What the public thinks of Franklin Boulevard today
BEST asked: How safe, practical, and attractive is Franklin Boulevard adjacent to the University of Oregon for everyone today?
Here is what they wrote. The comments have been categorized by some topics that were frequently raised.
There is no practical way to get from downtown (ie willamette and broadway) to say, riverview street or market of choice etc. without going hugely out of one’s way to either the river or 13th. If I want my trip to be direct and logical by going down Franklin…. It is awful, not safe, you end up on the sidewalk, not well lit in some stretches -given that there’s no bike lane. Both directions of sidewalk, however, also seem like they would be both tricky to navigate and not the loveliest to journey upon if one is in a chair or has a walking assist.
So much opportunity for safety and access improvements, which would make the road more enjoyable for all users, including cars and busses. In the current configuration, Franklin is loud, fast, and unpleasant for those not in a car. When I drive it, it’s unpleasant because I worry that I can’t see pedestrians or cyclists. I would prefer if the driving surface were fewer lanes, there was dedicated infrastructure for peds and cyclists, and clearly marked crosswalks with responsive lights.
Between the increase in student Population at UofO and the increased traffic along Franklin, the conditions make it unsafe for anyone but LTD to travel along Franklin. Students seldom are aware of anything but their smart phones and often cross in front of motor vehicles. LTD drivers are seldom paying attention to other vehicle traffic and make conditions worse. Disabled people, bicycles and skateboards are often at risk as well. You might try adding pedestrian overpasses at key intersections to help with pedestrian safety.
ADA access very important!
Bikes/scooters should NOT be on the same travel path (bike lane) as vehicle traffic.
Improvements needed for people walking or riding bikes. Rules needed for electric bikes and other motorized vehicles such as skateboards.
Scooter users behaviors cause dangerous conditions
Since they built Matthew knight arena, it seems too congested; difficult to get into P, C MARKET Of Choice , or Hirons; dangerous for pedestrians or bicyclists. Maybe we need more walkways overhead or underground methods of travel for bicyclists, pedestrians, people on skateboards, people on assistive devices The speed limit needs to be slower!!
I think that you should keep in mind wheelchair users and mobility aid users, especially when considering micro-mobility options.
Franklin is unsafe for bicycles and scooters. Bus access is good, but the pedestrian access doesn’t feel safe or enjoyable. The sidewalks must be awful for people with wheelchairs or other devices. Franklin is also very unattractive, and is one of the first roads that some visitors see. This stroad is poorly designed and doesn’t serve our community.
I think Franklin boulevard has issues regarding accessibility for disabilities and other non car related ways of travel.
Franklin Blvd is very busy and often I’ve seen drivers run red lights when pedestrians are crossing the street. There are potholes in the crosswalk which makes it very dangerous for pedestrians, especially folks with any type of physical disability. The crosswalk time isn’t long enough for anyone with a disability or alter-ability to cross in a timely way.
Not ped or bike or mobility device friendly!
Wheelchair accessibility and vision and hearing impairments should also be taken into account
Currently, Franklin Boulevard is build for cars and buses with pedestrians on foot, wheels, and mobility aids being an afterthought. Additionally, there is not great lighting on many stretches of side walk, which make it especially unsafe at night. Given the prevalence of nighttime walkers on/near college campuses, and the high incidence of those people being under the influence of substances, I think well-lit walkways are of paramount importance!
It is not made for pedestrians. There are not enough ways to cross the road in locations that are regularly used, forcing people to jaywalk across a busy road. The sidewalks are poorly paved, and I cannot imagine what it would be like to have mobility issues.
I want to support the change of Franklin boulevard to be more pedestrian and bike friendly and accessible to people with disabilities in any way I can.
I think the accessibility to those on wheelchair and mobilized assistance technologies should be accommodated, the sidewalks are difficult a lot if the time for these communities- it’s difficult as is for those with scooters or walking. The pavement and sidewalk and lighting accessibility are issues.