When I interviewed the Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s new Executive Director Rob Sadowsky (a Chicagoan and reformed rollerblader) a couple weeks ago, I asked, “In what ways is Chicago doing things better than Portland for bikes?”

His reply: “We have a central bicycle station, which is something that Portland lacks. It’s a facility downtown where you can lock your bike all day and take a shower. Three hundred bikes fit there, it’s been sold out for four years.”

Well now Hillsboro’s gone and unveiled it’s plans for a city bike commute station, complete with showers. Goddamit. I mean, um, good job, Hillsboro!! I just hate losing.

bicycle-garage1.jpg

The plans are up on the BTA blog, but here they are at right as a thumbnail. Click to make ’em bigger.

The H’boro bike commute center will have space for 40 bikes, according to the city, and accounts for about $200,000 of a $16 million transportation project which is building a whole transit center about a block away from the Tuality Healtcare stop on the MAX Blue Line. The whole project (which involves a car parking lot) is funded by the city of Hillsboro, Tuality Healthcare, state lottery funds and stimulus funds. It’ll be a membership based space, so to lock your bike up and use the showers, you’ll need to buy a membership. No details yet on how much that’ll cost.

Sarah Shay Mirk reported on transportation, sex and gender issues, and politics at the Mercury from 2008-2013. They have gone on to make many things, including countless comics and several books.

9 replies on “I Wish Portland Were as Bikey as, uh, Hillsboro”

  1. Hillsboro also submitted a very ambitious bike proposal to the federal government as part of the Metro Council’s application for Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) funds. Hillsboro’s goal was to connect several of the light rail stations to employment areas with bike paths and trails. We did not get the award but Hillsboro and their staff are to be commended for aiming high.

  2. Seems like this is something a downtown gym could add on to their current business model fairly easily, right? They already have the showers – just convert some space for secure bike storage, and the constantly try to upsell all your bike/shower customers into gym memberships…

  3. We have a building in Lents, right next to the LTC MAX stop that is perfect for a bike facility. Plus, the 205 MUP is adjacent to it and the junction of the 205 MUP and the spring water is really close by too.

    Commuters from further East or further South could ride a good distance on the Springwater or the 205 MUP then park their bike and take MAX into downtown. Even non-commuters could use it. People who want to go on longer recreational bike trips could rent spots there and come pick up their bikes for a nice ride in the evenings or on the weekends.

  5. Never mind, I clicked the link instead of just trying to Google Maps it. It’s some stop I’m never paying attention for, apparently.

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