“Better Naito is a success story on a number of fronts: accessible government, tactical urbanism as a way of urban planning, partnerships, data, and imagination.”
— Timur Ender
Comment of the Week: Behind the scenes of Better Naito
timur ender
With departure of executive director, Oregon Walks will push even harder for racial justice
(Photos: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
Oregon Walks Executive Director Jess Thompson announced Wednesday morning she’s leaving to take a job as leader of a nonprofit in Hawaii. The move will further hasten the organization’s shift away from traditional walking advocacy and toward anti-racism work that centers racial and social justice.
Thompson was hired in October 2018 to lead Oregon Walks, a group founded in 1991 that was formerly known as the Willamette Pedestrian Coalition.
“It is a bittersweet transition,” Thompson said in her announcement, “because I have learned so much from each of you as we have engaged in the work to center walking as climate, health, transportation, and social justice solution.”
Better Naito organizers urge patience as lane gets used as loading zone
Acceptable trade-off for a “Better Naito”?
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photos: J. Maus/BikePortland)
Having a reduced speed limit and 15 feet of space dedicated to biking and walking on Naito Parkway for three full months is a welcome improvement. But it comes with a trade-off: In order to get full support for the project from Waterfront Park event organizers, the City of Portland is allowing trucks to use the lane as a loading zone.
SW 3rd Avenue is about to get downtown’s only buffered bike lane
Earlier this year, bike markings unexpectedly appeared on 3rd Avenue. Now we know why.
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)
(Photo: J.Maus/BikePortland)
Better Naito is back: Bike/walk path will return for Brewfest
People got a lot more room to ride, walk and breathe on Naito Parkway during the Rose Festival thanks to a temporary lane. Now the lane is coming back.
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
(Photos © J. Maus/BikePortland)
With pilot project, City will turn Naito Parkway into public space for all
It’s coming!
(Graphic: Better Block PDX)
(Graphic: Better Block PDX)
Starting this Friday morning, the non-profit Better Block PDX, the Bureau of Transportation and its commissioner-in-charge Steve Novick will embark on perhaps the boldest experiment we’ve seen in years: the creation of public space on Naito Parkway in what are currently standard travel lanes.