Why does nobody talk about the new bike lanes in Portland?

Rowan Black · 2026-03-22T13:45:04.880863+00:00

I rode through the new downtown Portland lanes last week and saw three people fixing flats right there on the curb. The city put in those fancy plastic separators, but they're collecting all kinds of road junk the street sweepers can't reach. How are shops in that area dealing with the extra puncture repairs from this design?

rivera.simon4mo ago

Did you see the city's new street sweeper attachment that's supposed to fit between those separators?

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mason.cole5mo ago

Those plastic separators are a total magnet for broken glass and nails.

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the_oliver5mo ago

Honestly, mason.cole is right about the junk, but I haven't seen anyone mention how those lanes trap rainwater and turn into little puddles that hide the sharp stuff.

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