Comments on: Do we really need a bike bridge on the west-side?

By: divebarwife

divebarwife — Thu, 01 May 2008 17:03:24 +0000

Not suburbanites – but I do think it means we get ponies!

By: nolando

nolando — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:51:46 +0000

Cully neighborhood makes me a suburbanite? Who knew…

By: sabernar

sabernar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:43:39 +0000

When I lived in Atlanta, there were a bunch of crosswalk stings in some of the more heavily trafficked ‘walkable’ neighborhoods, and I really believe that it helped change a lot of drivers habits. They also put these little signs in the middle of the road to remind drivers that they have to stop for pedestrians (they can be seen here: http://ww2.co.fulton.ga.us/index.php?Itemid=255&id=891&option=com_content&task=view). Those signs take a beating, believe me – I’ve seen some that are bent and twisted with tire marks all over them.

By: leander37

leander37 — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:06:31 +0000

Everyone keeps saying that the round trip bypass is 1 mile, but google says it is 0.6 miles.

By: daaaaave

daaaaave — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:43:29 +0000

Offroading in the city? I thought that’s why all you suburbanites bought those 4×4 SUVs?

By: nolando

nolando — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:37:14 +0000

And here I thought the off-roading-in-the-city-options in my neighborhood would be seen as a bonus, not a charity case… but color me ignorant for not being aware of all the details shared in these responses. It makes much more sense to me now – thanks, all!

By: nuovorecord

nuovorecord — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:01:17 +0000

Good discussion of the facts, tenstring. Thanks for being thoughtful.

I would just add to the excellent reasons listed above as to why Portland needs this bridge is that the City’s research has shown that despite all the cyclists you see riding around, it’s only about 5-6% of Portlanders that ride on a regular basis. There are about 60% of residents who have indicated that they would ride, but do not due to a lack of safe routes. So there are a lot of potential cyclists out there that are looking for improvements such as this one.

In addition to providing a necessary function, I think reusing the Sauvie Island bridge sends a tremendous message to residents about the City’s commitment to making cycling safer for all, not just a few.

By: nmarchetti

nmarchetti — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:36:33 +0000

I want a pony…

By: tenstringesquire

tenstringesquire — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 05:16:55 +0000

Thanks, bret and morty. Two great arguments. I was not aware that the money allocated to the bridge project was earmarked solely for its use. Consider me edumacated, brett.

And Morty, thanks for highlighting the woes of outer (and some parts of inner) SE and NE. One of the news outlets here reported that the police are doing some sort of crosswalk "sting" operation, but as a pedestrian myself, I can tell you that most crosswalks are very dangerous places indeed. But that’s another post for another day.

Now, about that pony…

By: morty

morty — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 04:51:34 +0000

It seems that much of the debate about the Flanders Overpass has devolved into the standard two camp, us v. them, mentality.
If one questions the necessity of the bridge, one is accused of being a backslidin’, pro-Sho Potterite.
If one supports the bridge, you’ll be branded one of the new urban elites who gets all the love from City Hall.
Myself, as along time bike rider here in town, I can agree that Glisan (w/b) and Everett (e/b) can be pretty hairy at times on a bike. But riding in traffic is a reality that people have to deal with if they ride regularly(at least until the personal auto goes the way of the dinosaur).
I can get behind this project largely on the understanding that the funding for the project had already been earmarked for this project only- whether fair or not, those dollars are not fungible with other needed projects citywide.
That said, I’ve got to take issue with a number of arguments in support of the project.
First, Eastside complaints aren’t just limited to the need of sidewalks in Cully and pothole repair. There are a staggering number of high-traffic areas on the Eastside in desperate need of safety improvements. If one doesn’t like the nagging feeling one might get hit while crossing 405 on Everett St., one should consider the number of peds and bikes actually hit, and either seriously injured or killed in mid to outer SE. You can check out a lot of the stats in PDF on Sam Adams website. There’s a list of how many kids have been hit on bikes on SE Foster over an 8 year period. Yikes!! You can count pedestrian fatalities on 82/Powell.
Foster finally got some ped islands w/ crosswalks and, surprise, much like the crosswalks and islands on SE Powell between 39th and 26th they are largely ignored by motorists who blow by at 40-50 mph. Do we see PPB Traffic Division enforcing the vehicle code at those crosswalks, making SE PDX streets at least a wee bit safer? Nope.
With a little bit of money approved by City Council to study the idea of making alot of danger spots safer, has anything changed on the ground on ped/bike crossing nightmares like 82nd AV yet? Nope.
While the death of Tracy Sparling is certainly a tragedy, it is no less a tragedy than the loss of many other people’s loved ones in other parts of town. I’ve heard the argument that a Flanders Bridge would’ve saved Ms. Sparling, I’m not sure how accurate that may be, my understanding is that Ms. Sparling was on the southside of Burnside, by the Crystal,crossing north headed in the direction of Flanders at the time she was struck.
I don’t think the bridge would’ve been a factor one way or the other given those facts.
I enjoy biking crosstown and I’d like to do so safely no matter which part of town I’m in, its just becoming increasingly difficult to maintain confidence that resources will find their way to places that really are in need, compared to more high profile, big ticket projects.