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.

Comments or questions, email Michael Harrison at mikehar567@gmail.com

or call/text 503-607-6524.