I would like some clarity on this if you don’t mind. You and I were discussing bike greenways and what makes them eligible or not and I am curious what makes this route eligible but greenways not eligible? Thanks!
Hi @kwezzie
I’ve moved your request to your own topic and added the link to the discussion.
It would be too contextless in the other thread. I hope you’re ok with that.
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By that logic, then every single bike lane sign is eligible too.
Oh trust me, I know this concept very well. I’m Dutch. Cycling infrastructure is what we do.
That’s literally what this is. It’s not a trail. It’s just a traffic sign that signifies what type of road this is.
It’s a bike trail sign…
Maybe in the Netherlands these types of signs are every where and not considered unique enough, but in Portland, they are. Regardless, people in my community have said that they have gotten these approved. Thanks for your personal opinion.
Is there a universal definition in the USA of what the word Greenway means? I honestly don’t know but haven’t found one.
But a lot seems to be placed here on the use of the word, rather than the substance of this specific scheme.
When I read the website and looked these are normal suburban streets not leading anywhere special. Most of the time you are looking at peoples homes.
The network is all like this.
When I think of American greenways this is what I think of.
Dedicated off road paths and trails that are very specific.
With trails it is not the marker that is interesting but the trail. The markers are just anchors in order to follow the trail.
This is where this particular scheme in Portland in my view falls down. There isn’t a trail to follow. No name or number to say “ I ‘m setting off follow red route 3 for exercise”
These are roads that have in effect been rebranded to make the pedestrian and cycling experience better. It’s facilitating a normal everyday activity.
A lot to commend but it is infrastructure on a standard street.
A great scheme but not trails.
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So you wouldn’t accept this either?
Greenways encourage and promote exercise in a safe environment. That meets criteria.
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I think what I am struggling with here is that there is no name associated with this greenway.
In my area, we have greenways that meet the typical definition - a space carved out through nature that is restricted to pedestrians and cyclists. I compare these to like pedestrian highways. They have entrances that act like “on and off ramps” only at designated places, often small parks. However, some of these are close enough to each other that the city wants to allow people to walk or bike between them over regular streets instead of having to drive to an “entrance.” When the Greenway is routed over normal city streets, there are directional signs with the name of the greenway so that you know you are still on the greenway.
In this case, I’m not seeing a name. I need a lot of evidence to prove that this is not just a street that has been designed really well so that it is good for walking. I need proof that it is a route taking me to a greenway. I’m willing to be convinced but I haven’t been yet.
I would think that some sections would be acceptable, but not the whole thing. I agree with @seaprincesshnb that sections over normal road are not special. I live along the Appalachian Trail. The sections that are along roads, I will not nominate. I also will not nominate every marker on the trail. Infrastructure like, boardwalks, footbridges, information signs and marked trail
crossings are all great.
Oh that’s interesting. I would absolutely accept the AT no matter where it is because that’s where the world famous trail is routed. People have to get from mountain to mountain somehow or else they’d get lost.
There is no name associated with these footpath markers either, but they have been clarified to be eligible:
I think the whole “is this actually just a bike lane” argument is missing the point. The Greenway promotes exercise, exploration, and being social as laid out in the link. This is the point and purpose of the greenway. It meets all three criteria.
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How about density. I imagine there will be hundreds of this. Are u saying all of it is eligible?
I just got my jogging route rejected because its not distinct (its every 100m----definitely gonna appeal), so i am wondering how many of this greenway sign ?
I am saying the Greenway is eligible. I don’t know how many of these markers there are, but ones at decision points at any rate should be eligible.
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Thanks Cyndie.
I think the markers are every few blocks, so like every 400’ (121m) - at least on the Greenway I’m familiar with (Clinton St). They definitely aren’t on every street corner. I think if TjoeMi expects to have a point on every 100m of their jogging course, that a sign every 121m is also a reasonable density?
Also about the naming issue, Portland is BIG on their street names since the city is planned in a grid of N, NE, SE, NW, SW…etc. So this greenway is simply called, SE Clinton St Greenway.
Mine got rejected (5rejection 2 in voting) so i wont count on this. Haha. I am still wondering which marker i am gonna appeal after i got 2 more result
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Fair. Yeah I think density shouldn’t matter much anyways on a trail.
To me a sign every 100m is encouraging people to continue on the path.
Just like with major shopping streets, there are points of interest every 50m so I don’t know lol
All of those have paths are specified and use numbers/letters in naming convention. When reviewing I expect that information to be present.
I read the details of the East Coast Greenway which is a named trail and has signage to match. No issues there. The pictures are just like the ones I posted of what I expect a greenway to be like. And the map is also good.
I’d happily approve East Coast Greenway markers.
I’m really sorry but saying the specified name is the street name in my book just means it’s a street. A nice street to walk but a street.
You posted for advice and I think we are just going round in circles.
Everyone is free to take what they want from the advice offered. None of us make any rules we just use our experience to interpret them.
No apologies necessary.
If I provided some additional information like this link, would that help my case at all?
The original question included that this was getting an ML rejection. I don’t think anyone has said how to avoid that. This may require an appeal. You could try a really cropped photo showing just the greenway sign part, but it may also be rejected by the ML.
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