Portland Needs A "Bike Right Of Way"

[zilfondel]

Well, a couple of silver linings:

• We have the existing Springwater Trail Corridor, which is essentially a bike freeway connecting downtown to SE Division, Sellwood, Johnson Creek, and outer SE.
  
• NP Greenway group has been diligently working on their proposal for a path to North Portland via Swan Island.
  
• There is a proposal for an I-84 bike path, which would link up with the existing I-205 bikeway. They're calling it the "Sullivan's Gulch" Train, more info here: http://www.sullivansgulchtrail.org/
  
• Oh, and apparently they're working on a new bike path between Milwaukie and Oregon City. Didn't know that. http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id=1925
  
• Metro and Portland Parks are usually the ones that study, develop, or maintain the off-street paths, which they call "MUPS."

[NJD]

^ The "Trolley Trail" between Milwaukie and Gladstone follows the old interurban ROW that 'mostly' still exists. Part of the old ROW will be used for the Milwaukie MAX line alongside McLoughlin before the ROW veers off of the boulevard. Trimet will build the first segment of the Trolley Trail from Milwaukie to the proposed Park Street Park & Ride next to the proposed MAX tracks while the other sections are being built by Metro, Milwaukie, Gladstone and Clackamas County.

Another 'Rail to Trail' project is the Red Line, another old interurban line that follows Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway and will eventually connect several Tualitan trails to the Terwilliger Trails and the Willamette near Johns Landing. This new trail is undergoing planning, but has yet to secure funding much like the Sullivan Gulch Trail and the Willamette Shoreline (which may become a streetcar extension instead).

Wow, I'm full of 'useless' information.

[Okstate]

^ You're telling me you just happened to know all that stuff?

[RED_PDXer]

A couple other "bike highway possibilities"... using the Willamette Shore Line right-of-way from Lake Oswego to South Waterfront and from Milwaukie to Central Eastside along the Portland-Milwaukie light rail project..

[JordanL]

Originally Posted by RED_PDXer

A couple other "bike highway possibilities"... using the Willamette Shore Line right-of-way from Lake Oswego to South Waterfront and from Milwaukie to Central Eastside along the Portland-Milwaukie light rail project..

I assume the plan would be to then connect it to the Eastbank Esplanade and widen the Esplanade somehow.

[JordanL]

Just got this off the PortlandOnline site... don't know if it's been posted here:

http://www.portlandonline.com/transp...ex.cfm?c=44674

Key elements of the 2009 bicycle plan update

We are focusing on creating conditions that allow average Portlanders to feel as safe and comfortable riding bicycles for their daily needs as they do today when they hop into their cars. To achieve that, we expect to:

• Strengthen city policies in support of bicycling
• Expand the network of planned bikeways from 650 to 926 miles
• Develop new designs for safe, comfortable attractive bikeways that can carry more bicyclists
• Emphasize construction of “low-stress” bikeways in the strategic implementation plan
• Provide more and better bicycle parking that does not clutter the sidewalks
• Strengthen and expand our educational and encouragement programs like Safer Routes to Schools, SmartTrips and Sunday Parkways
• Continue to better integrate enforcement into transportation to reinforce safer roadway conditions for all users
• Monitor our efforts through various evaluation methods so we know what works and what we need to adjust

The May open houses are over, but you can still visit our VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE.

What’s next?

• Draft plan document incorporating open house feedback released for public comment in late July
• Planning Commission hearing tentatively scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, August 25, 2009
• City Council hearing tentatively scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, October 21,2009
• Policy recommendations folded into upcoming Transportation System Plan update

It looks like the city has really fast tracked bike improvements this year.

[JordanL]

This image makes it look like they are planning a bike expressway along I-84. Pink is an off-road bike path... bolded lines are proposed.



Check out all the info here: http://www.portlandonline.com/transp...44674&a=244372

[cab]

Anyone know if the new 217 widening project is including a bike lane? It seems like they are moving a lot of dirt for 1 new lane of traffic, but then again that is what traffic engineers like to do.

[zilfondel]

I dunno, but I've been commuting on the WES a lot, and lemme tell you, the train is a lot faster than traffic!

I'm completely shocked as to the amount of proposed bike lanes and boulevards for Portland. Blows me away...

[audiomuse]

Originally Posted by electricron

I don't think bikes will ever be as popular where there are hills and mountains to climb.

There are electric bikes like these that people can use:

http://www.google.com/shopping/produ...d=0CJcBEPMCMAM

It gives people an extra boost when going up hills and in windy conditions