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(October 5, 2017) Portland’s bike lanes just got a little more colorful, thanks the hard work of PBOT’s striping crews who prepared and installed the winning designs from the Bikes to Books coloring contest in bike lanes around the city.
This past May, PBOT and Multnomah County Library, with
support from Metro, invited students living in Multnomah County from
Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade to design bike lane art for Portland’s
“Bike to Books” Bike Month coloring contest. For years Portlanders have
enjoyed the smile-inducing bike lane art designed by PBOT’s striping crews. The
designs are created by crew members and can be found in bike lanes and on
neighborhood greenways across the city.
 Bike lane art in progress. Each design is hand cut from scraps of thermoplastic from other projects that would otherwise go in the trash. Photo by Kirstin Byer, Portland Bureau of Transportation
In June, staff from PBOT's Active Transportation, Maintenance and Communications teams reviewed the approximately 200 entries received and named the first, second and third place winners of each age division as well as honorable mentions from each group. The final step was for PBOT’s striping crews to prepare and install the designs on Portland streets. Final design locations were chosen based on their proximity to the winning artist’s local Multnomah County Library branch.
 Wilson High School soophomore Chloe Unflat smiles next to her winning bike lane art design on SW Sunset at Dewitt, adjacent to the Hillsdale Library. Photo provided by Chloe Unflat.
We asked contest winner Chloe Unflat, a sophomore at Wilson High School, Hillsdale Library volunteer and first place winner in the high school category, about her experience participating in the Bike to Books contest:
Why did you enter the contest?
I entered the contest because I volunteer at the Multnomah County Library each summer for the summer reading program and heard about the contest through there! I thought it would be a fun thing to do, and took an afternoon working on the design.
What was the inspiration for your design?
I chose to use the Portland flag in my design because whenever I think about biking, the Portland culture is at the heart of it. Many if my friends bike to school and work, and I love to go on bike rides with my family to explore our city. The Portland flag summed that all up for me.
Do you bike?
I love to bike, even though I don't do it too often. During the summer, I love going on rides over the bridges and sometimes to Sunday Parkways with our family friends. It's super fun and I wish I had more opportunities to get out and ride.
What does Portland’s bike lane art mean to you?
I really had no idea that Portland bike lane art was something to think about until this contest. But after looking a previous designs that others have done, and the winners of this year, I think that it's a great way to get people to be aware of our love of biking and enjoy something special in their ride.
All the designs are now installed and ready to be discovered on your next ride to the library! Enjoy!
“Ride Portland” by Chloe Unflat, Hillsdale Library
Design location: SW Sunset and Dewitt
“Winning” by Vinhson Nguyen, Woodstock Library
Design location: SE 52nd (northbound) at Woodstock
“Cyclist in Space” by Brooklyn Kavanagh, Belmont Library
Design location: SE Taylor (westbound) at Cesar Chavez
“Singing Bicycle”by Vivian Jacobsen, Midland Library
Design location: SE 122nd (southbound) and Morrison
About the Portland Bureau of Transportation:
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility.
Learn more at www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation
About Multnomah County Library:
Multnomah County Library is the oldest public library west of the Mississippi River, with a history that reaches back to 1864. Today, Central Library and the other 18 neighborhood libraries that make up the library system house nearly 900 computer stations for the public and a collection of two million books and other library materials. As Oregon's largest public library, Multnomah County Library serves nearly one-fifth of the state's population with a wide variety of programs and services.
Learn more at www.multcolib.org
About Metro:
Metro works with communities, businesses and residents in the Portland metropolitan area to chart a wise course for the future while protecting the things we love about this place. Learn more at www.oregonmetro.gov
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