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Portland Bests DC
Posted by dcr100@...
1st Feb 2012
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Very interesting. As a person with a disability and a professional trying to promote inclusion, however, I find many of these walkability type studies as yet another area of research that focuses on mainstream needs and requirements. I live in a city that is high on walkability and bikeability but low on wheelability (or walkability for other disabilities and seniors). Commuting stats would also miss out on the reality of this population as rates of employment are significantly less than the mainstream. Having said that, it at least a step (or push) in the right direction.
Posted by everyoneincluded
27th Jan 2012
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D.C. #2?
D.C. may be #2 with respect to the number of commuters who bike, but it is hardly a bike-friendly city. There are virtually no bike lanes and the traffic is horrendous. While it is fairly easy to get around on a bike once downtown, commuting there particularly from the 'burbs is nightmarish. While the Metro and other transport systems allow bicycles, they do so on off peak hours thus discouraging commuting. While D.C. is a lovely place to bicycle, it is hardly a bicycle commuting nirvana.
Posted by ajrmd
28th Jan 2012
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Portland Bests DC
As a regular resident of both Portland and DC I have a hard time believing that DC is a better place for biking and walking than Portland. Portland has hundreds of street miles and trail miles of bike/ped lanes and a culture that is supportive of both biking and walking. Not so in the DC area where it is extremely hazardous to both ride and walk. DC is working hard to improve with an expanded bike sharing program but the infrastructure for actually biking just isn't mature enough. Throughout the past 40 years I have biked and walked in both places and I would no longer risk biking in DC; competing with traffic is horrendous and life threatening. At 63 I still enjoy biking in Portland.
Posted by dcr100@...
1st Feb 2012