🚨 Please note that BikePortland slows down during this time of year as I have family in town and just need a break! Please don't expect typical volume of news stories and content. I'll be back in regular form after the new year. Thanks. - Jonathan 🙏
Love ’em or strongly dislike ’em, this is our state DOT.
Aftermath of a fatal crash on December 31st.(Photo: Oregon State Police) 319 people died while traveling on Oregon roads in 2011; that’s two more than 2010 and the first increase since 2005. Another bit of preliminary data shows that 15 people on bicycles were killed last year — that’s a 114% increase from the seven … Read more
A ghost bike for Brett Jarolimek (L) has been removed by ODOT.
Mock-up of one of 29 new signs created by ODOT to guide bike traffic near I-5 bridge. Last week we reported on unauthorized signage near the I-5 Bridge that was installed by a citizen activist to help bike traffic navigate the winding paths to Vancouver. The person who painted the stencils and posted laminated maps … Read more
Unauthorized and subject to removal.(Photo: Todd Boulanger) The new signage and markings on the paths leading up to the I-5 bridge have been hailed as a much-needed improvement. Unfortunately, since they are unauthorized, the Oregon Department of Transportation says they plan to remove them. After getting a phone call from a reader this morning who … Read more
New arm bands being given away by ODOT to help remedy uptick in fatalities.(Photo: ODOT) As reported by The Oregonian this morning, the Oregon Department of Transportation has launched a traffic safety campaign. Under the ‘See and be seen’ banner, ODOT’s effort is aimed squarely at what they see as a major problem on Oregon’s … Read more
The Oregon Department of Transportation is set to award $21 million to “non-highway” transportation projects throughout the state as per their Flexible Funds program. Of that amount, Portland officials expect about $2.2 million to be awarded locally and today Mayor Sam Adams sent in his list of project requests. In the last go ’round of … Read more
Cover of Oregon’s Traffic Safety Action Plan. Did you know that traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in Oregon for people under 35 years of age? Or that every year, traffic crashes in Oregon result in an estimated $2.58 billion in total economic loss — that’s about $657 dollars per Oregon resident*. The … Read more
ODOT’s move could level the playing field for active transportation.(Photos © J. Maus) As I reported on Tuesday, a major organizational shift is taking shape at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). For the first time ever, ODOT will have an official Active Transportation “section” within the agency. ODOT Director Matt Garrett made the announcement … Read more
ODOT Director Garrett says the shift will help make the agency more “efficient and multimodal.”(Photo © J. Maus) Matt Garrett, Director of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has sent out a memo via email to staff and stakeholders throughout the state that he is moving forward with a significant structural shift for the agency. … Read more
House Rep. Mike McLane (R-Medford)2 “Drive Less, Save More,” a marketing campaign run by a PR firm for the Oregon Department of Transportation, came under fire this week as Oregon legislators worked to trim the state’s transportation budget. A freshman Republican lawmaker, House Rep Mike McLane (Medford), led a push with support from several colleagues … Read more
Thanks to budget wrangling on Capitol Hill, the threat of federal recissions have reared their ugly head once again. Recissions are when the federal government takes back unspent transportation funds. This time around, it looks like about $2.5 billion is set to go from state coffers back to Washington D.C. The fear is that when … Read more
“I want to express my disappointment at AASHTO’s recent comments… Oregon takes bicycling and walking very seriously.”— Matthew Garrett, Director of ODOT The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has responded to a recent policy stance by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) that some fear would weaken federal guidelines that exist … Read more