Spots for cars sacrificed as demand grows for bicycle parking
By Valerie Hurst and KATU Web StaffPORTLAND, Ore. – Portland bicyclists who are used to getting creative about locking up their rides in downtown Portland are finding some breathing room outside some popular businesses. But car drivers who are used to orbiting city blocks in hopes of snagging a rare curbside parking spot outside the same businesses just saw their odds drop. That’s because eight downtown parking spots have been converted over to bike corrals that can accommodate up to two dozen bicycles each. The converted spots, typically two car-length spots together, now sport metal rails for cyclists to lock up their bicycles while they peruse books at Powell’s or catch a quick bite at the Bijou Cafe, a popular eatery. Two other bike corrals have been installed, one at Southpark Seafood Grill and Wine Bar, and another at the recently remodeled Ace Hotel. Five other bike corrals are already in use in Portland. City officials say the loss of revenue from the eight lost parking spots is negligible, but several people KATU News spoke to on the street said they thought cyclists should have to pay something to park on the street. A quick calculation by KATU News revealed that if the bike corrals held 16 bikes during paid parking hours, each cyclist would have to pay about $.16 an hour, or about $10 a week, to equal the revenue generated by cars parking in the spots. One cyclist told KATU News she would not mind paying a fair price for the convenience of street parking. City officials said one motivation for the bike corrals was to get cyclist to stop locking their bikes to posts and poles outside the popular businesses on sidewalks that are already crowded with newspaper boxes and outdoor seating areas. They also said that revenue from parking fees paid by car drivers helps to pay to keep up roads, and cyclists don’t damage roads in the ways cars do. City officials said there were no plans to charge cyclists for parking. The expansion in bike corrals comes shortly after the installation of several "bike boxes" at intersections around the city. The bike boxes provide a protected area for cyclists who are riding in traffic to wait for lights to change. Motorized vehicles are required to wait behind the green sections of pavement. The bike boxes were installed after a rash of fatal car/bike collisions, many of which included vehicles turning right and running over a cyclist. Portland is often rated the top or one of the top bike-friendly cities in the United States. |
Weather & TrafficWeather & Traffic
Resources and info you need to prepare for the switch to DTV. Stay ConnectedYouNews
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
|
Most Popular
Viewer Poll |
KATU, 2153 N.E. Sandy Blvd.,
