Advocacy & Safety - Portland bike boulevards become neighborhood greenways

Portland has turned some of its streets into bike boulevards as one of a variety of bicycle friendly street treatments in its bikeway network. These have been met with widespread approval from property owners and neighborhood associations for increasing property values and enhancing quality of life in neighborhoods while making bicycling a greater reality for more Portlanders.

Portland is moving forward from its success with the bike boulevards and expanding the concept of bike boulevards as 'neighborhood greenways'.

a recent video on the new evolving american streetscape in Portland.


http://vimeo.com/16552771

vimeo film on portland bike boulevards (http://http://vimeo.com/16552771)

Using bike boulevards across neighborhoods as part of a community bikeway network is a positive step cities can take to reclaim the bicycle as normal transportation in the 21st century.

That is cool, wish something like that would be done down here in Houston.

This is almost sickeningly thoughtful. ;)

This is almost sickeningly thoughtful. ;)

It really is. The love the intersection sharrow (forget what he called it). And I really *love* the median crossings. We have a couple spots in our city where that should have been done and wasn't.

Have ridden in Portland... and think I have met some of those people.

What they are doing there sets a good example for us all no matter where we live.

It's basically just greenwashing

:rolleyes:

I've had more trouble with motorists on those greenways than anywhere else on the street grid

They are way overdesigned, and all those smug bureaucrats speaking in the video are talking down to their audience as if we were all a bunch of children

meh

I like this type of bike route program, which leverages the low-speed, low-traffic nature of local streets and does not require cyclists to operate contrary to the normal rules for drivers of vehicles. The sharrows seem to be located well into the travel lane rather than curbside or in door zones.

I also like the median openings for bike traffic. In my area, medians at locations where motor vehicle movements are prohibited are constructed without ADA pedestrian crossing facilities. The expectation is that no pedestrians may cross the median if no motor vehicles may cross the median. That's too bad, since the raised median improves safety for pedestrians crossing.

Of course, designing median refuges for cyclists crossing is different from designing them for pedestrians, and in this case Portland seems to have done it well. Cyclists can act as drivers of vehicles crossing from and to travel lanes; the opening just happens to prohibit wider motor traffic. The median width seems a bit short for storage of a bike plus child trailer, however; I would probably park in it diagonally if I needed to stop there with my child trailer.

A minor point of semantics - most communities refer to those raised traffic calming surfaces as "speed humps" rather than "speed bumps." True "speed bumps" are designed for under 5 mph; speed humps accommodate speeds up to 25 mph depending on their design. This distinction is often important for overcoming resistance to traffic calming with speed humps.

How much neighborhood opposition has there been to adding medians to reduce through motor traffic, since they also prohibit left turns by motor vehicles? Here, such medians (installed for safety at arterial/neighborhood intersections) are usually strongly opposed by residents whose left turns become prohibited.

actually, they are 'speed tables'

They are way overdesigned, and all those smug bureaucrats speaking in the video are talking down to their audience as if we were all a bunch of children


I agree about them being overdesigned. Median openings and good wayfinding tools (e.g. maps and signs at junctions) are all that is really required to get around effectively on such streets.

But the markings are just part of the whole marketing spin that bike planners like to use. Talk to us all like we are a bunch of children? When have they not? Besides, children have become bike planners' target design user, not adults. My only concern about that is when they mess up the rules of the road for all cyclists. Here, at least, they didn't do that, and allow cyclists to remain integrated with the traffic flow on most of those bike boulevards featured in the video.

actually, they are 'speed tables'

Yes, that's another common word for them, although not what my local engineers call them.

It's basically just greenwashing

:rolleyes:

I've had more trouble with motorists on those greenways than anywhere else on the street grid

They are way overdesigned, and all those smug bureaucrats speaking in the video are talking down to their audience as if we were all a bunch of children

meh

randy - I don't think either of us has a problem riding anywhere and if a little "greenwashing" brings out more cyclists this is a good thing.

