Thank you for submitting this issue to the City of Portland using SeeClickFix. It has been received as service request ID #71455. Our staff will now begin their investigation.

It is terrible in so many ways.

In addition to the already stated safety concerns, you have put more risk on drivers. It will be virtually impossible to see bikers on the other side of parked cars when turning. Also there are less parking spots for residents now. I can't imagine what a mess it will be in the winter when people won't be able to the lines!!! Please fix this mess!

This is very very dangerous for anyone traveling This road now, in vehicle, on foot and on bicycle. Very obstructed view for all. Especially pulling out of any driveway or parking lot along this. No place to pull over for people getting picked up/dropped off. Anticipate many accidents to follow this well thought plan again by Portland

In my experience in Portland cyclists will just disobey all traffic rules anyway, so I'm sure this issue will work itself out.

I am a cyclist who obeys all the rules of the road and will continue to use the normal travel lane on Park Avenue, not some ludicrous separated lane, thankfully I don't need to ride on Park Ave. often.

Kj, if you're not using the bicycle and you're obviously not obeying the rules of the road. Thank you for proving my point as to the mentality of cyclists in Portland.

I agree that this new bike lane design is dangerous and scary, with the exception of the section against the park, where there is no possibility of a turning vehicle hitting a bicyclist.

Although there are some sections of "no parking" before and after each turn in, I don't think they are big enough to create the time of visibility required when a bicyclist is going at a reasonable speed. I wonder what bicycle speed these were designed for.

Hey GMan, below I quote a letter posted on facebook to a cyclist named Ken from a Public Works official that verifies we as cyclists are NOT prohibited from the travel lane, we are vehicles, the road is for vehicles.

"Good morning Ken,
Yes, I have been in touch with the police department regarding this project. When we met early in the process with members of the City's bike / ped committee and staff from the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, it was clear to us that they felt they represented a strong population of riders who would continue to ride in the vehicle lanes. We went on to work thru this design with that in mind. The paint and signage in the final design provide guidance for riders who wish to use this separated facility. There is nothing in the built environment nor any ordinance or procedural changes prohibiting bicycles from the travel lanes. You're still free to ride wherever you like, as long as the rules of the road for all are followed.

Thanks for reaching out,

Jennifer Ladd
Senior Transportation Engineer
Engineering Division
Department of Public Works
jwl@portlandmaine.gov"

Something is seriously wrong here.

Senior City staff hears from their own bike/ped committee and BCM that a “strong population of riders” would continue to ride in the travel lane despite the creation of a dedicated bike lane and buffer zone.

Yet they proceed with this “separated facility”?

So cars are now parked in what was previously a travel lane, a dedicated bike lane and buffer zone from curb to the new parking lane accommodates riders who wish to stay out of the traffic flow and still those riders who choose to do so are allowed to cruise along at ten to twelve miles an hour in front of cars now funneled into the one and only travel lane available.

Count the cars. Then count the bikes. It’s upside down.
If the new bike lane stays then bike traffic in the travel lane should be prohibited.
Better yet put it back the way it was.
Who is in charge of this because it needs another look?

Hey kj, then how come you only follow the rules you want to add a "vehicle"? How many red lights do you run a day? Passing stopped cars waiting at lights instead of merging into the line of traffic. Or one way streets you cycle the wrong way on? Illegal turns, etc? Cyclists in Portland only follow the rules they want to.

Gman I follow the rules of the road. I wait for red lights except for the ones that don't turn because I do not "trigger" them because I am not a car. I DO NOT ride the wrong way on one way streets, I DO NOT do illegal turns what ever those are. I do not pass stopped cars at lights, I get in the lane & wait for the light with the cars. I see plenty of cyclists behaving as you describe and plenty who behave as I do. You can put all cyclists together in one box if you want but you are wrong to do so. I could also say all motorists don't signal, turn in front of cyclists going straight, pass cyclists close & fast, look at their devices while driving, drive well over the speed limit, make rights on red where it says no right on red, etc. but that would be wrong too. Motorists in Portland also follow only the rules they want to.

Sjvna my point is exactly as you say put it back the way it was. I had NO problem with Park Avenue before this separated lane nonsense. The only problems I encountered was with motorists who seemed bent out of shape that they had to change lanes to get around a cyclist.

DPW has completed a review of this change. Based on available and collected data, the adjustment has kept traffic from speeding, reduced crashes, and encourage more bicycle use. As such, DPW considers this change a success and is not considering removal.

Your request has been closed. Thank you for partnering with us to keep The City of Portland a great place to live and work.