Portland Installs Colored Bike Boxes

A tool that is useful in keeping cyclists safe on the streets is a “bike box,” a painted area that connects a bike lane to a section in front of the right-hand car lane. This box allows cyclists to move in front of cars so that cars can see riders and not run into them or cut them off when turning right.

Bike boxes have been in existence since the 1980s, but only recently in the U.S. have they been installed and used. NYC and Portland are two cities with a number of bike boxes, and the city of Portland’s Office of Transportation has created green bike lanes and boxes to further highlight the road markings.

These tools are but a few of many that can be implemented for a cost that is relatively low compared to high impact of increased visibility and safety. Especially as more people are becoming aware of the issues of single-occupancy-vehicle dependence and switching to alternative forms of transportation, the need for safe cycling infrastructure is growing. Bike lanes and boxes help make cyclists visible and give them more presence on the road, and the colored versions of these elements further cement the infrastructure, both on the road and in the minds of cyclists and drivers.

For more information, visit this site and watch this video.
(image courtesy of treehugger.com)