On any given afternoon, North Willamette Boulevard is bustling with families walking their dogs, athletes sprinting through the neighborhoods and students cycling to campus. But, on Aug. 29, a hit-and-run on North Willamette Boulevard occurring less than a mile from campus, highlighted a troubling trend of dangerous driving in Portland and nearby campus streets.
In light of cyclist safety concerns, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) introduced the N. Willamette Boulevard Active Transportation Corridor Project, which brings new infrastructure like protected bike lanes and redesigned intersections to North Willamette Boulevard and is expected to be completed in 2026. This update is part of the city’s latest efforts to increase pedestrian and cyclist safety, impacting the UP community and beyond.
Many avid cyclists believe this is an essential step towards enhancing cyclist safety on busy roads, but they also stress that drivers must be more aware of cyclists and pedestrians along Willamette.
Associate Professor of Environmental Studies Kristin Sweeney, who frequently bikes along North Willamette Boulevard and is a member of volunteer bike advocacy group BikeLoud PDX, believes that the addition of updated infrastructure is an essential first step to addressing cyclist safety.
“Along Willamette, physical separation [of bikes and cars] is the answer,” Sweeney said. “Because you have fast-moving cars and bikes, and [protected bike lanes] are the safest solution for everyone.”
However, improved infrastructure alone isn’t enough to address growing safety concerns.
Distracted driving remains a significant issue all over the city, posing ongoing risks to pedestrians and cyclists alike, despite efforts to enhance bike-friendly routes.
In 2023, 69 people were killed in Portland traffic crashes — the highest number in 30 years. A majority of these deadly incidents involved alcohol or drug impairment, and at least 42% involved speed.
On campus, there’s been an average of one near-campus motor vehicle crash implicating cyclists or pedestrians a year since 2020, according to the Director of Campus Safety and Emergency Management Michael McNerney.
Sweeney herself has witnessed firsthand the dangers of biking on North Willamette Boulevard.
“People drive really fast on Willamette,” Sweeney said. “People drive into the bike lane to get around a car that’s making a left turn. That is really scary, too, if you’re [riding] a bike and suddenly a car goes in front of you.”
UP junior Chase Runions, who also cycles around Portland, says maintaining awareness and evaluating road safety is essential for any excursion on the road.
“When I do go on those longer bike rides, I start to take more precautions because the cars are moving quick, and you want them to see you, and you want to be predictable,” Runions said.
University resources and initiatives
Several on-campus departments and entities are involved in making campus a safe and welcoming environment for cyclists.
Beginning this year, Sweeney has taken the initiative to create a UP bike bus, inspired by her commitment to making cycling safer and more accessible for all.
Many associate bike buses with children cycling together to school. But broadly, a bike bus describes any group of cyclists riding along a route, picking up other cyclists at fixed points — like a school bus. Now, bike buses are also used by adults as a safe method of transportation. According to Sweeney, bike buses provide safety in numbers as cars are more likely to notice a group of cyclists over a single rider. Biking in groups can also bolster confidence for those uncomfortable with biking on busy roads.
The Outdoor Pursuits Program’s (OPP) bike shop also supports campus cycling efforts by offering all university community members free bike tune-ups and group cycling trips, which are planned with cyclist safety and visibility in mind. Balancing the dangers and benefits of an OPP excursion is an important aspect of trip planning, according to the Outdoor Pursuits Program Manager Rae Pickens.
“It’s constantly on my mind of how [can] we mitigate the risk of city bike riding,” Pickens said. “So we always require that students wear helmets. Students stay in bike lanes. And we work really hard to pick a neighborhood route that doesn’t keep us on big and busy roads.”
Meanwhile, Campus Safety enforces UP traffic rules like the 15-mile speed limit on all campus roads. While Campus Safety doesn’t perform traffic stops, they can issue citations and warnings to offending drivers.
“We don’t have these rules [like the campus speed limit] for arbitrary reasons, but because there’s a lot of foot traffic on campus, and those folks are extremely vulnerable when they’re crossing roadways or have to move around vehicles,” McNerney said.
Practicing spatial awareness when driving
For McNerney, the most effective way to improve safety is for drivers to remain vigilant at all times while on the road.
“I think that […] we struggle with the concept of culpability around motor vehicle collisions, and in particular, the understanding that as a driver, I ultimately hold the responsibility for what my vehicle does, regardless of ‘hey, that person stepped out in front of me,’” McNerney said. “None of that really excuses poor management of the vehicle.”
While remaining predictable on the road is one way cyclists can practice defensive riding, Sweeney echoes McNerney’s sentiment that drivers, too, must take responsibility for paying attention to their surroundings.
“When you’re in a car and you’re either turning onto or turning off of Willamette, you should just always expect there to be someone walking or biking on Willamette, because there’s just […] so many cyclists and pedestrians on Willamette,” Sweeney said.
Overall, remaining vigilant of cyclists while driving, especially on roads like North Willamette Boulevard. where UP community members and other residents often walk or cycle, can prevent road fatalities and injuries which often occur due to poor visibility or inattention.
“There are things you can do as a cyclist…, but I think that really the onus is on people driving to watch for bikes and to pay attention,” Sweeney said.
A route map of UP’s bike bus can be found here. More information regarding PBOT’s new corridor project can be found here.
Camille Kuroiwa-Lewis is the Living Editor for The Beacon. She can be reached at kuroiwal26@up.edu.