I taught a cycling class at the University today and decided to take a shortcut home which involved me taking the freeway... in all the imtes I have ridden here I have never seen another cyclist and to avoid this means riding many km out of my way to the next bridge crossing.

randy - I don't think either of us has a problem riding anywhere and if a little "greenwashing" brings out more cyclists this is a good thing.

I taught a cycling class at the University today and decided to take a shortcut home which involved me taking the freeway... in all the imtes I have ridden here I have never seen another cyclist and to avoid this means riding many km out of my way to the next bridge crossing.

IMO, a lot of the designs they are using are questionable or just downright bad.

Just to mention a couple:

Curb extensions, with bioswales in them or not, don't benefit cyclists at all unless you like being a human speed bump.

Bike lanes to the right of right turning traffic are the city's worst liability nightmare

The video shows some good work and a lot of greenwashing. I'd like to see the video shot on a wet February day rather than during the dry season. I like the fact that PDX is not afraid to change the traffic controls and make some streets go through for bikes and peds but not for carcissists. My city has a formal policy of never putting in another traffic diverter for cars.

There is still way too much not being addressed for anyone to feel that more than a mere beginning has been made. Did anyone else notice the large number of cars being stored along these "bike blvds"? A goodly portion of the roadway is in the door zone. The only bike lanes shown also were in the door zone. Yikes! The little median cut-throughs are too small for even a family of three to occupy.

Also, how about giving the bike boulevards the priority at intersections with major thoroughfares? Oh, I forgot. We must always make sure it is convenient and fast for cars to move about. This attitude that it is acceptable for cyclists to have to go well out of their way to avoid hazards and having discontinuous infrastructure is why there are currently no cities in America that have a majority of trips being made without cars.

IMO, a lot of the designs they are using are questionable or just downright bad.

Just to mention a couple:

Curb extensions, with bioswales in them or not, don't benefit cyclists at all unless you like being a human speed bump.

Bike lanes to the right of right turning traffic are the city's worst liability nightmare

I share your lack of enthusiasm for curb extensions and poorly placed bike lanes... I did take a ride up to the University to check out that bit of bad planning.

I know that there is a lot that needs to be improved but when you compare where you live to many other places you are the envy of many.

I am fighting here to see that our city follows through on their bicycle plan and does not implement any bad ideas like curb extensions and poorly placed bike lanes as that will simply encourage people to get out and then get themselves injured.

I like the fact that PDX is not afraid to change the traffic controls and make some streets go through for bikes and peds but not for carcissists. My city has a formal policy of never putting in another traffic diverter for cars.

Portland isn't building a whole lot of new traffic diverters, and cars can get on and use these bike boulevards for long stretches of road.

By the way, it looks like most of the video of happy people of all ages riding on car free streets, was probably filmed during one of the five 'Sunday Parkways' cyclovia events this past summer, when the streets were temporarily closed to all motor vehicles for a few hours.

Pure propaganda.

boy, with the rancor exhibited by some over this bike boulevard expansion/enhancement for Portland, I can't even imagine the utopian bikeways some of you must have in mind if this type of roadscape doesn't cut the mustard.

those streets were fine for cycling on without all the 'improvements'

the video is pure propaganda, presented with the patronizing, condescending, sanctimonious, parental attitude typical of 'true believers'

Yes, that's another common word for them, although not what my local engineers call them.

My understanding is a speed hump is an elongated speed bump with higher design speeds. a speed table on the other hand is a flat raised area in the road. You climb up onto the table, then back down.

It makes sense. I'd like to see more neighborhoods around here get that kind of treatment. As it is, they tend to just mark neighborhood streets as bike routes with sharrows and save the fancy stuff for more visible streets through the business districts. That's not a bad tactic either, but not as nice as the bike boulevards cutting through neighborhoods.

Anyone else notice how they are already advertising these Portland bike boulevards as MUPs good for runners to use.

