In retrospect, it may seem like Portland’s biking boom was inevitable. But not too long ago the city was eclipsed by other Pac NW cities for share of bicycle commuters. What happened between 2002-2008 to kick-start the city’s bike craze?

Between 1990 and 2011, many of the largest cities in North America witnessed an increase in their percentage of bicycle commuters. But none has been more dramatic than the spike seen in Portland, where the mode share increased from 1.1 percent to 6.8 percent over that period. Seattle, for instance, increased from 1.5 percent to 3.7 percent.
“What happened? Why did Portland cycling rates increase so much more than other leading bike cities?” ask Michael Andersen and Jonathan Maus, editors for BikePortland. They cite 2002-2008 as the key years when bicycle commuting took off in the city, and propose five possible factors that contributed to its astonishing rise.
One theory involves the influence of instilling fun in pedaling via events led by groups such as Shift. Others include: the work of City staff “advocrats” pushing forward bicycle-friendly design enhancements; intuitive marketing and outreach approaches; and engaged citizen advocates.
FULL STORY: What caused Portland's biking boom?

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie