Portland State University
IN-4: Innovation 4

While the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation's aim is a regional one: to advance bicycling and walking as integral elements of the transportation system in Oregon’s communities, IBPI's efforts have had a national impact on the field of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure planning. IBPI has developed design manuals for a field that previously had none. IBPI provides technical training for planning professionals across the US who have graduated from planning programs with no courses on bicycle and pedestrian planning. IBPI's efforts fill a critical gap in knowledge on this topic through research and evaluation, curriculum development and education. The City of Portland's outstanding bicycle and pedestrian network provides a living laboratory for research and teaching. The Initiative’s programs include research, education, and information-sharing across sectors, interests, and institutions that will enhance policies, programs, and projects focused on promoting bicycle and pedestrian transportation. CycleTrack - http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=50254 A cycle track is a bike lane nestled between the curb and on-street parking, providing a sanctuary for cyclists from fast moving traffic downtown. SW Broadway was chosen to debut the demonstration cycle track because it’s highly visible location in downtown Portland and relation to PSU. The university is known to do more then just study sustainability; PSU engages directly with the community around them to make sustainability real. The idea for the Broadway location came from conversations between the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and city traffic engineers after visiting Copenhagen last year. PSU President Wiewel praised the commitment to bicycle infrastructure at the state’s largest university. “As part of Portland State's commitment to sustainability, we continue to promote alternative transportation through partnerships such as this as well as providing services on campus,” President Wiewel said. “We're pleased that Mayor Adams and his transportation team selected Portland State for the first installment of what we hope will be many more cycle tracks throughout Portland and our faculty look forward to assisting in the ongoing evaluation of its effectiveness.” The demonstration project is the city’s first cycle track and marks a new phase in Portland’s development as a world-class bicycling city. The Bureau of Transportation and PSU partnered to move forward with the conversion of SW Broadway – between SW Clay and Jackson streets – to create a safer, more convenient arrangement for both cyclists and drivers. In surveys, Portlanders have said that separating cyclists and vehicles would encourage them to travel and, specifically, commute by bike. Cycle tracks differ from traditional bike lanes by placing a pedestrian buffer zone and space for parked cars between the cyclist and vehicular traffic. The pedestrian buffer zone allows space for people to exit and access their vehicles and open doors safely and are off limits to bikes. To help cyclists and drivers understand how the cycle track works, PBOT will distribute educational materials to PSU, local bicycle shops, parking enforcement and police officers. For more information about the project, visit the Portland Bureau of Transportation’s project web site at http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=50254.