Is this really what ODOT wants to say about Active Transportation?
Hopefully this was just construction-related, a wish to forbid the sort of "grinding" that is also destructive and even vandalizing. But whether intended or not, it also cast a dismissive shadow on forms of active transportation, implicitly equating them with smoking.
On the mall side of the building, in shadowy lettering you can still read the words "State Highway Department."
Mall and T-Building, 1955 First Presbyterian hasn't yet been moved! |
Unsurprisingly the building's history parallels the river crossing history. The building, in fact, is a near contemporary of the Marion Street bridge, completed in 1954, which some have argued is similarly in need of an update.
Marion Street Bridge Planning, 1946-50 Concept as built, via Scott Bassett |
Among the designs not chosen was one for a much larger single bridge at Center, and for Riverside Drive - much like Harbor Drive in Portland, removed in 1974 and converted happily to Waterfront Park. Still, its function is displaced one block east, to the Front Street by-pass.
Marion Street Bridge Planning, 1946-50 Riverside Drive (not built) detail, via Scott Bassett |
The bike racks aren't too difficult to find, though they are few and pushed to the side.
City Code calls for racks 50 feet from "primary entry" One person suggested these are 63 feet |
More to the point, why aren't the racks covered and featured, part of a first-class parking installation, front-and-center as part of 21st century mobility choice? ODOT really missed an opportunity here to showcase active transportation.
Stormwater stoked the creative imagination instead.
Swales for run-off dwarf the bike racks |
Posters lead with Stormwater management |
For employees things were a little better. The glowing elevator pod turns out to be not just a service entry but the bike entry.
Glowing Pod is Bike Entry! |
Wall racks difficult for some users and long bikes or trailers |
There's only a couple of staple racks, and it seemed like those with recumbents, long-tails, cargo bikes, or trailers would have difficulty using the wall racks. Not every one can lift a bike, either. It was a little too much one-size-fits-all.
Here too the facilities were shy of being a showcase, maybe cutting edge for 1995, but not on the vanguard in 2012.
"Centerline" yellow accents throughout the building |
The offices themselves were tasteful and conservative, mostly done in browns and greys. The conference rooms were named after State Highway and Oregon Transportation Commission members.
Conference rooms bear names of Commissioners |
Inside the Achterman Room |
But then there's this Robins egg blue in the 5th floor lunch room! That was maybe the most surprising element on the tour. The penthouse views looked out to the Eola Hills.
Robins Egg Blue in the Break Room |
My favorite, though, was a relative miniature by Malia Jensen. Birds! More than anything else, it humanized the space.
Malia Jensen - likely part of Pile series |
Small update, 9/20:
Here's a tweet on the bike room in action!
yfrog.com/oce2vivrj room for more! in the bike storage room at the @oregondot T building
— joseph (@joseph_c) September 19, 2012
2 comments:
Here's the ODOT sustainability report for 2012 -
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/SUS/docs/ODOT_Sustainability_Progress_Report_2012.pdf
Funny, it doesn't mention the Fairview facility. But it does show BCC participation rates and Cherriots pass usage.
In case there was doubt about where ODOT ranks bikes and their riders:
"'The fees and taxes they pay to own and operate motor vehicles are to maintain the highway system for motor vehicles and nothing else,' Cooney said in an email to The Oregonian. 'State law requires one percent to go to pedestrian and bicycle facilities. So, motor vehicle owners pay for bike facilities.'"
http://www.oregonlive.com/commuting/index.ssf/2013/11/portland_bicycle_groups_who_pa.html
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