Improvements
Several improvements can be made to the N/S bike path through downtown by acquiring ROW on Broadway. This is unlikely in the current climate. Instead, an alternative route that exists already is advocated here. This is Park Avenue.
The route above in part is already deemed "The Green Loop" in the city's draft West Quadrant document (below). It is unclear when the city plans to implement this, perhaps waiting until the Post office building at Hoyt and Broadway is demolished for a new bike/pedestrian viaduct from the Broadway bridgehead through the current post office area.
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Revisited Idea
This is not a new idea. Mayor Sam Adams was considering a very similar plan in 2009. Notice in this concept the directions of the North Park Blocks have been switched to avoid the crossover. There are quite a few problems with this route.
One, it is much less direct. That is, are people on bikes willing to zigzag on Glisan, Oak and Ankeny when on Broadway it is a straight shot?
Two, the crossing at Burnside is in two places. This means the space needed for these crossings is about five fold.
Three, no priority is given to the most important part of this route: the South Park Blocks. Most of the heavier traffic is located here. The North Park Blocks would benefit from a cycle track, but limiting the cycle track North of Burnside is placing a bike path where it's least needed.
Here's a story on the former mayor's plan on Neighborhood Notes:
One, it is much less direct. That is, are people on bikes willing to zigzag on Glisan, Oak and Ankeny when on Broadway it is a straight shot?
Two, the crossing at Burnside is in two places. This means the space needed for these crossings is about five fold.
Three, no priority is given to the most important part of this route: the South Park Blocks. Most of the heavier traffic is located here. The North Park Blocks would benefit from a cycle track, but limiting the cycle track North of Burnside is placing a bike path where it's least needed.
Here's a story on the former mayor's plan on Neighborhood Notes:
It's possible to fit a cycle track, AND keep almost all the parking. The original plan several years ago would take only some re-striping.
Here's the bikeportland.org story on it:
Here's the bikeportland.org story on it:
What we can we do now
There are a lot of changes happening to the Park blocks from the new PNCA Center for Art and Design going in at 511 NW Broadway to the Park Avenue West building here:
But as this building has exemplified protracted and perhaps over-ambitious expectations, so too do many planners' dreams. Plans may come to fruition or not, but patterns of behavior today are much more influential on our environment. The ride through downtown sucks. So what can we do now? |
With a few quick fixes, the Park blocks can be used in the immediate future. That is, what is the minimum change on the Park Blocks that people on bicycles need to switch their route from Broadway to Park?
- Crossing at Burnside
- Switching the direction of SW park between Stark and Burnside
This is what the north park blocks look like currently. Although this is not fun to bike on as there is no dedicated path, people on cycles can take the entire lane with little worry of fast-moving traffic or being doored. For the entire Park blocks, traffic is either very slow, or non-existent. The only true worry is cross traffic.
1. Burnside
The current crossing at West Burnside is inadequate for pedestrians and people on bicycles alike. A full traffic signal must be installed. A bike signal for the crossing with a countdown would be preferable, but not absolutely necessary.
The current crossing at West Burnside is inadequate for pedestrians and people on bicycles alike. A full traffic signal must be installed. A bike signal for the crossing with a countdown would be preferable, but not absolutely necessary.
2. SW Park south of Burnside
The direction of traffic is North one-way on SW Park between Stark and Burnside. In order for bikes to cross Burnside, it must be changed to two-ways (and preferably bike only). Again, the bare minimum to create a bike-way down Park Avenue requires only the change in direction from one-way to two-way. Later, an optimum solution will be discussed. The amount of bicycles crossing each other on Couch might be a future concern, but this can be addressed later.
The direction of traffic is North one-way on SW Park between Stark and Burnside. In order for bikes to cross Burnside, it must be changed to two-ways (and preferably bike only). Again, the bare minimum to create a bike-way down Park Avenue requires only the change in direction from one-way to two-way. Later, an optimum solution will be discussed. The amount of bicycles crossing each other on Couch might be a future concern, but this can be addressed later.