By Rob Sadowsky
Contributing Columnist
If you ride a bike, you probably spend a lot of time telling people about the value of bicycling. You describe the benefits for individuals and the community as a whole. You explain that Portland is a wonderful and safe place to ride a bike, but it could be safer.
Chances are you’ve got friends and relatives who think you’re crazy for riding a bike to work, or who don’t understand why transportation dollars should go to bike infrastructure. And chances are, you’ve had a few people come around. I’ve had a few friends and relatives go from grumbling about Sunday Parkways a few years ago to now saying, “Portland should do more of those!”
In my experience, people aren’t convinced by a single conversation. Most people aren’t convinced by traffic counts, crash statistics, street designations, or carbon savings. We evolve in our view of the world by sharing stories, getting to know one another, finding common ground, and discovering shared beliefs among other people we trust. The statistics help support conclusions we’re already inclined to draw.
Having observed the traffic conditions on North Williams every afternoon as I biked home from work, it seemed like there should be an easy solution to get people to slow down, make it safer for people crossing the street, and reduce bus/bike conflicts. Those were some of the safety concerns identified when the North Williams Traffic Safety Operations Project kicked off in April. Continue reading →