Why Portland's Bike Master Plan May Be In For A Bumpy Ride At Planning Commission

While Portland's bicycle master plan is promoted by some as North America's most ambitious and innovative bike plan, George Crandall is ready to put the plan's authors in their place.

Crandall, the principal of urban design firm Crandall Arambula, will attend the Portland Planning Commission's hearing (PDF) on the plan Tuesday night. And he plans to testify against the master bike plan for what he says is its failures to make a sincere effort at reducing automobile traffic and promoting commuter bicycling.

Crandall will present a slideshow to the planning commission titled "Bicycle Centered Development" that will explain the differences between what he considers Portland's tame proposal and more ambitious solutions already at work in European cities such as Copenhagen. The presentation will emphasize the role that protected bike boulevards have in attracting a sizable percentage of commuter bicyclists.

Public comment on the bike plan is being accepted through Nov. 8.