Friday Transportation Seminar: How COVID-19 Changed Our Cities: Evidence from a Multi-Wave National Survey

Seminar or Event
Friday Seminars
SPEAKERS
Deborah Salon, Arizona State University

Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online or in-person at 11:30 AM. All presentations are recorded and shared on the event page afterwards.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

THE TOPIC 

Human behavior is notoriously difficult to change, but a disruption of the magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to bring about long-term behavioral changes. During the pandemic, people were forced to experience new ways of interacting, working, learning, shopping, traveling, and eating meals. A critical question going forward is how these experiences have actually changed preferences and habits in ways that might persist. We collected a nationally-representative, 3-wave panel survey in the U.S. that aims to shed light on this question. This talk will draw from these data to describe how the pandemic did (and did not) change how we live in cities, what we still don't know, and in which areas urban planners should adjust their assumptions as we look to the future.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Many of the effects of COVID-19 on our lives appear to have been short-lived; many of our 2019 trip making patterns are back.
  • An important exception is the fraction of workers who telecommute; our data suggest telecommuting will be *at least* double its 2019 rate for the foreseeable future.
  • With more telecommuting, we expect that demand for three key urban services may not fully return to 2019 levels anytime soon: transit, restaurants, and office space.

SPEAKER

Deborah Salon, Associate Professor, Arizona State University

Salon studies transportation in cities with the goal of better understanding of how these systems work, and how policies and smart investments might improve them. She is passionate about doing research that can help solve real-world problems, and a common thread in her work is to inform policies that aim to reduce global automobile dependence. Salon employs methods ranging from qualitative, interview-based research to advanced econometric analysis. She holds a PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California, Davis. Before joining the faculty at ASU, Salon completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia University's Earth Institute and subsequently held a research appointment at UC Davis's Institute of Transportation Studies.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We can provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

Photo by Yoav Aziz on Unsplash

Portland State University's Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) is home to the U.S. DOT funded National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), PORTAL, BikePed Portal and other transportation grants and programs. We produce impactful research and tools for transportation decision makers, expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engage students and professionals through education and participation in research.

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Friday Transportation Seminar: Evaluation of a Transportation Incentive Program for Affordable Housing Residents

Seminar or Event
Friday Seminars
SPEAKERS
Roshin Kurian, PBOT; Huijun Tan, Nathan McNeil and John MacArthur, Portland State University

We are committed to making decisions that promote the success and well-being of our campus community. Until further notice, all live events hosted by TREC will be online only. Friday Transportation Seminars at Portland State University have been a tradition since 2000. You can join us online at 11:30 AM.

PRESENTATION ARCHIVE

THE TOPIC

This seminar presents the results from the Transportation Wallet for Residents of Affordable Housing (TWRAH) pilot program launched by the City of Portland’s Bureau of Transportation (PBOT). The program provided a set of transportation incentives for low-income participants including a $308 pre-paid visa card which could be applied to public transit or other transportation services, a free bike share membership, and access to discounted rates on several services. The researchers conducted a survey with the program’s participants to understand how they used the Transportation Wallet and how the program helped them use different modes to get around. The main findings include:

  1. The financial support of this program encouraged some participants to use new mobility services (including Uber/Lyft, bike share, and e-scooter) that they had never used before;
  2. The program increased access for participants, helping them make more trips and, for some, get to places they otherwise could not have gone; and,
  3. Transportation Fairs, where participants could learn about services and talk to providers, promoted both mode sign-up and mode usage, particularly for new mobility and a reduced fare transit program.

This presentation will provide insights into the implementation and effectiveness of a transportation financial incentive program for low-income populations.

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Understand background and the elements of the Transportation Wallet for Residents of Affordable Housing (TWRAH) pilot program;
  • Learn how the program was implemented and how the residents used the Wallet;
  • Understand how a program like the Wallet could be implemented to provide incentives and financial benefits to low-income populations thru a transportation demand management program.

SPEAKERS

Huijun Tan, Portland State University

Huijun Tan is a PhD student in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning at Portland State University. With a masters degree in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, her research now primarily focuses on transportation equity research and gentrification impacts on accessibility among marginalized populations and communities. She is dedicated to investigating how accessibility is associated with neighborhood change in low-income areas in order to provide policy implications for transportation planning and land use planning. Her research also looks forward to identifying mechanisms of preventing or mitigating the adverse impacts (derived from transportation investment) on communities, especially for minorities and low- income neighborhoods.

