For those not familiar with the Oregon Health & Sceinces University location in Portland, OR - at the top of a tall, steep, hard-to-access-efficiently hill - take a look at this Google Maps view: http://goo.gl/maps/SXyJH
Here's an NPR story on why it's there and the challenges of the commute: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/25/240216726/how-to-solve-a-sky-high-commuting-conundrum "In 1880, a railroad company bought the land for a depot without looking at it first; then, realizing it would be too difficult to use, later donated it to OHSU. The hospital started small 125 years ago but has now grown to be a huge enterprise. It's the only academic medical center in Oregon and the largest employer in Portland." As the hospital grew and the access became more problematic, they had to come up with a way to get lots and lots of people to and from work every day without jamming up the narrow, twisty roads up and down the hill. So there is now a light rail line to the bottom of the hill, a tram up the hill, a ginormous pedestrian/bike bridge<http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/07/new_pedestrian_and_bicycle_bri.html>across the huge highway (with a 7-story bike elevator), and the largest valet bike parking operation* in the country at the transition between the all this. Now THAT'S a multimodal location! Here's a short film about it: http://www.streetfilms.org/portland-multi-modal-nexus-has-the-largest-valet-bike-parking-in-the-u-s/ *One of the things that is important here is that the bikes are truly safe. Only the employees enter the bike parking area, so you can leave your nice bike, lights, bags, and other accessories there without worrying that someone will wander in and take them. While I appreciate the Bike Fed's valet parking operations at Concerts on the Square (and maybe football games, but I haven't checked that out), there really isn't any security, since the enclosure is open to the public. (Actually, there isn't even an enclosure.) I can't leave my bag or lights there without thinking someone is going to wander by and take them. Robbie Webber Transportation Policy Analyst State Smart Transportation Initiative www.ssti.us 608-263-9984 (o) [email protected]
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