Cross-continental cycle research project to kick off next year

Leading architectural figure Peter Murray is gearing up to head a team of British professionals on a cross-continental research project and charity cycle ride.

The group of architects and planners will cycle from Portland, Oregon (US) to Portland Place, London (UK) creating a comparative study of cycling facilities and infrastructure. Once complete, the research will provide comparative data and successful solutions – information it is hoped will assist and inspire politicians and planners in instituting improved cycling conditions in cities across the world.

The eye-watering 6,575km ride will take place over 76 days to raise awareness about cycling in cities, riding from Portland, Oregan on April 28th, reaching New York on June 28th and finishing in London on July 10th.

According to the riders, as the interest in bicycles as a credible form of transport increases, how cities approach sustainability, transport and infrastructure to accommodate urban cycling grows ever more important.

Portland to Portland will provide a comparative study of cycle planning, infrastructure and cycle use in fifteen cities across the globe, including Portland, Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Michigan City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Dublin, Oxford, London, Freiburg, Copenhagen and Rotterdam. Cities will be studied on how they are coping with the increasing interest in the bicycle as a credible form of urban transport.

Portland to Portland founder Peter Murray said: “We believe a cyclised city is a civilised city and we hope to shed light on how politicians and planners in the US – the homeland of the automobile – seem to be overtaking the UK in terms of accommodating the ever increasing number of urban cyclists.”

While cycling across the US and UK, the team will also be raising money for architectural charities the Architects Benevolent Society and Article 25.

http://portlandtoportland.org/

Pictured above: Peter Murray (credit: Grant Smith).