have been prevented if the City complied with the law,” reads a statement from the plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

Attorneys for PBOT have leaned very heavily on discretionary immunity (a legal concept backed up by state law that says cities are immune from liability, even if they made decisions that led to less safe infrastructure) to argue they should not be liable for crashes that result from a lack of visibility at intersections.

On the ground, PBOT is slowly working to daylight thousands of intersections citywide that need it. After former PBOT Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty dedicated $200,000 toward the effort in 2021, PBOT says they completed 350 daylighting treatments on high crash streets. But current city guidelines only call carfree corners if a street is repaved or if it’s part of a large capital project — a policy that leads to far fewer installations than Kokopeli asked for at council this morning. The only way to get more of them done is to request specific locations one-at-a-time.

Meanwhile, Portland parents like Kostelecky and advocates like Kokopeli will have to hope drivers learn about the issue and simply stop parking so close to corners. But for some drivers, even awareness of the law doesn’t stop the dangerous behavior.

Kostelecky told BikePortland she’s discussed the issue near the school with leaders of the nearby neighborhood association. They’ve told her that many parents intentionally ignore the daylighting law and tell her things like, “I’m just trying to get my kid to school.”

With attitudes like that from some drivers, no amount of paint or “pretty please” will work.

Kocher says his lawsuit is pending a decision from the Oregon Court of Appeals and he expects a decision within the next year.

Bike Happy Hour: Candidates, questions, and characters

Council candidate Sarah Silkie hears an answer to her question from BHH regular Melissa Kostelecky. (Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)

If you missed Bike Happy Hour last week, you missed hearing from three more Portland City Council candidates. That brings the count of candidates we’ve heard from this election cycle up to 11.

Last Wednesday candidates Deian Salazar (D1-E), Jesse Cornett (D3-SE) and Sarah Silkie (D4-W) hopped on the mic. We got to know a little about each of them and heard what makes them tick.

At just 23 years old, I was really impressed with Salazar. In true Bike Happy Hour form, he made an effort to meet every single person in the room. His remarks focused on how he wants to get homeless Portlanders into job training programs to, “get the skill sets and they need in order to stay out of poverty, and to have a decent living wage.” Asked how he moves around the East Portland district, Salazar replied, “I’m not rich enough to be able to afford a car. So I often walk and take the bus. I’ve been considering getting back into cycling… what I really want to do is build a lot of new bike infrastructure, because I think we should not be requiring cars for everyone to be able to move around the city.”

Lisa holding court at her favorite table.
The candidates: (L to R) Jesse Cornett, Deian Salazar, Sarah Silkie.
Cornett and the crowd.
Salazar speaks.
BikeLoud’s Joe Perez took advantage of open mic.
Aaron, Curt, and Deian got to know each other.
BHH regulars (L to R) Lisa, Melissa, Carolyn, and Eva caught up at last week’s gathering.
Fred made me an origami bug made from an official PBOT bike map. Swoon!
Aaron, Mark, Nando, Joe, Caleb, Carey and Nick — the hearty outdoor crew!
Shawne’s always amazing bike signage.
Aaron, Shawne, and Eva.
The food is really good!
Just a few of the characters and scenes from BHH #43.

Cornett described himself as being an advocate for the vast majority of his career. He shared tales of shadowing U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and said the “proudest moment” of his work so far was being a legislative lobbyist for an effort that resulted in 55,000 Oregon migrant farm workers getting health care coverage. Cornett is currently the policy advocate for Oregon Recovers, a nonprofit that advocates and provides services for people suffering from addiction. When it comes to transportation habits, Cornett has a bike but rides it infrequently and mostly gets around by car or his own two feet.

Silkie is an engineer who “protects our drinking water” in her job at the Portland Water Bureau. She grew up in Portland and is a newcomer to politics. “If you had told me five years ago that I would be running for city council getting involved in politics, I would have laughed in your face. But times have changed. I have changed.” She said she used to ride bikes a lot, but injuries have forced her off the saddle. Her husband is a daily e-bike rider. Asked why she decided to run, Silkie said, “We’re at a crossroads. The last five years have felt like something out of a science fiction movie… I’m going to be 50 next year and I should really think about how I can make a difference in the world.”

My favorite part of the night was when Silkie asked the crowd for feedback on bike lane design: Do folks like parking-protected lanes or more traditional, door-zone lanes next to drivers? She heard a bunch of great insights and different opinions from a wide range of bicycle riders — from a mom who rides with kids, from an older former racer. (And in a good sign of what type of person Silkie is, she emailed after happy hour to get a copy of the audio recording I made of the answers.)

It was such a cool moment because my first interaction with Silkie was an email where she asked me that same question and I replied: Why don’t you come to Bike Happy Hour and ask the community yourself?

Come out and meet Roo tonight!

That’s just one of the many reason we do happy hour! It’s a place to educate yourself and learn from other folks in the community, and for the community to educate guests what it’s like to ride bikes in this city. Sharing perspectives is a powerful thing. The more different ones we hear — especially face-to-face — the more empathetic and understanding we become.

At tonight’s event (BHH #43) there will certainly be more interesting perspectives to hear from. I don’t expect any candidates, but you never know who will show up. I’ve got several folks on deck who could be there at any time, including Congressional candidate and current State Rep Maxine Dexter and Council D4 candidate Bob Weinstein.

Our special guest tonight will be Roo Albisurez, the founder of Warpaint, community manager for NW Trail Alliance, and an advocate who has built a platform for Black, indigenous and people of color who love the outdoors.

Next week (BHH #44, 2/7) I’ve got a commitment from D2 (N/NE) candidate Mariah Hudson. And it will also be Legal Night, so get your questions ready for special guest and local lawyer Chris Thomas from the venerable firm Thomas, Coon, Newton & Frost.

See you tonight. Same time (3:00-6:00 pm), same place (Ankeny Tap, 2724 SE Ankeny).

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From the Archives

More biking = better driving. So why isn’t this said more often?