Kultur 4

This week’s selection of articles reminded me in many ways of home: Portland, OR. Less so with respect to confusing street signs, but in many ways concerning bike laws and practices. In Germany, as a few of the articles suggested, there is a wedge between pedestrian sidewalks and streets where bicycles have there own right of way. In Portland we have a similar system, albeit without separate bike-only traffic lights. We do have a large section of the road is segregated for bikes only, however. Not like in other cities where there is a 3’ wide path along the shoulder, but instead an entire lane with green markings for bicycle right of way. It’s a little obnoxious as a driver to encounter these encumbrances, but perhaps the practice isn’t quite institutionalized in Portland like it is in Germany.

Similarly, our mass transit rail (the MAX or lightrail) is also honor system, as is Seattle’s. Most people don’t attempt to defraud the MAX and instead buy a ticket, but there are similar ticket checkers onboard that will kick you off if you don’t present your proof. It’s kind of a gamble, but like I said, most people just buy the ticket.

-Cole