BLOG: More Street-Level Innovations from Melbourne
Sam Adams
As Portland's new transportation Commissioner, I've been keeping an eye out for street-level innovations I have encountered in Melbourne. Here are a few to consider:
SMART INFO HUBS:
This is very cool for visitors and locals alike.
Still is the shake-down stage of their development, these information hubs are touch screen, updated by remote control, allow printing of information requested, multiple languages, and sell ads that can be tailored to the businesses around that exact kiask site to defray costs.
BRACKETED SIDEWALK SEATING:
These sidewalk "cafe brackets" allow safe seating closer to the street, hide the clutter of the table
and chairs and help advertise the restaurants. We could only do these in Portland where there was enough sidewalk room.
CONSISTENT 'STREET FURNITURE BRAND/DESIGN
Melbourne has a consistent citywide "street furniture" design for its kioks and info Hubs.
For example, the newspaper vendors have a similar design for their newsstands as does the info HUBs .
They also use a consistent brand to indicate information sources -- see the 'i' in the photo.
The "i" on the visitor information center in Pioneer Square in Portland is a good design that we should replicate through the city, assuming we built some more info hubs. The soon-to-be remodeled Transit Mall give us a chance to rethink these issues.
TRANSPORTATION SAFETY MESSAGES ON THEIR PARKING METERS:
The message is straight forward. It reads, "Don't Dash (jaywalk) and Die." But, we could use our 
parking stations to promote any transportation safety related message.
WATER-FILLED REUSABLE TRAFFIC BARRIERS:
We will need to study whether or not water-filled reusable traffic barriers are cheaper to use than the concrete barriers we currently use in Portland. Could capture and store rain water for filling them. The locals in Melbourne told me they pump the water out of these barriers and reuse it too.
RIDE IN MOVIES:
They show them free in the summer at the town square focused on 
transit, bike riders and pedestrians.
FLAGS:
These are a lot more interesting to look at than just the plastic banners we have in Portland strapped to some of our light poles.
I would bet they are also more effective for the non-profits we allow to buy the banner space.
RECYCLING BINS ON SIDEWALKS:
These sidewalk recycle bins offer opportunities to recycle more than just redeemable cans. Each encourages reuse of those containers that do not have a deposit but can be recycled.
A separate recycling container might also deter some from emptying out the garbage containers onto the side in search of redeemable cans.
PARKING LOT STATUS SIGNS:
Wish you knew if a public parking lot had spaces available? This system gives the space status at nearby parking lots.
SECURE MOTORCYCLE PARKING:
Last time I checked, Portland has 15 motorcycle parking spots in the 
entire city. These offer stanchions in which to chain up the motorbikes.
NO PANHANDLING:
One street musician who did not verbally ask for money, only posted a sign, is the closest I encountered to panhandling. When I asked locals where the panhandlers were, they said it was not in the Aussie tradition to beg and the country has a robust safety net for people in need.
MINI STREET SWEEPER:
This small sweeper all day is flitting around the downtown on streets,
sidewalks and open spaces.
Posted by Sam Adams on October 12, 2005
(4) Comments | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Filed Under Blog, Front Page, Melbourne, Transportation
Comments by site visitors
Found myself on East Burnside riding my bike, loving the space provided for me and my bike and then I hit NE 82nd Ave! What happened to my lane? Where do I go? Traffic, cars, trucks, and me and my little two wheeler were all trying to converge on the same space. Scary to say the least. I went over the curb just to avoid the large wheels of the truck that had no other place to go. So my question is: Since most forms of transportation are gas consuming large, fast and not in the least compatible with me on this slow pedal powered bicycle who decided to put us both in the same place at the same time? Whoever it might be I can only wish that you experience the same fate. Let us get real. Bicycles and cars can not co exist! The fools who painted all those bike lanes across town must have thought that bikes could fly since the lanes appear out of nowhere. It is time to stop this nonsense. We need to sit down and designate certain streets for bikes and others for cars and keep them separate as much as possible. Instead of spending money on painting the streets it would have been much better spend on finding ways to cross major crossstreets like NE 82nd Ave.
Posted by: Tree huggers and Detroit: | Oct 13, 2005 9:36:00 PM
Although I know it's discouraged, I (legally) ride on the sidewalk wherever there isn't a bike lane (with the exception of downtown, where sidewalk cycling is not allowed). I just don't believe it should be expected of me to be so vulnerable.
Speaking of which, cycling on the sidewalk has led me to notice a big problem about wheelchair accessibility in our city. The existence of sidewalk ramps is very random on our streets! And I'm talking major streets, like SE 39th, Division, Hawthorne, Belmont, etc. Division is by far the best, but then you'll come across one corner, and suddenly you're forced into the street. That's not so bad for cyclists like me, but what a hassle that would be in a wheelchair!
Posted by: Doug | Oct 15, 2005 5:08:00 AM
It would be wonderful to see some Copenhagen-style bicycle lanes in Portland. This design separates the bicycle lane from the cars by a curb. Here are some variations:
Bicycles separated from traffic by a parking lane (in Melbourne): http://www.bv.com.au/inform.php?a=7&b=174&c=1629
http://www.i-sustain.com/learningCenter/photoAlbum/Mobility/Bicycling/thumbs/Bicycling%20-%203.jpg
In the first case, the cost is the cost of line striping. Bicycles face the car door problem much less often.
I would love to see the Burnside Bridge retrofitted with bike lanes on both sides separated from car traffic by a curb. This design would also reduce gravel and other bike road hazards that collect in the gutter.
It's exciting to see you digging into transportation issues hands on. Thanks!
Posted by: Rob W | Oct 21, 2005 10:31:10 AM
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Busy streets and left hand turns:
Practice a random act of kindness. Instead of trying to turn left on a busy street during rush hour try one of these: 1) turn right before your cross street and follow that by two imediate left hand turns, or 2) drive past your cross street and then turn right followed by two imediate right hand turns onto your cross street and wait for the light. Which you should do in choice number one also. Thanks.
Posted by: David M. Eide | Oct 13, 2005 8:37:30 PM