Portland's 'Bike Boxes' Seek To Reduce Accidents

"Traffic engineers have been planning to put the colorful boxes at 14 intersections after logging six fatal bike accidents last year, including the deaths of cyclists Tracey Sparling and Brett Jarolimek within two weeks in October."

"Both deadly October crashes involved the 'right hook,' the most common type of Portland bike wreck, where a car turning right fails to see a bicyclist riding along the street's right side. City Bicycle coordinator Roger Geller said his office gets many complaints about that kind of crash. Comments from bikers, staff and consultants helped identify intersections where right hooks are common."

"Bike boxes aim to prevent those crashes by making bicyclists more visible, said Rob Burchfield, city traffic engineer."

"The boxes reserve a spot in front of cars at red lights, Burchfield said. When the light changes, the position gives bikes 'some measure of priority. They're able to move out of the intersection first, ahead of cars.'"