Roshin Kurian, Transportation Demand Management Specialist, Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT)

Roshin Kurian is a Transportation Demand Specialist at the Portland Bureau of Transportation, bringing expertise in both the transportation and public health fields, with a deep commitment to transportation justice. Roshin’s portfolio includes the development and management of many active transportation equity programs. Roshin manages Adaptive BIKETOWN, BIKETOWN for All, and the Transportation Wallet pilot for residents of affordable housing amongst her TDM efforts. She works to amplify community voices in government and advocates for a safe, accessible, affordable and healthy transportation system. In her free time, you will find her exploring Portland by bike and foot, attempting to appreciate IPAs, planning bike gang adventures, and traveling to new cities to evaluate their bike and scooter shares.

Nathan McNeil, Portland State University

Nathan McNeil is a Research Associate at Portland State University's Center for Urban Studies. He conducts research on impacts of active transportation and transit equity, on new bicycle infrastructure and programs on travel behavior and attitudes towards cycling, on shared-use mobility programs including carsharing and bike-share, and on the connection between land-use and transportation. He was Co-Principal Investigator on recent national studies of bike share equity (Breaking Barrier to Bike Share and National Scan of Bike Share Equity Programs) and of protected bike lane implementations (Lessons from the Green Lanes). Nathan received a master of urban and regional planning from Portland State University (PSU) and studied history at Columbia University as an undergraduate. Prior to PSU, Nathan worked for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City as a performance auditor where he evaluated capital programs and contractors.

John MacArthur, Portland State University

Mr. John MacArthur is the Sustainable Transportation Program Manager at TREC at Portland State University. He is active in research related to sustainable and equitable transportation, particularly in the areas of emerging technologies, e-bikes, bike share, transit, and the relationship between transportation and public health. Mr. MacArthur is the Section Chair for Transportation Research Board’s AME00 Transportation and Society and a member of Innovative Public Transportation Services and Technologies (AP020). He received his BS in Civil Engineering from Lehigh University and a MS in Environmental Health Sciences from the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This 60-minute seminar is eligible for 1 hour of professional development credit for AICP (see our provider summary). We provide an electronic attendance certificate for other types of certification maintenance.

LEARN MORE

Photo by Cait McCusker

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The Transportation Research and Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University is home to the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC), the Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation (IBPI), and other transportation programs. TREC produces research and tools for transportation decision makers, develops K-12 curriculum to expand the diversity and capacity of the workforce, and engages students and professionals through education.

Archive
Video
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McNeil Slides
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Questions about the workshop? See our F.A.Q. below, and reach out to asktrec@pdx.edu if you have additional questions. 

