Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Bicycle Infrastructure

Check Out Portland’s New Bike Traffic Circle

Portland’s new bike roundabout gives cyclists a protected place to turn. Photo: Bike Portland

Here's an exciting concept for carving safer bike infrastructure out of an overly wide intersection: Jonathan Maus at Bike Portland reports the city has installed its second bicycle roundabout.

This design, along with its bright green color, helps connect cyclists with an off-street trail, giving them a protected spot to wait for an opening in traffic.

Portland's first bike roundabout was installed in 2016, but it was paint only, Maus reports.

This new design, at the intersection of SE Milwaukie and Mitchell is much more robust. The design gives cyclists a curb-protected refuge, and it helps reduce crossing lengths in an over-wide intersection at the same time.

circle-before-after-aerial-1200x664
Before and after: Bike Portland
Before and after: Bike Portland

Maus said last weekend he went to visit the site and "saw all types of riders using the circle."

Bike roundabouts aren't a totally new concept but they are very rare in the U.S. U.C. Davis has several on its campus dating back to the the 1960s, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Here's another example on a Cape Cod rail trail.

This high-flying Dutch example has gotten a lot of attention as well.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Should Tuesday’s Headlines Be Worried?

Most U.S. cities are not in great shape financially, Pew reports, which could mean more transit cuts coming down the pike.

September 9, 2025

The War on … Walking and Biking?

Corporations and policymakers aren't just promoting car dependency — they're actively making it harder to walk, bike, and move in our communities. So why is it so hard to name their enemies?

September 9, 2025

Emergency Rally: Advocates Demand Gov. Newsom ‘Fund Transit Now’

All the major transit advocacy groups assembled Monday morning in downtown San Francisco to demand the city's former mayor (Governor Gavin Newsom) intervene and stop the cancellation of a vital $750 million state loan intended to keep the city moving.

September 8, 2025

New York City Seeks the Power To Confiscate Unsafe E-Bike Batteries From Poor Delivery Workers

Uncertified batteries can no longer legally be sold in the city, but many workers are still using them because they are less expensive.

September 8, 2025

Monday’s Headlines Challenge Stereotypes

Do traffic engineers only care about moving cars? One says no, writing in Planetizen about his support for Vision Zero.

September 8, 2025
See all posts