"As these bike racks pop up, we are finding out that, contrary to what the Portland transportation office claims, people were not asked about siting or notified that it was going to happen". 

Yep. The city belongs to city employees. They let us live here because they need our money, but they feel no obligation whatsoever to seek our input on any decision or action they take. Their philosophy? "If it's good for city employees it's good for Portland."