Portland is known for its bike-friendliness, but how can it get even more riders on the road? Convert its major streets into bike freeways.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cRcFFlRGbw
Portland is famous for its vibrant biking culture, but the city's infrastructure hasn't caught up with the number of bikers on the streets. How do we create bikeways that will not only protect current cyclists, but also encourage more people to ride? As part of GOOD Ideas for Cities Portland, a team from THINK.urban presented its idea for creating a system of bike highways that run throughout the city. Instead of relegating cyclists to side streets and bike paths, the new bikeways would take over major Portland thoroughfares, making bikes more visible and creating more direct routes that would shorten ride times. Witnessing the shift from streets of mostly cars to mostly bikes will also start to create a sense that riders are prized and protected as a major transportation solution, not forced to stay in painted lanes.
Challenge: Portland is known worldwide as a bike town; yet we have stalled when it comes to infrastructure. How might we create a major new bikeway that helps make bicycling as visible, safe, convenient, and pleasant for as many people as possible??
Bike Portland: Jonathan Maus, Founder?
THINK.urban: Jason King, Allison Duncan, Katrina Johnston
To learn more about this idea contact jason[at]thinkurban[dot]org
Video by Paul Searle
GOOD Ideas for Cities pairs creative problem-solvers with real urban challenges proposed by civic leaders. To learn more visit good.is/ideasforcities
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