Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Portland City Council will consider a plan Thursday that would dramatically increase the city’s commitment to bicycle transportation. April Baer reports.

The Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030 is a long-term road map for adding miles of bikeways, and stepping up safety.  

While all city commissioners pride themselves as cycling supporters, the plan will test their resolve, since it could cost as much as $613 million over twenty years, depending on how much of the plan is approved.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance was involved in drafting the plan.

BTA advocate Michelle Poyourow says the investment would pay off for city residents, who could bike more, and spend less on car trips.  Also, she points out that bikeways are inexpensive relative to other kinds of infrastructure.

Michelle Poyourow: “The cost of the entire bike network we have today, if you picture all the bikelanes you can see, the trails, the bike boulevards – that whole thing, cost about $60 million to build. So if it all went up in smoke and we had to rebuild it – $60 million. That is the same cost as one mile of urban freeway.”

BTA hopes to rally several hundred bicyclists outside council chambers before the commissioners meet.