6 • The Southwest Portland Post
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Dear EarthTalk: What are plan-
ners and designers doing to solve
the so-called “last-mile” problem
regarding transit?
– Ginny R., via e-mail
Solving the “last mile” problem—
that is, getting transit riders from
their bus stop, train station or ferry
terminal “the last mile” to the door-
step of their home or workplace—has
plagued urban planners since the
dawn of public transportation.
“Most people in the United States
are ‘comfortable’ walking less than
a quarter mile to or from public
transit stops,” said Alex Gibson of
TransLoc, which works on solutions
to transit problems using app-based
technologies. “The problem arises
when a potential rider is further than
a ‘comfortable distance’ to the neces-
sary fixed-route stop.”
Widespread suburbanization
across the United States is part and
parcel of the problem, given that
fewer and fewer of us now live
within walking distance to public
transportation options. The result is
more private cars on the road (and
the accompanying carbon and air
pollution) and underutilized public
transit systems.
So, what can be done to overcome
this last-mile hurdle? Some munici-
palities and counties run feeder buses
that circle the suburbs and bring rid-
ers right from their homes or a nearby
corner to a transit hub. Likewise,
Uber, Lyft and other ridesharing ser-
vices can help transit riders fill in this
gap, especially in a pinch. But these
are hardly the most cost- or energy-
efficient fixes to the last-mile problem.
One time-tested solution is bicycles.
Many regions have stepped up their
commitment to installing more bike
lanes accordingly.
While a bike, either the traditional
kind or one of the new battery-
assisted models, works fine if you
have somewhere safe to lock it up or
can bring it inside. Folding bikes may
be a better option for “intermodal”
commuters (who pair biking with a
bus or train or ferry).
London office workers swear by
their folding Bromptons. Another
increasingly viable option is hopping
on a pay-as-you-go share bike which
you can pick up in one part of town
and drop off in another. Beyond bikes,
e-scooters—check the Stigo E-Scooter
and Segway’s new MiniPro—are
gaining traction and market share
across the country.
And let’s not forget about the oldest
last mile option of all: walking. Den-
ver, Nashville and Los Angeles have
made strides in fixing infrastructure
to encourage transit riders to go the
extra mile on foot.
“Because most riders in high rid-
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Willamette Park
(Continued from Page 1)
neighbors and customers on the west
side of the river.
Finally, Willamette Park’s sports
fields have received improved irriga-
tion systems to prolong their ability to
be used year-round, and to improve
the turf playing surfaces.
“Portland Parks & Recreation is
proud to have completed the first
phase of Willamette Park’s improve-
ments. It’s a regional destination,
rather than simply a neighborhood
park,” said Mark Ross, public infor-
mation officer for the park bureau.
“It has a popular boat launch, full-
sized sports fields, tennis courts, and
the Willamette Greenway path run-
ning through it.
“Fishing season greatly elevates the
daily visits. Finally, the park is situ-
ated adjacent to other regional open
space and transportation corridors
and assets. To the south are Willa-
mette Moorage Park, Powers Marine
Park and the Sellwood Bridge.”
Ross noted that the project went
through a 9-month land use process
via the Bureau of Development Ser-
vices. As part of that review, great
care was taken in choosing the proper
plantings along the river’s edge.
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“ Tr a n s i t - o r i -
ented develop-
ment and zon-
ing changes are
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to transit,” said
Angie Schmitt of
StreetsBlogUSA.
“Removing
barriers to walk-
ing and transit-
oriented develop-
ment are likely
to yield better
Biketown makes it easier to find, reserve, park and ride around ridership and fi-
Portland. (photo by Charles Chesnut, courtesy Travel Portland) nancial return on
investment than
ership systems walk to catch buses
others designed to draw transit riders
and trains, transit stops must be sup-
from suburban environments—the
ported by well-designed streets and
transportation equivalent of swim-
sidewalks,” according to the Transit
ming upstream.”
Center, a foundation that supports
Contacts: TransLoc, transloc.com;
transit reform advocacy.
Stigo, stigobike.com; Segway, seg-
“Yet many cities in America have
way.com; Brompton, brompton.com;
built streets without sidewalks, or
StreetsBlogUSA, usa.streetsblog.org.
allowed property owners to encroach
EarthTalk® is produced by Roddy
on or neglect them.”
Scheer & Doug Moss and is a registered
Even more important than spiffing
trademark of the nonprofit Earth Action
up sidewalks would be macro-level
Network. To donate, visit www.earth-
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talk.org. Send questions to: question@
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earthtalk.org.
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