I do not like the speed tables, the bulb outs and the median cut outs are way too narrow. Imagine starting across the street expecting the cyclist ahead of you to ride through an easily clearable street, but the cyclist stops in the small cut out, leaving you hanging out in the roadway (time to do some bunny hop training).

Making a long section without stop signs is about the only thing I like about the Portland bike boulevards, assuming that they do the same thing for many of the cross streets.

those streets were fine for cycling on without all the 'improvements'



If the streets were already so amenable to bike on, why in the world is Portland seeking to further enhance their bike boulevards?

Bike boulevards 2.0 have many facets. The city reorients the stop signs to prioritize bike traffic along the boulevards. Portland wants to further discourage thru motorized vehicle traffic. The protected medians at arterial crossings are a great idea, as are incorporating bio-swales into the traffic calming measures. All these improvements will further enhance the human scaled nature of Portlands new neighborhood greenways.

I've ridden several of Portlands' bike boulevards and think they are quite pleasant, very pleasant. These further improvements and repurposing of the boulevards into greenways is very progressive.

The city wants to enact a 20MPH speed limits on the bike boulevards, turning them into a US version of the rest of the worlds TEMPO30 zones.

For all the laudation this new plan merits, sgoodri and others need to keep in mind bike boulevards are not the solution for every type of street. I'm sure sgoodri already knows this, but i want to reiterate: bike boulevards are one way to plan for bike traffic across communities, but are not the only solution for planning for bikes on all roads.

As traffic speeds and volumes increase, planning for bicycle traffic usually merits a different approach than shared lane treatments. This may violate some people's artificially sanctimonious notions of traffic sorting but its important to keep in mind that boulevards are just one of the many appropriate tools in the toolbox to plan for roadway bicycling.

there will still be high speed, high volume arterials in and around greater Portland that will merit a different type of treatment. Main, arterial and collector roads in the city, routes leading to the suburbs of Beaverton merit preferred class treatments. Bike boulevards are enhancements for bike traffic on minor roads, further enhanced and prioritized for for bike traffic over motor vehicle traffic.

Bike boulevards as neighborhood greenways is quite an impressive rethinking of Portlands streetscapes. It was quite novel to see the parks and recreation people talking about improving the recreational LOS of Portland by connecting parks with comfortable park like street spaces.

Developing bike boulevards in other cities may come easier as Portland and Berkeley and other cities innovate with bike boulevards and show the numerous benefits from their application.

My understanding is a speed hump is an elongated speed bump with higher design speeds. a speed table on the other hand is a flat raised area in the road. You climb up onto the table, then back down.

Locally, I've only seen "true" speed tables used for crosswalk treatments - raised platforms like speed humps, level on the top for the walking surface. I have only seen these speed tables on private roads in office parks and shopping centers.

The municipality never uses speed bumps on public roadways - only 25 mph speed humps. The fire department absolutely hates speed bumps, and often opposes speed humps for the same reason, although speed humps are much less likely to damage fire trucks or slow their response times. The default alternative to speed humps for traffic calming is to reduce street connectivity for motor vehicles, which increases emergency response times more than speed humps will.

If the streets were already so amenable to bike on, why in the world is Portland seeking to further enhance their bike boulevards? Typical Portland government propaganda.

what a curious perspective on Portland's creation of urban greenways. :rolleyes:

with benefits not limited to:

reaching within a half mile of every portlander
increases recreational use and connects park spaces with park like street settings
reduces traffic speeds on these streets to 20mph
prioritizes bike traffic and reduces thru traffic use of bike boulevards
minimize impact of stormwater runoff
beautifies a neighborhood
increases property values
makes bicycling more accessible to portlanders

not quite sure how a plan like this can in any way be construed as 'propaganda'..... well, maybe if the mayor is a 'bike nazi' :roflmao:

you should apply for a job, Bek; Im sure the city would hire you

:rolleyes:

