Two recent studies suggest that bias in driver behavior toward other road users could be contributing to enhanced stress levels for certain groups of pedestrians and bicyclists. Recent research documents a difference in drivers yielding to pedestrians based on race in Portland, OR. A second study out of the UK concludes women cyclists are more likely than men to experience “incidents” (passing too closely, verbal harassment, etc.).
Portland
Portland app developer aims to count more bicyclists
A Portland app developer may change the way we count bicycle traffic if his $50 device works as planned. It would allow cities to place counters in many more locations and count at more times of the day, capturing a truer picture of where, when, and why people bike. As new infrastructure is built or changes are made to make a route more bike-friendly, it would be much easier to install a counter and see changes in bike traffic patterns.
Portland considering new parking lot tax to spur development
Portland is considering a new tax on surface parking lots to spur development in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood. These taxes, in effect in 49 cities in the U.S., are most commonly assessed as a percentage of daily or monthly parking fees but may also be levied as a flat tax per parking space.
The Life and Death of Urban Highways (Institute for Transportation & Development Policy and EMBARQ, 2012)
Case studies of cities which have removed elevated urban highways, as well as an examination of why urban highways should be removed. Download the full report.