2 more agenda items: Sidewalk Obstructions & "smart" city survey

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Zack Barowitz

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Dec 8, 2021, 8:20:21 AM12/8/21
to Portland Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Winston,
I have two more items to add to the (already pretty full) agenda:
1. Sidewalk Flora obstructions: Overhanging branches and overgrown thorny bushes are posing hazards to pedestrians on sidewalks this time of year (the defoliated branches are hard to see in poorly lit areas). Plow companies cut back trees for the plows but the same should be done for people.
2. The city released a "smart city" survey which seems to have the goal of speeding up car trips for commuters:
Thanks,
Zack

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Winston Lumpkins

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Dec 8, 2021, 10:44:33 AM12/8/21
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I hadn't looked at that survey yet.  I thought it was a scam at first...  

I don't like it.  

Stop lights should & can prioritize busses, bicycles & pedestrians, without an app.   They should not prioritize any private automobile above those 3, certainly not for a toll....  I guess I could probably pay for that & it would work for my bike?  but yeah nahh.  It would encourage folks who had paid it to drive too fast.  

I will add these to the Agenda, thanks Zack.  

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Damon Yakovleff

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Dec 8, 2021, 10:54:16 AM12/8/21
to bikePed Comm
Thanks for sending this out, Zack, I will look forward to the discussion on Monday. The "survey" really comes off like a push-poll, implying that the respondent is primarily a driver and that they support the toll concept. 

Our Committee may want to consider a statement directed to the Transportation and Sustainability Committee asking that this survey be reissued with the bias removed. The new Chair is Councilor Andrew Zarro, with Councilors Roberto Rodríguez and Victoria Pelletier, and we may have more traction with them on this and many other issues.

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Derek M. Strout

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Dec 8, 2021, 11:11:43 AM12/8/21
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Yes, thanks for the heads up.  I started looking through it earlier but it looks like I missed the window.  Now I’m just getting “Results are being calculated and should be available soon.”

The notice from the city (I’ll sign up for the notifications now):


John Clark

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Dec 8, 2021, 11:30:43 AM12/8/21
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Glad to see there was quite a bit of support for alternate modes of transportation, despite the wording of the survey.

I have a hunch this was related to an S&T committee presentation I caught part of back in September, where a firm talked about a potential new "smart" traffic signal system where lights can be better timed to fit traffic demand, as well as better accommodate and even prioritize cyclist/pedestrian/bus traffic if the city decides to do so. They had a smart camera system which provides benefit to all, as well as an app which uses data on where users are travelling to provide an additional benefit. Unfortunately I don't remember that much from it anymore (and am on mobile right now) but it seemed like an interesting concept from an equity perspective. 


Looking forward to further discussion on this and the sidewalk flora topic.

Scsmedia

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Dec 8, 2021, 1:50:01 PM12/8/21
to PB...@googlegroups.com, jgro...@portlandmaine.gov
Several comments on the survey

It was sent to a small audience of people who apparently subscribe to a "flash poll" application.  I never even heard of this flash poll application.  So the audience is not a microcosm of the residents of Portland.  It certainly miss those who do not use electronic media.

The survey did not ask the primary question.  IE. Do you support the city implementing this type of infrastructure?

They got 547 responses from an apparent audience of 773 (and 40 others that some how participated) in 48 hours which tells e this is a instagram/twitter savvy community.

It is scary to learn that that the city is using these type of polls without fully understanding the potential bias they present.    They should be presented to city leaders with large warnings that they reflect a certain aspect of the community and do not reflect the general views of the residents of the city.

Although the survey was focused on one small piece of infrastructure, the general responses at the end of the survey were surprisingly diverse and informative.  It was also very bike, pedestrian, rail supportive.


2. The city released a "smart city" survey which seems to have the goal of speeding up car trips for commuters:
Thanks,
Zack



Scsmedia

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Dec 8, 2021, 1:55:15 PM12/8/21
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Based on the comments on the actual question, this concept appears to have been pretty much rejected by the survey participants.  60% said they would not pay for the app.  447 of the 547 respondents were "locals".  It does not define locals.

Steven Scharf

John Clark

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Dec 8, 2021, 7:04:53 PM12/8/21
to Portland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee
This "flash vote" platform is brand new. Apparently they selected phone numbers from their alert text network at random to invite to participate, as well as anyone who saw posts about it on the city's website. I personally happened to see a Reddit post from the city (https://www.reddit.com/r/portlandme/comments/r7gavt/city_of_portland_piloting_new_community_input_tool/) about it the other day where I was able to sign up. 

I hope if the city continues to use this platform it is better advertised to all residents.
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