A sidewalk detour in Kassel, Germany. Portland's new rules recommend a similar approach. Photo via Bernard Finucane
When construction projects occupy sidewalks and bike lanes, many cities don't do anything to compensate -- forcing people to walk and bike in traffic or take long, unrealistic detours. But it's not that hard to put up safe, convenient alternate routes.
A proposed policy before the city council Wednesday would withhold city permits from builders that block sidewalks or bike lanes around their work sites without first considering reuse of parking and travel lanes.
The action comes after a months-long social media campaign from Oregon Walks and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, which evolved out of a years-long behind-the-scenes effort by the BTA.
The city’s draft policy stops short of saying that walking, biking or traveling by mobility device are always higher priorities in work zones than traveling by car. Instead, it says that walking and biking routes should only be blocked if no other option is “practicable.”
Seattle passed a similar law last year, writes Andersen, but without provisions protecting bicyclists.
Elsewhere on the Network today: PubliCola runs a piece by TransitCenter's Jon Orcutt urging Seattle to keep up its rapid progress on transit and safe streets for walking and biking. And Walkable Jenkintown says parking lots are like kryptonite to walkability.
Angie is a Cleveland-based writer with a background in planning and newspaper reporting. She has been writing about cities for Streetsblog for six years.
Streetsblog readers offer ideas for building protected bike lanes on Wells Street on the Near North Side, especially in delivery truck-clogged Old Town
The transit advocacy group has questions about post-project train frequency, ADA access during a coming weekend shutdown, and missing Train Tracker coverage.