PBOT wants to make downtown streets easier and safer to use.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) The details of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s plans to invest in downtown bicycle access are getting clearer. As we shared back in February, PBOT has applied for $6 million in regional flexible funding (administered by Metro) in order to improve … Read more
Dylan Rivera The Portland Bureau of Transportation has taken steps to fill a big hole in their communications department. As I shared last week, PBOT’s sole media relations staffers — Dan Anderson and Cheryl Kuck — both decided to move on. Today PBOT confirmed that they’ve hired Dylan Rivera and Diane Dulken as interim media … Read more
PBOT’s Cheryl Kuck at an event in 2005.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) The communications issues at the Portland Bureau of Transportation just got worse. After hearing about it yesterday from Bureau sources, I’ve now confirmed with the Mayor’s office that PBOT’s two current communications staffers — Dan Anderson and Cheryl Kuck — are on their way … Read more
“While business and political support is strong it could be stronger, especially in key constituent groups.”— Roger Geller, PBOT Bicycle Coordinator in a League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community award application Back in 2008 Portland became the first major U.S. city to be given a “Platinum” level Bicycle Friendly Community award by the League … Read more
Mayor Hales(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) The Office of Mayor Charlie Hales put out a statement this morning saying that “traffic fatalities are too high” and “Portlanders must drive sober.” Here are the opening paragraphs: “The number of people dying in traffic crashes on Portland streets this year is unacceptable according to Mayor Charlie Hales. In … Read more
Yesterday was the last day for Tom Miller as Director of PBOT.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
Speaking of maintenance.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) Mayor Charlie Hales has picked Toby Widmer to be his interim director of the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). Hales asked current PBOT Director Tom Miller to resign his position effective February 4th. In a statement today, Hales said Widmer will serve in the position for six months while … Read more
Businesses along SW Stark.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) One of the Great Myths that somehow continues to follow urban bicycling around is that when you redesign a street to improve bike access, it will automatically be bad for adjacent businesses. This is of course completely absurd. But even with studies and common sense easily disproving such … Read more
PBOT Director Tom Miller at a meeting of his Budget Advisory Committee last night. (Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) The budget outlook for the Bureau of Transportation is a bit better this year than it was last year; but things are still grim. I attended the first of three PBOT Budget Advisory Committee meetings last night … Read more
The new green paint applied by PBOT on SW Oak is impossible to miss.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland)
A meeting back in June helped highlight safety concerns at the intersection.(Photo © J. Maus/BikePortland) It looks likes years of citizen activism might finally bear fruit. Yesterday, Betsy Reese — the co-owner of the Paramount Apartments situated on the peninsula formed by the intersection of N. Broadway, Flint, and Wheeler streets near I-5 — announced … Read more
Everywhere you look, PBOT is making neighborhood streets safer. In this photo, people use the new crossing treatment at N. Concord and Rosa Parks.(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland) It’s hard to overstate the importance of the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s neighborhood greenway program. The combination of considerable expertise in, and dedication to, neighborhood traffic safety from … Read more