Fighting for Bike Funding, Platinum Master Plan Moves Forward

When it comes to our overall biking environment, we Portlanders certainly have much to be proud of - from our 270-mile bikeway network, to the thousands of bicycle parking spaces, and our great local bike culture. Whether that is embodied in Portland's nascent bicycle industry, CHVNK Bikes on Hawthorne, zoobombers, or bicycle performance art, Portlanders "get" bicycling.

But while we have a lot to be proud of, Sam thinks that we still have a long way to go towards achieving a truly bicycle-friendly city. And while the nearly 5% of our population that regularly bikes puts Portland's biking numbers far above those of any other city in the country, that is high praise based on a low standard.

Sam is committed Portland becoming the first major U.S. city to receive Platinum status. This has driven the update in Portland Bicycle Master Plan.[img_assist|nid=3243|title=Portland's bike culture is amazing, but we have to do more to make people feel safe on the roads.|desc=|link=popup|align=left|width=100|height=67]

That is also why when the mayor's budget did not include funding for completing the last half of the study and policy update, Sam worked with others on council and secured money for this important planning project.
First drafted in 1996, the Bicycle Master Plan had not been updated in over 10 years. As the major policy document that guides PDOT's policy decisions and investment strategies relating to bicycles, the update was necessary to acknowledge the changing demographics of the city, as well as the must current thinking on encouraging bicycling.

The first two chapters of the Bicycle Master Plan report on the existing conditions and are now complete. PDOT staff is now working on the next phase of the report that outlines what we will do in the future to make our city a truly bicycle-friendly. This project as has also entailed many open houses and extensive community outreach.

Related Documents

• Platinum Bicycle Master Plan Chapter 1 (DRAFT)
• Platinum Bicycle Master Plan Chapter 2 (DRAFT)

Community Partners

• Bicycle Transportation Alliance
• Bicycle Advisory Committee

 Media Mentions

• "Sam Adams to make Master Plan Ride appearance," Bikeportland.org, May 1, 2007
• "Bud Clark Is My Mayor -How Bikers Took on City Hall-And Won", Portland Mercury, July 19-25, 2007

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