Update [May 17, 4:30 pm]
We have spoken to the Mayor’s office and have scheduled a meeting on-site with PBOT engineers this week. We’ll keep you informed when new information is available.
Original Post [May 17, 10:00 am]
In a letter to the Portland Bureau of Transportation last week, the BTA thanked PBOT for responding quickly to safety hazards on the new East Burnside/Couch couplet and invited engineers to meet on site and discuss alternatives for long term solutions in the corridor.
Read the full letter below.
May 12, 2010
Dear Ms. Keil,
We at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) would like to work with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) to improve bicycle access and safety on the Burnside/Couch Couplet project. We appreciate your swift response to recent bicycle crashes and would like to discuss some additional engineering improvements with you and your staff.
Thank you for the quick fix of re-striping all travel lanes to add width to the bike lane and for buffering the bike lane at the final curve.
We believe that the sweeping curves on Couch leading up and onto the Burnside Bridge as currently configured still present a safety risk for bicyclists. We would like PBOT to consider physically separated bicycle facilities as a long-term fix that is both safer and more comfortable for morning rush hour commuters.
We are also concerned about the high volume of cars and buses entering and leaving the right travel lane on NE Couch, increasing the likelihood of a right hook crash. We ask the city to explore ways to improve safety and security by making sure drivers are aware of bicyclists as they prepare to make a right turn.
While we understand that the feasibility of specific suggestions may not be possible at these locations, we strongly encourage PBOT to consider these recommendations along with any other innovative safety improvements. We would also like to work together to analyze the entire corridor in order to provide safe routes for bicyclists of all abilities.
Site tour and review
Thank you again for your swift response to these safety concerns. The BTA would like to partner with PBOT to conduct a safety evaluation and assessment of long-term solutions for the Burnside/Couch couplet. We ask that you and your engineers take us on a site tour to experience and discuss alternative solutions directly. We suggest a meeting at the Burnside Bridgehead project area during morning rush hour to see what is happening and discuss how best to address our safety concerns.
The BTA believes that together we can continue to make Portland a world-class bicycling city where 25% of residents commute by bike, as envisioned in the Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030. We look forward to working with you to ensure that our major arterials are safe and comfortable for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers alike.
Sincerely,
Gerik Kransky
Advocacy Campaign Manager
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
