Bicycle boulevards are becoming increasingly popular as a means of encouraging alternate modes of transportation. However, little is known about the effects of bicycle boulevards on residential communities. For example, do bicycle boulevards have an impact on residential quality of life, safetyfor children, or sense of community? Do they encourage residents to bicycle more? How large a factor does the presence of a bicycle boulevard play into residents decision to move to a neighborhood? To answer these questions, a survey of residents along a bicycle boulevard in Portland, Oregon was conducted, and a 29 percent population response rate was received. The majority of respondents felt that the SE Salmon Street bicycle boulevard has had a positive impact on home values, quality of life, sense of community, noise, air quality, and convenience for bicyclists; a negative impact on convenience for drivers; and no impact on safety for children, convenience for pedestrians, and the amount of traffic collisions. Additionally, 42percent of respondents said living on a bicycle boulevard makes them morelikely to bike, the majority of whom did not self-select to live on a bicycle boulevard. Additionally, survey respondents comments revealed a splitbetween positive and negative attitudes towards the bicycle boulevard. Key design and policy implications of these findings include the need to improve cyclist visibility at night, ensure adequate traffic diversion and traffic calming measures, and provide clearer communication about bicycle boulevard purpose, traffic laws, and expected courteous behaviors.
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