Welcome to the Remark of the Week, the place we spotlight good feedback to be able to encourage extra of them. You possibly can assist us select our subsequent one by replying with “remark of the week” to any remark you suppose deserves recognition. Please be aware: These picks usually are not endorsements.
CityLover summed it up for me, “There’s nothing I like greater than looking the feedback part of a meaty BP article, however there are too many even for me tonight!”
Our article, Metropolis counts reveal knowledge behind Portland’s precipitous drop in biking, has obtained 195 feedback — up to now. Typically when an article will get that many feedback there’s a, how ought to I say, falling off of high quality. However these feedback maintain. And so they make for poignant studying, some are like little love letters to a previous Portland. A bunch of them have been actually, actually good.
One factor I seen was what number of girls commented, in all probability as a result of the PBOT counts confirmed an enormous decline in feminine riders. Ladies stepped as much as clarify why.
Greatdane’s remark was a hybrid between the bulleted lists many individuals put collectively, and a little bit of narrative explaining her state of affairs. I favored the mixture of the 2. Right here’s what she wrote:
I’m a feminine who nonetheless bikes, and has biked WAY greater than ever within the final 12 months (nearly 1500 miles already this 12 months). I’m curious when the counts are finished. I was far more common about my biking, however since COVID my work schedule has modified fairly a bit. I nonetheless commute to work, however solely ~3 days every week now, and never at all times throughout regular commuting hours. I experience much more recreationally and to appointments and shops and so forth, than I used to, however which additionally tends to be not commuting occasions.
Having mentioned that, it’s fairly clear I’m within the minority on this regard after I’m out driving. I see manner fewer folks out on bikes regardless of the place or after I go, and significantly fewer feminine riders specifically, so these numbers don’t shock me in any respect. Anybody I do know who wasn’t an excellent assured bike owner rides much less nowadays than they used to.
Being a daily biker throughout Portland for 15 years now, right here’s my 2 cents on why biking has declined a lot prior to now few years…
-Numerous folks driving mixed with full lack of visitors enforcement leading to erratic, unpredictable, and harmful driving conduct. The variety of shut calls I’ve had prior to now month alone is greater than I had for years at a time pre-2019ish.
-Horrible circumstances *of the roads* see the cracked crappy pavement of many greenway routes
– Horrible circumstances *of the MUPs* see tents and trash on or blocking paths in quite a few locations. Most of my feminine pals specifically refuse to experience on these paths at this level, even the place there aren’t tents due to notion
-New/improved/present infrastructure that’s good however typically doesn’t make sufficient connections to different infrastructure leading to traumatic conditions many cyclists I do know aren’t snug in (largely as a result of level 1 above at this level)
I agree, it’s going to take a reasonably concerted effort to show issues round. The infrastructure (together with enforcement) will want enhancements to really assist biking/pedestrian security. The most secure infrastructure on this planet gained’t make any distinction although if perceptions developed over the previous few years are aren’t additionally modified.
Thanks Greatdane! You will discover Greatdane’s remark, and the torrent of different good feedback, underneath the authentic submit.
Lisa Caballero has lived in SW Portland for over 20 years. She is on the Transportation Committee of her neighborhood affiliation, the Southwest Hills Residential League (SWHRL) and will be reached at lisacaballero853@gmail.com.
