This is very exciting news! With that, I'd like to remind the Portland City Council, the Transportation Office in particular, that Portland was, is, and always will be a national trend-setter. I'd like to see this program deployed because it is expected to perform well, and be a welcome addition to area streets; and not because it is what the Europeans are doing. A little Portland Pride would be nice to see from the people charged with running this fair city.

With all of the recent cyclist fatalities, public outcry regarding vulnerable-user safety, and action being taken to placate those who do not feel safe on Portland streets, I wonder; does the Transportation Office feel that flooding downtown Portland with still more novice, and inexperienced cyclists, aids public safety?

I ask because if Portland, Oregon streets are safe enough to entice more novice riders to join the fracas, then what's with all of the tax-payer resources going to improve cycling infrastructure, as of late? Surely, if Portland city streets are safe enough to accommodate this new program, then they're safe enough for riders already using the public right-of-way, aren't they?

Please count me among those who support this effort.