...I'm still trying to figure out just what type of streetscaping is going to make YOU happy as a bicyclist in Portland, Randya. :rolleyes:

what a curious perspective on Portland's creation of urban greenways. :rolleyes:

with benefits not limited to:

reaching within a half mile of every portlander
increases recreational use and connects park spaces with park like street settings
reduces traffic speeds on these streets to 20mph
prioritizes bike traffic and reduces thru traffic use of bike boulevards
minimize impact of stormwater runoff
beautifies a neighborhood
increases property values
makes bicycling more accessible to portlanders

not quite sure how a plan like this can in any way be construed as 'propaganda'..... well, maybe if the mayor is a 'bike nazi' :roflmao:
I have a couple questions.

Don't these improvements transfer the motor vehicle traffic to parallel streets? How does that increase property value on the street that now has twice as much motor vehicle traffic?

If you reduce or eliminate cars on a street, why do you need the bio swales? Isn't the purpose of the bio swale to filter oil from cars?

bioswales help to better manage stormwater runoff regardless of the amount of contamination from motor vehicles.

Zoning and planning road networks is most assuredly a complicated process, i suspect a neighborhood greenway is going to positively affect neighborhood property values for homeowners located on or adjacent to the greenways. By facilitating travel by bicycle, there's going to be less people driving to clog up those parallel streets.

some cities in the world have over 30 percent of all daily trips done by bike, lots less cars when a third of traffic is bicycles!

I think its a great step in the right direction.

Locally, I've only seen "true" speed tables used for crosswalk treatments - raised platforms like speed humps, level on the top for the walking surface. I have only seen these speed tables on private roads in office parks and shopping centers.

The municipality never uses speed bumps on public roadways - only 25 mph speed humps. The fire department absolutely hates speed bumps, and often opposes speed humps for the same reason, although speed humps are much less likely to damage fire trucks or slow their response times. The default alternative to speed humps for traffic calming is to reduce street connectivity for motor vehicles, which increases emergency response times more than speed humps will.

There's a lightly signed bike route on a narrow 2 lane that I use to get to some stores. They have median island treatment, and its absolutely terrible. Not even the bravest gutter bunny could share this road, and the medians give some serious trouble to motorists trying to pass safely. In essensce, I become the speed control device. The median openings needed to be big enough to fit a bus, so nobody slows for them signifigantly. I do think it keeps people from doing over 35 (25mph limit).

I've seen some crazy stuff with local speed humps. Unlike the medians (which they could pass at speed limit speed easy enough) cars have no trouble passing in front of a speed hump. Then they slow down for the hump to about 10-15 (aka my speed), then they quickly speed up and finish the pass.

This is the closest we have to a speed table on a public road: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=briercliff+orlando&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Briercliff+Dr,+Orlando,+Orange,+Florida+32806&ll=28.527603,-81.368802&spn=0,0.016072&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=28.527599,-81.369077&panoid=LoF2Qm-CSMr4yljJVt1DYw&cbp=12,99.06,,0,43.09

But instead of being a flat surface, what they did was raise the center median up to create a bigger slope to the sides. Its basically a bump up, across the umm device, and back down. The bike lane on this road is absolutely useless in the neighborhood, but that's another story.

Almost all speed bumps here have breaks in them here, for emergency vehicles and cars that want to go faster.

I think its a great step in the right direction.
+1

This is good stuff. They can sell it however they want to the masses. Want to call it green, great.

bioswales help to better manage stormwater runoff regardless of the amount of contamination from motor vehicles.How? What do you need to manage if the petroleum is not there?


By facilitating travel by bicycle, there's going to be less people driving to clog up those parallel streets. How many less?

certainly not 'twice as much motor vehicle traffic' :roflmao:

Stormwater runoff management is a issue in communities regardless of the amount of car traffic. bioswales are not just to mitigate contamination.

certainly not 'twice as much motor vehicle traffic' :roflmao:

Stormwater runoff management is a issue in communities regardless of the amount of car traffic. bioswales are not just to mitigate contamination.
The little rolling smiley face is a poor substitute for a lack of facts and data.

