"...the crux of the problem with such limited networks for bike travel. A mile or so of dedicated roadway is wonderful, until you have to go someplace else in town."Imagine my surprise then when a city notice arrived at our house. Not only are they proposing to extend the current bike boulevard all the way to Stephens Lake Park (offering a safe and direct connection from downtown, through campus, and into the park) but they're also proposing turning our street into a second bike boulevard.
It makes perfect sense--the MKT Trail entrance is just a mile south of us and aside from having to cross a couple busy streets and climb the worst hill in the city, it's a straight shot. Heading in the other direction, it's also a nice connector to all the neighborhoods to the north looking for a safe route to the trail. Non-residential vehicular traffic will be directed to more appropriate thoroughfares, keeping the bike boulevard safer for two-wheeled traffic.
Portland--no surprise--has added some great amenities to their bike boulevards that not only make it safer for cyclists, but will benefit the neighborhood as a whole:
- Speed bumps to slow traffic
- Concrete medians with cuts for bikes and pedestrians
- Stop signs oriented to give preference to cyclists
- Signage highlighting distance and time to key destinations
- Landscaping doubling as stormwater retention basins
- Mini-parks in neighborhoods with limited public space
- Integration into their version of a Walking School Bus program
