With 282 deaths on Oregon roads this year as of August 25th, 2015 (35% increase over 2014) it is clear that ODOT is not increasing safety on Oregon roads.  Therefore, we as Portland citizens need to remove them from decision making on roads they have control over in Portland.  (Just as they want to remove bike lanes) (Source: http://www.oregon.gov/odot/ts/pages/index.aspx)

Case in Point: ODOT wants to remove bike lanes at SE 26th and Powell / Hwy 26 in order to provide PBOT with a stoplight at SE 28th. They say there are “conflicting studies” about whether bike lanes actually increase safety. ODOT is essentially making a safety gamble and holding it over PBOT's head in order for PBOT to get a stoplight at SE 28th as part of the 20's bikeway. Did you know that the bike lanes they want to get rid of are right in front of a school?!?

As someone who uses this intersection regularly, I feel it would be unsafe to remove the bike lanes in order to get a stoplight at 28th.  People using bikes as transportation like to use the most direct routes (same as car drivers) and avoid unnecessary routes (such as 28th with steep hills) just as cars avoid routes for other reasons.

ODOT treats people who use bikes as 2nd class road users.  We need to kick ODOT out of as many Portland streets as possible.

Please urge city officials to move forward with the release of ODOT controlled streets in Portland to the control of PBOT who has all road users in mind.