I don't know about initial claims that maintenance costs were the problem but would like to see such evidence. I have never heard or suspected that a money trail might suggest the true motive here. Competing constituencies and urban design theories are at play, and I intend to learn more from the meeting Tuesday
I'm glad to see this article, but I have a couple of concerns about it.
First, I don't like seeing the removal of the diverters framed as an issue of major concern only to bicyclists, when it also affects the huge number of pedestrians like me who need to cross that intersection regularly, including the thousands who walk through it to and from all the events at the PGE Park. We have a very high concentration of particularly vulnerable citizens -- seniors, people with disabilities, and school children -- living in the immediate area. NW 20th And Everett St has long been by far the most dangerous intersection in this part of town, particularly during rush hour, when Everett St is used to access the freeway entrances. Even with the diverters and the crosswalks, I've almost been run down several times by aggressive and careless drivers, and all my neighbors with whom I've discussed that have told me the same. That's why the diverters were installed.
Second, the skulduggery by which the City attempted to remove them should be a matter of concern to all of us citizens. There was never any public notice or any opportunity given for public input from the local residents, and the excuses the City's provided don't pass the smell test. Initially they claimed the maintenance costs were too high to keep them in place. When that didn't fly, they started claiming that the police have no way to reach Couch Park unless the diverters are removed, which is patently absurd.
So what is the real reason?
Generally, when the City does something that smells this bad, the only way it can be understood is by following the money.
The City has refused repeatedly to address these questions:
Why was this project planned in secret?
Specifically how do they expect that the changes will us safer?
How much of our money are they spending on it?
Who is being paid to do the work and supply the materials?
Why are they spending our money on this now, when the City has dug itself in such a deep financial hole that it can no longer afford to provide important services?
Mr. Classen, you have a reputation as a crusading journalist who genuinely cares about Portlanders and is not afraid of the City government. Probably the only journalist in Portland who isn't. I hope you'll see fit to dig deeper into this situation and hold the culprits' feet to the fire.
So are they really just trying to do everything but actually arresting people for breaking laws and putting them in jail? I mean, can we maybe try that?
I would love to be able to ride more in and through downtown and the Pearl like I used to be able to do. but it's too dangerous now due to the presence of problem people. Let's take necessary steps to restore safety to our streets so we CAN ride safely - in the near future we hope.
Kara Colley wrote the following piece in her role as president of Friends of Couch Park:
There has been a fair bit of attention on the traffic diverters on NW 20th and Everett. The diverters were put in as part of the Northwest In Motion plan. The diverters mean that only bikes can ride northwards on NW 20th/Everett; cars must turn right. I am a regular biker and I appreciate the diverters because they make the traffic calmer on NW 20th. I think calmer, slower car traffic makes our neighborhood safer and more livable.
The diverters also connect bike traffic to NW Flanders, which is our local bikeway. According to KOIN, “[Mayor] Wilson is directing the Portland Bureau of Transportation to remove the diverters at Northwest 20th Avenue and Northwest Everett Street.” He calls “the removals necessary for public safety.”
I want to be clear that I support the Portland Police Bureau and the Central Precinct Bike Patrol. I support their efforts to keep our neighborhood safe. I know that there is frequent shoplifting and other crime right outside the Stadium Fred Meyer. I just don’t think that removing the diverters will reduce crime.
All diverters must pass police/fire regulations before they are installed, and police can drive around the diverters when necessary. Members of the bike community rallied on Thursday, August 7, to protest the removal of the traffic diverters.
I heard an interesting idea from a neighbor: The city could leave the diverters in place AND remove one parking space and allocate that space to emergency vehicles only. I am in a “YES AND” moment here. I want the PPB to keep our neighborhood safe AND I want the traffic diverters to slow down traffic on NW 20th. I went on a civic-minded jog this morning. I jogged through Couch Park (of course!) and by the traffic diverters.