  • What is the refund policy? We offer refunds up until 30 days prior to the workshop, less a $100 service fee. The registered participant is able to invite another person to substitute their place in the workshop at any time, at no charge.
  • What is your cancellation policy in the event of extreme weather? If we cancel the event due to extreme weather (e.g. wildfire smoke event), we will refund your workshop fee in full. Please plan your travels accordingly, and consider the flexibility options of your flights / train tickets.
  • What COVID safety protocols will there be? Part of the workshop will be held outside on field tours. The remainder will be held in a PSU classroom with an in-classroom air purifier. The building has undergone significant HVAC updates. The University policies around indoor space use have been changing frequently, and we will follow the most current guidelines for June 2022. Beginning March 19th the PSU campus does not require mask wearing, however participants are welcome to wear masks if they choose to. We will provide masks as needed, and sanitized surfaces. We will also have hand sanitizer available, and will maintain space between attendees.
  • How many people will be attending this workshop? Approximately 18 people will be attending the session, in addition to TREC support staff and instructors.
  • Are accommodations provided? No, you must arrange your own accommodations for your duration in Portland, OR. Please contact us for recommendations or with questions.
  • Are continuing education credits provided? This 5-day workshop will be eligible for approximately 30 hours of continuing education hours. They can be self-submitted to your accrediting body (e.g. CMs or PDHs), and will also be submitted for pre-approved AICP credits (see our provider summary here). We will provide an attendance certificate to those who need to document their professional development hours. This is not a Portland State University course, and is not connected to university credits.
  • Will you be able to meet my dietary needs? We order our breakfasts from a variety of vendors, and adjust our orders based on the needs of each year's cohort. For lunch, we stop at some of Portland's famous large "food cart pods" which offer a wide variety of foods that meet different needs. We always stop at the SE "Cartopia" pod!
  • How do we pick up our bike rentals? If you reserved a bike rental through us / your workshop ticket, we will be in touch soon with information about how to pick up your bike rental (in downtown Portland). Rented bikes will be available for pickup from 10am - 6pm on Sunday, Aug 24 – the day before the workshop. If possible, please plan to arrive in Portland and pick up your bicycle on Sunday. We will build in time to pick up bicycles on Monday for those who are not able to pick up early.
  • Why are the number of e-bikes limited? We are limited to the number of e-bikes available to us from our rental provider. Where do I charge my e-bike? You are responsible for ensuring that your e-bike is charged adequately, and in a secure location, before the daily field tours.
  • Where do I store my bike rental? Overnight rentals must be stored inside a secure domicile (hotel room/concierge closet, living room, etc). A shared bike room is not a safe location. Bike rentals cannot be stored outside overnight - it is a violation of the rental policy and you will be responsible for any theft or damage if stored in a shared bike room or outside.
  • What should we bring on the daily bike tours? A backpack is recommended to carry your belongings. Both the multi-speed and e-bike rentals have racks, but they do not have baskets. Please pack a bungee cord if you would like to secure a bag to the rack. We recommend bringing: Water! And, more water. Sunblock, sunglasses and personal snacks are also recommended. The workshop hosts will be biking with you everywhere, carrying spare water, first aid kit, bike pump, and patch / bike repair kits.
  • Will there be time to take photos on the bike tours? Yes, we will be making frequent stops to discuss the infrastructure we're learning about. The workshop hosts will be taking a lot of photos of the sites and the students during the whole workshop. These photos will be made available to all students for usage.

HOUSING and ACCOMMODATION

We can recommend some nearby hotels and tips for getting around town. Air B&B and Vrbo are another potential source to find a comfortable place to stay. 

Requests for reasonable accommodations may be made to Conference & Events Office, (503) 725-CONF, email: conferences@pdx.edu or the Disability Resource Center, (503) 725-4150, e-mail: drc@pdx.edu. In order to ensure that reasonable accommodations can be provided in time for this event, please make your requests as soon as possible.

What have people said about the course?

"The IBPI Bikeway Design Course gives tangible examples of policies and standards in action. The Neighborhood Greenways are a wonderful example of how walking and bicycling has been prioritized by policy, and then you physically ride a bike and see the diverters and traffic calming measures realizing this vision. I would highly recommend anyone attend this course to learn and experience the practical design implementation of a great cycling city." 
-2024 attendee

"I came into the course hoping to learn new insights on bikeway design and left with all my expectations being exceeded. The TREC staff were amazing during the week providing us with resources and support. Additionally they did a wonderful job putting together a great group of panelists that brought with them a breadth of experience, knowledge and skill."
-2021 attendee

"We are currently in the process of designing some of our first bike lanes. I plan to use the knowledge gained from intersection treatments and shared bike/ped infrastructure to improve our proposals."
-2021 attendee

"I came into the course with very minimal experience with bikeways and how it affects traffic with the implementation of these bike lanes/pathways. The course has taught me that it takes a bit of thinking outside the box to make bikeways work even if it doesn't seem very conventional or helpful."
-2019 attendee

"The course provided guidance on many innovative solutions for enhancing bicycle safety and circulation. The reasons behind prioritizing bicycle travel were also useful, as well as the policy context for focusing on bicycle infrastructure."
-2019 attendee

WORKSHOP AGENDA

Below is an example of our typical workshop schedule (e.g. bike rides may shift in timing according to weather, etc.). Days begin at 8:00 AM, and end at 5:00 PM, unless otherwise noted.

MONDAY

Introductions + Orientation

Setting the Context for Bicycle Facility Design

Field Tour (Portland): Bicycle Facility Design - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

Bicycle Facility Design: Bike Boulevards 

Evening: Social Hour (optional, after 5PM)

TUESDAY

Field Tour (Portland): Bicycle Facility Design - A Low Stress Network

Innovation in Bicycle Facility Design: Network Approach and Protected Bike Lanes

Innovation in Bicycle Facility Design (cont.) 

