Let's build it!
A Portland Bicycle Skyway system
Public support of bicycle infrastructure with a real bicycle skyway system! Includes video testimony from petition signers.
Total video length is 7 minutes and 40 seconds.
Public testimony given to Portland City Council concerning elevated bicycle infrastructure.
November 8, 2023
Specific testimony begins at the 18:00 mark;
Petition delivered
Public testimony given to Multnomah County Commission; March 14, 2024
specific testimony begins at ;
Petition delivered
Public testimony given to Metro Council
starts at 5:50
September 14, 2023;
petition delivered
Do your part and contact your state rep.
and state senator about a
bicycle skyway system for Portland.
Car sales are decreasing.
E-bikes sales are increasing.
Sources: JP Morgan; Inflation and the Auto Industry
Allied Market Research; e-bike industry
The e-bike industry is growing yet we don't have
adequate infrastructure in place
projected to reach $118 Billion by 2030
Bicycle infrastructure is an excellent way
to "boycott" the entire automotive/oil industry
(As Americans, we waste roughly $5,000 per year on gas)
E-bikes and cars don't mix well.
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-much-do-people-spend-on-gas-each-month
https://www.cbo.gov/publication/58861
Hi, this is me
Here I am on my Schwinn Coffee, and I love this particular bike, not sure about the year yet. You can see the display behind me with the map. I don't care much for gas powered cars or trucks. I don't even have a car myself, (don't really need one in Portland) I'm from the east coast originally, and I involuntarily carry the vibes as such.
After collecting signatures all summer long, I can honestly say there is by far, broad and enthusiastic support for this kind of bicycle infrastructure. People often ask where a bicycle skyway like this would be and they're more than happy to sign this "unofficial" petition. Let's get the show on the road with real bicycle infrastructure, check out the petition signatures top of this page, upper right hand corner. Text or call me at 971-442-5927 or email me at mikehar567@gmail.com and we can bike and talk. I am seeking a sponsor and/or funding/donations. Michael Harrison
Oh, look Denmark and China have raised bicycle skyways
In the U.S., we have to get up to speed here and build our own.
Denmark
(note how they forgot the roof)
China's Xiamen bicycle skyway
(They forgot the roof here as well,
see example section below)
- Example section of a bicycle skyway in Portland
A rough concept sketch of what a bicycle skyway looks like at the "dog bowl"
at the west end of Killingsworth in North Portland.
A bicycle skyway can be over street, water, empty landspace (as shown in image) or even over buildings.
There is extensive roof space here for solar panels for lighting at night time.
Where do you want to see a
bicycle skyway system in Portland?
Choose which one would be most convenient for you;
- Beaverton, west side to downtown city center, or
- North Portland to downtown city center, or
- From city center to Gresham above Burnside
send a quick text/vote to 971-442-5927
or email mikehar567@gmail.com
Thanks
The Oregon Department of Transportation will receive $1.2 Billion from the Biden Administration over the next few years. This is a good time to vastly improve our bicycle infrastructure. The e-bike industry is growing, it was valued at $26.73 Billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $53.5 Billion by 2027. We will only see more e-bikes and bicycles on our streets. With the cost of cars steadily increasing in the past few years, expanded bicycle infrastructure is looking more economically viable. There may come a time when we will say, "There's no more gas to fill up the car!" It's time to reinvent transportation and break free from the old.
Portland is not alone in this endeavor, other cities like Miami, Florida are already designing and proposing their own bicycle pathways, in some areas elevated above ground and water level, which run alongside their highways. More information can be found at planzmiami.com. The "606" in Chicago is another working elevated bicycle and pedestrian path currently in use.
The big idea being this will (probably) affect the public's transportation habits. It will completely separate the bicycle traffic from the car traffic in it's local area as well as reduce bicycle/car accidents, speaking of "multi-modal transportation." We will be able to completely bypass rush hour traffic congestion. It will definitely be much faster to reach your destination during rush hour while not wasting any money on gas nor using gas, no car payments, and no car insurance. We can entirely skip the conventional car traffic industry/environment, (and literally ride right over it)
Public testimony was recently given to the Oregon Transportation Commission about bicycle infrastructure, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IVZpHZKr-s
The specific testimony begins at the 33:00 minute mark.
If you're tired of riding in the gutter with 50 mph car traffic whizzing past your elbow, then support a bicycle skyway system for Portland. Contact the Oregon Transportation Commission and tell them that the allocation of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act IIJA funds (the $1.2 Billion) requires a bicycle skyway system. We have similar, although smaller, existent infrastructure with the Tilikum crossing bridge and the eastbank esplanade.
There is a strong environmental aspect to this. With a giant, elevated bicycle skyway system extending across the city, including a transparent roof and extensive lighting at nighttime, we will have yet another 'gasoline-free' route for our morning commute to work, speaking of the green movement. We cannot keep using gasoline for most of our transportation needs.
© 2019