I don't know about initial claims that maintenance costs were the problem but would like to see such evidence. I have never heard or suspected that a money trail might suggest the true motive here. Competing constituencies and urban design theories are at play, and I intend to learn more from the meeting Tuesday
I'm glad to see this article, but I have a couple of concerns about it.
First, I don't like seeing the removal of the diverters framed as an issue of major concern only to bicyclists, when it also affects the huge number of pedestrians like me who need to cross that intersection regularly, including the thousands who walk through it to and from all the events at the PGE Park. We have a very high concentration of particularly vulnerable citizens -- seniors, people with disabilities, and school children -- living in the immediate area. NW 20th And Everett St has long been by far the most dangerous intersection in this part of town, particularly during rush hour, when Everett St is used to access the freeway entrances. Even with the diverters and the crosswalks, I've almost been run down several times by aggressive and careless drivers, and all my neighbors with whom I've discussed that have told me the same. That's why the diverters were installed.
Second, the skulduggery by which the City attempted to remove them should be a matter of concern to all of us citizens. There was never any public notice or any opportunity given for public input from the local residents, and the excuses the City's provided don't pass the smell test. Initially they claimed the maintenance costs were too high to keep them in place. When that didn't fly, they started claiming that the police have no way to reach Couch Park unless the diverters are removed, which is patently absurd.
So what is the real reason?
Generally, when the City does something that smells this bad, the only way it can be understood is by following the money.
The City has refused repeatedly to address these questions:
Why was this project planned in secret?
Specifically how do they expect that the changes will us safer?
How much of our money are they spending on it?
Who is being paid to do the work and supply the materials?
Why are they spending our money on this now, when the City has dug itself in such a deep financial hole that it can no longer afford to provide important services?
Mr. Classen, you have a reputation as a crusading journalist who genuinely cares about Portlanders and is not afraid of the City government. Probably the only journalist in Portland who isn't. I hope you'll see fit to dig deeper into this situation and hold the culprits' feet to the fire.
So are they really just trying to do everything but actually arresting people for breaking laws and putting them in jail? I mean, can we maybe try that?
I would love to be able to ride more in and through downtown and the Pearl like I used to be able to do. but it's too dangerous now due to the presence of problem people. Let's take necessary steps to restore safety to our streets so we CAN ride safely - in the near future we hope.
Kara Colley wrote the following piece in her role as president of Friends of Couch Park:
There has been a fair bit of attention on the traffic diverters on NW 20th and Everett. The diverters were put in as part of the Northwest In Motion plan. The diverters mean that only bikes can ride northwards on NW 20th/Everett; cars must turn right. I am a regular biker and I appreciate the diverters because they make the traffic calmer on NW 20th. I think calmer, slower car traffic makes our neighborhood safer and more livable.
The diverters also connect bike traffic to NW Flanders, which is our local bikeway. According to KOIN, “[Mayor] Wilson is directing the Portland Bureau of Transportation to remove the diverters at Northwest 20th Avenue and Northwest Everett Street.” He calls “the removals necessary for public safety.”
I want to be clear that I support the Portland Police Bureau and the Central Precinct Bike Patrol. I support their efforts to keep our neighborhood safe. I know that there is frequent shoplifting and other crime right outside the Stadium Fred Meyer. I just don’t think that removing the diverters will reduce crime.
All diverters must pass police/fire regulations before they are installed, and police can drive around the diverters when necessary. Members of the bike community rallied on Thursday, August 7, to protest the removal of the traffic diverters.
I heard an interesting idea from a neighbor: The city could leave the diverters in place AND remove one parking space and allocate that space to emergency vehicles only. I am in a “YES AND” moment here. I want the PPB to keep our neighborhood safe AND I want the traffic diverters to slow down traffic on NW 20th. I went on a civic-minded jog this morning. I jogged through Couch Park (of course!) and by the traffic diverters.
I think this was nw 20th and Everett, not 20th and Johnson.
Thank you.