Portland Backs off Plan to Remove Bike Lane Protection After Public Outcry

Portland safety advocates have been fighting the Portland Public Environmental Management Office’s effort to remove concrete traffic diverters that many say are making the city’s roads safer.

According to a blog post from Strong Towns, the diverters, heavy concrete planters, are installed on one-way streets to block off one lane from car traffic while still allowing pedestrians and people on bikes to pass through. 

“According to city staff, the removal is a matter of public safety. They argue that the diverters make it more difficult for law enforcement to patrol the neighborhood, leading to an increase in drug activity and crime.” Community activists pushed back, saying the traffic safety benefits outweigh other risks and that the concrete planters save lives by physically keeping cars out of bike lanes. “The diverters in Northwest Portland aren’t permanently safe yet. But thanks to residents who organized quickly and spoke up, they’re still standing — and the conversation has shifted to prioritizing safety for all users.”