Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Portland Can’t Add Bike Parking Fast Enough to Please Businesses

Opponents of transportation progress would have you believe there is nothing so sacrosanct as the relationship between businesses and parking spaces. While customer access is quite valuable for merchants, in many cases, car parking isn't the best way to provide it. As this story from Portland illustrates, it's time to rethink how we allocate space for street parking.

Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland reports that the city's "bike corrals" program has been a smashing success. The Portland Bureau of Transportation has an application system set up to process requests to replace car parking spaces with convenient spaces to lock up bikes, and the city literally cannot keep up with the demand from local businesses. Says Maus:

false

In fact, PBOT has been overwhelmed by applications for bike corrals. PBOT bike parking program manager Sarah Figliozzi has a stack of applications from 75 Portland businesses that want corrals. At the current rate of installation (30 in 2009 and 21 in 2010), Figliozzi estimates it would take two years just to work through the list.Why can't they install more of them? Figliozzi says it's not as easy as you might think because each location has different issues to deal with and PBOT approaches each one on a case-by-case basis.

"We have a groundswell of enthusiasm from the private sector... We need to be able to give businesses with the money and the interest to do them the ability to do this on their own... That's the direction we want to go."

From a business perspective this makes perfect sense. Bike corrals allow businesses to trade two spaces for cars for a dozen or more two-wheeled customers. As this case illustrates, happily, the more sustainable choice is often the smarter business move, as well.

Elsewhere on the Network today: Cycleicio.us reports that Frontier Airlines is offering "bikes fly free" service for its premium passengers. Rights of Way carries the news that Portland is planning to build a network of "neighborhood byways" where cyclists and pedestrians will be prioritized over motor vehicles. And Pattern Cities explains the difference between tactical and DIY urbanism.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

America’s Kids Deserve Better Than a Waymo Subscription

What do America's young people lose when they have to buy independence from a corporation that rents out driverless cars?

July 15, 2025

Tuesday’s Headlines Aren’t Falling Fast Enough

Pedestrian deaths dropped by 4 percent last year, but remain well above pre-pandemic figures.

July 15, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Are Dragging Their Feet

The Trump administration claims the Biden administration left them with a backlog — but they've actually been far slower at getting transportation money to states than their predecessors, a new analysis finds.

July 14, 2025

These U.S. Communities’ So-Called ‘Complete Streets’ Policies Don’t Even Deserve the Name

Any city can call itself a "Complete Streets" champion. But not all of them are walking the walk — and if they don't, a top organization says they'll no longer give them a platform on its esteemed "best of" ranking.

July 14, 2025

Communities Rally To Reclaim Streets From ICE Terror

"This is an attack on Los Angeles. This is an attack on California. On all of us."

July 11, 2025

Friday Video: The London Neighborhood Where Bikes Outnumber Cars

...and how they got to that impressive milestone.

July 11, 2025
See all posts