WEDNESDAY

Traffic Engineering Techniques in Support of Active Transportation: Intersections, Signals, and Other Principles

Field Tour (Portland): Traffic Engineering - The Bike Edition

Pathways to Innovation: Evolving Guidance and Standards in Bikeway Design

THURSDAY

Designing for Suburban Environments 

Field Tour (Washington County): Bicycling in a Suburban Environment

Multimodal Integration: Making the Transit and Bike Connection

FRIDAY

What Design Problems Are You Challenged By?

Closing Lunch and Conversation (ends at 1 PM)

REGISTRATION

Register now for the 2025 workshop.

If you are not able to attend this year, email us at asktrec@pdx.edu if you would like to be added to the waitlist, or sign up to be notified as soon as applications open next year.

The workshop will be held Aug 25–29, 2025.

The workshop fee is $1575 for participants who bring their own bike, which includes:

  • Light breakfast (daily)
  • Lunch (daily, via local Portland food carts)
  • Additional snacks (you won't go hungry!)
  • Electronic course materials

Additional cost to rent a bike for the duration of the workshop:

  • $145 for multi-speed
  • $295 for e-bike (limited number available)

Rented bikes will be available for pickup from 10am - 6pm on Sunday, Aug 24 – the day before the workshop. If possible, please plan to arrive in Portland and pick up your bicycle on Sunday. We will build in time to pick up bicycles on Monday for those who are not able to pick up early.

Overnight bike rentals must be stored inside a domicile (hotel room/concierge closet, living room, etc). A shared bike room is not a safe location. Bike rentals cannot be stored outside overnight - it is a violation of the rental policy and you will be responsible for any theft or damage if stored in a shared bike room or outside.

IBPI Workshop: Comprehensive Bikeway Design

Bikeway Design Workshop Participants Ride Across a Rainbow Crosswalk

This year's workshop will be held Aug 25–29, 2025

Please note: We will confirm by July  1 whether enrollment meets the minimum required to run this August workshop. We kindly ask that you wait for this confirmation before making any non‑refundable travel arrangements.

REGISTER NOW

As Portland, Oregon has put bikeway plans into effect, we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t—how to plan effectively, design correctly and make investments that get results. We’ve distilled those lessons into this course, which covers the fundamentals of bikeway design and planning through an intensive week of interactive classroom, field tours, and design exercises. 

Instructors are leading practitioners in the field who draw from their years of experience, along with project examples, to highlight practical applications of the principles and techniques covered. The instruction and interaction with other participants will bring you up to speed on innovative practice and research and teach you the skills and techniques you need to get started on your next project. 

Over the years, the Portland area has implemented numerous types of innovative bicycle facilities and treatments. Daily field tours provide first-hand experience with these facilities and projects discussed in the classroom. These tours showcase not just the operational qualities but also how bikeway planning affects community livability and economic development.

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Make low-risk investments in proven bicycle plans and facilities
  • Select the appropriate bicycle facility design based on urban form, traffic conditions and multimodal context
  • List the different ways that a bicycle facility can meet or not meet the needs of people who bike
  • Use the FHWA Experiment process to test innovative bikeway design
  • Describe the tradeoffs of designing better facilities to accommodate all road users
  • Identify various options for treating intersections that incorporate bicycle facilities
  • Describe the health benefits of active transportation
  • Identify opportunities, strategies and programs to encourage more people to bike and walk
  • Talk to an engineer and communicate effectively with them about facility requirements
  • Build their personal network with experts from the various facets of bikeway design
  • Feel rejuvenated and excited to go back to work and make an impact!

This course is offered through our Initiative for Bicycle and Pedestrian Innovation program.

Who Should Attend?

Hosted since 2009, our Bikeway Design workshop is designed for transportation engineers, urban planners, advocates, policymakers, municipal staff and other transportation professionals interested in nurturing cycling in their communities. See photos from workshops of previous years.

Students must be able to bike 8–15 miles a day, and expect mild elevation. With daily bike rides, this course is physically demanding. Participants who aren't used to riding multiple miles per day have the option of renting e-bikes (we have a limited number, while supplies last). Having an e-bike gives you the same view and makes it easy to keep up with the group!

To request reasonable accommodations, contact us at 503-725-2896 or asktrec@pdx.edu. In order to ensure that reasonable accommodations can be provided in time for this event, please make your request within seven business days before the event.