PORTLAND, Ore. -- Portland's traffic experiment known as the "Bike Box" is the focus of a new PSU study.
Researchers are investigating whether the green-colored bike zones at 14 intersections are actually making people safer.
The bike zones create a space for cyclists in front of cars waiting at an intersection.
The space, usually marked by a bright green color, makes cyclists visible to cars and is designed help both parties avoid collisions when drivers make a right turn.
After studying numerous hours of video, researchers concluded Bike Boxes are doing a pretty good -not great- job at improving safety.
Incidents of near-collisions are slightly fewer than before the markings were placed at the intersections. Perception of safety scored high in the study.
A survey of drivers and cyclists shows they feel safer because of the green boxes.
"The fact that the motorists and the bicyclists for the most part are behaving as the box intends is a good sign," said researcher Jennifer Dill, a PSU Associate Professor.
In the study, 90 percent of drivers quizzed knew the rules surrounding Bike Boxes. 80 percent of drivers unknowingly videotaped obeyed those rules.
And while 43 percent of drivers say the bike zones are inconvenient, 37 percent of drivers want more of them installed.
"Actually, (I'm) pretty pleasantly surprised by the results," said City Of Portland Transportation Engineer Rob Burchfield.
He says the research could help decide whether to add Bike Boxes at more intersections at a cost of about $4,500 apiece.
The study also shows that even though people surveyed seem to like the green color used, Bike Boxes without color performed just as well.
