Citing Budget Constraints, Portland to Invest More in Biking, Not Driving
It's always interesting to peek in on what's happening in Portland, America's bike mode share leader.
During a speech at the Oregon Active Transportation Summit yesterday, PBOT Director Tom Miller announced that Portland will be pursuing a 10 percent bike mode share goal, an interim step on the city's way to achieving its 25 percent target by 2030. (Portland already has the highest bike commuting share of any big city in the country at 7 percent or 5.8 percent, depending on who's counting.)
Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland reports, interestingly, that the reasoning is driven by fiscal concerns as much as anything:
Miller said PBOT is being forced to adapt and change due to a "crisis in transportation" that revolves around funding. He said Portland has a 21st century transportation vision they are trying to carry out with a 20th century funding model.
To demonstrate to the public that PBOT should focus even more on biking and walking, he said he's working on a fact sheet that will explain the costs related to the infrastructure it takes to move a person one mile in a private motor vehicle versus the same infrastructure required to move that person one mile with a bike or on foot.
According to Miller, he wants the public — and especially bike advocates — to be able to easily track the City's performance and hold PBOT and elected officials accountable. "If the funding is there, and you know the engineering expertise is there... The only thing we lack is political will." With public awareness of the steps Miller wants to take to get to 10% bike mode share, he's hoping that advocates can mobilize the community and create the political breathing space needed for what he refers to as the "tough decisions" and "tough calls that need to be made," to successfully, "march along the path to that long-term 25% goal."
Pretty smart.
Elsewhere on the Network today: The Dallas Morning News Transportation Blog reports that a grassroots effort is emerging to kill plans for a new downtown highway (the same project opposed by Council Member Scott Griggs, whom we highlighted yesterday). Systemic Failure laments the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority's bad habit of pursuing both BART and highway projects that are in direct competition. And Stop and Move wonders whether wide roads are actually slower due to the long traffic signal cycles they require.
Stay in touch
Sign up for our free newsletter
More from Streetsblog USA
Are Friday’s Headlines the New Normal?
Transit ridership hasn't come all the way back from the pandemic, and they're going to need more federal help, along with other changes, says Governing magazine.
Friday Video: How to Make Places Safe For Non-Drivers After Dark
A top Paris pedestrian planner, a leading GIS professional, and Streetsblog's own Kea Wilson weigh in on the roots of America's nighttime road safety crisis, and the strategies that can help end it.
OPINION: Congestion Pricing Will Help My Family Get Around As We Navigate Cancer Treatment
My partner was recently diagnosed with cancer. Congestion pricing will make getting her to treatment faster and easier.
Talking Headways Podcast: Money is a Lot of Different Things
It's Part II of our discussion with Jim Kumon!
If Thursday’s Headlines Build It, They Will Come
Why can the U.S. quickly rebuild a bridge for cars, but not do the same for transit? It comes down to political will and a reliance on consultants.
