"In a move lawyers called "highly unusual," Portland City Council declined to accept the terms of a legal settlement over the city's adherence to the Oregon Bike Bill, which had been negotiated by the city attorney. Now, the $6 million settlement-which would be used for bike infrastructure projects around the city-is in jeopardy. News of City Council's apparent rejection of the settlement was first reported in BikePortland."
"The settlement is the product of a 2022 lawsuit filed against the city by bike advocacy group BikeLoud PDX. The plaintiffs argued that Portland was out of compliance with a state law requiring local governments to include bike facilities on new streets or those undergoing major reconstruction. The 1971 law, known as the Oregon Bicycle Bill, contains certain exceptions, but generally applies when a city or other agency is carrying out total street repavement projects."
"The plaintiffs say after an extensive negotiation process with the City Attorney's office and Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) leadership, the two sides came to an agreement on the terms of a settlement. The settlement agreement included a $6 million investment in bike infrastructure around Portland. Plaintiffs say the specific investments were chosen to be a "win-win" for both sides of the case. The negotiated settlement would require PBOT to adhere to the Oregon Bike Bill and provide a methodology for doing so."
Portland City Council declined to accept the terms of a negotiated legal settlement over the city's compliance with the Oregon Bicycle Bill, creating uncertainty around a $6 million investment in bike infrastructure. The settlement resulted from a 2022 lawsuit by BikeLoud PDX alleging Portland failed to include bike facilities on new or reconstructed streets as required by the 1971 state law. Negotiations between plaintiffs, the City Attorney's office, and PBOT produced an agreement that included adherence methodology, $3 million for safer routes to school, plans for a shared bus-bike lane on 82nd Avenue, and bike lanes on Northeast Sandy Boulevard. Council rejection now jeopardizes those projects.
Read at Portland Mercury
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