This interview with Portland’s bicycle coordinator, Roger Geller, has some excellent take away quotes on the provision of cycling infrastructure and the way Portland have built their way into a bicycle culture.

For cycling to have broad appeal, you have to do something different than expect cyclists to behave in a vehicular manner

I used to ride to work on a racing bike with my clothes in my backpack because I wanted to go fast, because I needed to go fast. No-one likes to be at the head of a slow-moving parade. It’s a lot of pressure being in front of a load of cars.

Once I started riding on a commute route, however, I could wear normal clothing, I could ride an upright urban bike. It’s all so much more comfortable.

There is a very strong correlation between implementing a bike-lane network and increasing the number of riders. Our whole approach to bicycling is based on the four types of cyclists and this dictates how we develop facilities, not just in Portland, but nationally.

The ‘strong and fearless’

The vehicular cyclists, the 1% of the population willing to ride in a busy street in the absence of any separation from traffic. It’s a very small group.

The ‘enthused and the confident’

Perhaps 10 or 15% of the population. This group won’t ride in traffic in the absence of a bike lane, but give them a 5ft bike lane and they’ll ride.

The ‘interested but concerned’

There’s this large, third group which represents maybe half of the population. That’s the average person. The average person needs a different type of infrastructure, Geller argues. “Think about the Dutch principles for bikeway design: safety, comfort, attractiveness, the network must be direct and have high connectivity.”

Find out more at http://www.cyclingmobility.com/pedal-powered-portland/