Oregon cities plan more bikeway projects as cycling increases

Weird road-rage incidents involving motorists and cyclists have dominated the local news lately, but they're just signs of the bigger story: Bicycling has grown into a vital part of the region's transportation system.

The recent run-up in gas prices has only accelerated the decadelong growth in cycling sparked in large part by Portland's decision in the early 1990s to build a bikeway network.

The big increase in cycling -- which has made interaction with cyclists a daily occurrence for most motorists in Portland -- could be just the beginning.

Seizing on the current wave of interest in "green transportation," local and regional officials are pushing major bikeway projects they hope could drive another big increase in cycling.

They hope that creating a dense network of bike and pedestrian trails in the region and low-traffic "bike boulevards" on city streets will provide alternatives to driving while also reducing some of the bike-car conflicts that have frustrated motorists and cyclists.

"There's a fundamental shift going on," said Metro President David Bragdon. For the first time, all levels of government are showing interest in what he calls nonmotorized transportation.

Nowhere is that shift more visible than in Portland, where a survey last year found that 6 percent of residents usually travel by bicycle. Officials expect this year's numbers to be even higher.

Commissioner Sam Adams, who was elected mayor in May with the political support of cycling advocates, is pushing a major street maintenance package that would include $24 million to nearly quadruple the city's network of bike boulevards.

The boulevards are largely residential streets that use diverters, signage and other treatments aimed at providing good through routes for cyclists while discouraging all but local motorized traffic.

<snip>

Meanwhile, Bragdon has formed a committee that will give him a list of priority trail projects the Portland region could move on quickly if money comes from new state and federal transportation proposals. Congress will begin work next year on reauthorizing the federal transportation program, a once every four- or five-year effort that sets the nation's transportation priorities. Bicycling advocates have more sway in that effort than ever before.

Sen. James Oberstar, D-Minn., an avid cyclist who says he wants to convert the "hydrocarbon economy to the carbohydrate economy," now chairs the House Transportation Committee. And the bill will go through a House subcommittee chaired by Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., who represents bike-friendly Eugene and says he is the only former bike mechanic in Congress. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., is the first major presidential candidate to promote cycling in his policy platform, and bike industry leaders recently hosted a fundraiser for him.

Meanwhile, Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski is working on his own package for the 2009 Legislature to create what he calls the "greenest transportation system in the country."

More: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1216446903142800.xml&coll=7

It's exploding, but it's July; come November, we'll see who is serious.

It's a good thing. I've hauled out my old '98 Trek and I'm riding to and from work now. Just 3.6 miles each way.

what a lovely city in so many ways. They may be the one city in the US that will actually be prepared for future transportation.