Part1/2 Proven community engagement methods for Neighborhood Greenways from PBOT
Channel: SEAGreenways
Date: 06/09/2016

Seattle Neighborhood Greenways 2012 Summer Study Trip to Portland Oregon.
Hosted by Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Portland Bureau of Transportation.

Mark Lear - Project Manager, Greg Raisman - Traffic Safety Program Specialist, Scott Baston - Traffic Engineer of the Portland Bureau of Transporation share their methods for effective community engagement when planning, constructing, and evaluation of Neighborhood Greenways.  

Invite and listen, not show and tell.  

Step 1: Collect speed and accident data to share.  Identify legitimate safety issues.
Step 2: Meeting 1: educate and share general route notions, let the community teach you about their neighborhood and it's needs. 
Step 3: Meeting 2: Share draft treatments but be open to routing and treatment changes based on additional community insights and local wisdom.  Be absolutely flexible and accommodating.
Step 4: Build Greenway, monitor results and tweak as needed.
Step 5: Hold Sunday Parkways ride on new Greenway to teach the community they can have this amazing experience every day.
Step 6: Repeat with the same two dedicated outreach experts in the next neighborhood.

Tips: 
1. Speed bumps are $2,000 and slow cars for a greater distance on each side than a $50,000 traffic circle.  
2. Refuge islands work better than curb extensions for the very young and old, yet cost a lot less and don't incur drainage problems and lighting requirements.  They are just safer for all concerned.
3. Engineer for 20mph right up front, it's the only thing that really works.
4. Stress safety for all roadway users, never focus just on bikes.

For more information, go to http://www.seattlegreenways.org