What are the bio swales for if not to filter contaminants?

How? What do you need to manage if the petroleum is not there?
I wonder what's in the asphalt...


What are the bio swales for if not to filter contaminants?
It's silly of you to think that there won't be any contaminants in storm water runoff on bike boulevards. A) There are cars on these, just less and B) contaminants in the water can come from other sources besides cars. The asphalt for one.

sorry to have irked GP. I didn't expect GP to need serious numbers and statistics since he was talking about 'doubling the motor vehicle traffic' on other routes.

Portlands' increasing the network of bike boulevards to within a half mile of all portlanders and enhancing these to increase green space in the city sure sounds like a win for Portlanders. The stormwater treatment facility wins too with less stormloading :) and overflow into the Willamette river.

I wonder what's in the asphalt...


It's silly of you to think that there won't be any contaminants in storm water runoff on bike boulevards. A) There are cars on these, just less and B) contaminants in the water can come from other sources besides cars. The asphalt for one.
Good point. I forgot about the fertilizers too.


sorry to have irked GP. I didn't expect GP to need serious numbers and statistics since he was talking about 'doubling the motor vehicle traffic' on other routes.

Portlands' increasing the network of bike boulevards to within a half mile of all portlanders and enhancing these to increase green space in the city sure sounds like a win for Portlanders. The stormwater treatment facility wins too with less stormloading :) and overflow into the Willamette river.
Not irked. I ride a lot and agree with building greenways. But you have no facts at all to back your discussion.

Pure propaganda and greenwashing

This is bad, very bad. Randya and I agree on something.

what's that they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day?

;)

we actually probably agree on more than you imagine

:)

Pure propaganda and greenwashing

Is there really a problem with propaganda and greenwashing?

...I'm still trying to figure out just what type of streetscaping is going to make YOU happy as a bicyclist in Portland, Randya. :rolleyes:

Based on some comments, is it really hard to figure out?

Based on some comments, is it really hard to figure out?

Yeah, but exactly is the magic to getting motorists to drive at 25MPH and share the road equally with cyclists?

^^^

I do not understand your post. Please edit.

I just posted that video to my organization's blog. I hope a few folks watch it.

http://www.sombike.com/2010/11/cutting-edge-city-planning-in-portland.html

Is there really a problem with propaganda and greenwashing?

Is there really a problem with expanding a network of 20mph, traffic calmed bike boulevards to reach within a half mile of everyone living in Portland?

Not irked. I ride a lot and agree with building greenways. But you have no facts at all to back your discussion.

glad to see you agree with the concept of an expanded network of transportational greenway highways emphasized for bike traffic. But what do you mean with the 'no facts' jibe? You're not saying that I have no facts to support Portlands' plan to further beautify portland, reduce stormwater loads with bioswales, decrease traffic speeds on an expanded network of bike boulevards?should i have called the bioswales rain gardens instead when i alluded to their percolating effect on stormwater?

This is all quite matter of fact, there's no debate this is what Portland intends to do. The mayor and staffers from the portland parks department are talking about it in the video. did you watch the video???

blah blah blah

there is no doubt 'they intend to do it'

they built one of those stormwater things in front of my neighbor's house yesterday. It will capture drainage from a whole 100 feet of residential streetfront at an exorbitant cost, and more are being built throughout my neighborhood; it's a make-work project, burnished by the whole greenwashing thing, nothing more. the neighborhood streets have been bikeable forever, if they have to paint sharrows on them to get people to use them, fine, but it's really not the proper use of sharrows. Once they start building their overdesigned bike boulevards, it's all downhill as far as safety goes. No stop signs means the motorists that know the tricks get to speed there, and the traffic circles and curb extensions often force cyclists into the path of motorists. I've had more conflicts on the bike boulevards than anywhere else, and I'll always take the next street over when I can.

that sounds like fearmongering and propaganda, randya.