Streets play an important part in the daily lives of most people, serving as vital connections to employment, recreation, socialization and much more. Streets (including sidewalks) also serve as important places in and of themselves, including as locations for interacting with friends and neighbors, playing, being physically active, and more. Neighborhood greenways (also known as “bicycle boulevards”) consist of a set of traffic calming installations to make neighborhood streets more conducive to walking and bicycling. Portland has been actively building neighborhood greenways for over four decades, with a renewed push (along with a more structured set of design elements) starting about 15 years ago. This study seeks to understand the effects of neighborhood greenways on outcomes such as walking and bicycling, perceptions of traffic safety, and if they provide social benefits in addition to traffic calming, such as benefits relating to residents’ health, welfare, and social capital (networking among residents).

The study is a follow up to an earlier study conducted by PI Jennifer Dill in 2010-2012 looking at the impact of neighborhood greenways on physical activity levels, and will survey many of the same geographic areas to assess change over time.The main component of the study is a mail-out survey to residents living in the vicinity of neighborhood greenways or control areas.

Findings from the study will be posted to this page when they are available.