Looking at the new asphalt at the end of the bike lane on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Well, what do you know! The bike trap at the Queen Avenue railroad crossing has been eliminated. It’s smooth sailing now, or rather riding.
For a year I had been harping on this problem. The repaving of Queen Avenue in 2024 left an abrupt end to the westbound bike lane at the rail crossing. It was a hazard to bike riders unaware of the hole, and those aware of it had to stop or veer into the traffic lane to avoid it.
Anyway, somebody fixed it but laying down asphalt between the end of the bike lane and the first rail, and also between the rails of the first track.
Doug Hiddleston, who used to have an automotive shop nearby, called my attention to the fix with a post on Facebook. A bike ride took me past the spot on Thursday afternoon. And to me it looks like a very good fix.
I don’t know whom to thank, but I assume it was the Portland & Western Railroad that did the work or had it done. The location is on railroad property, and that track is one used by the PNWR.
To sum it up, thanks a lot. That hazard is gone. (hh)
Postscript: Bob Melbo, rail planner at ODOT, sent this on Friday: “I just got an email from Ross Lane, G&W’s government affairs person for the west, that Portland & Western completed the repair on 13 May.”
You can see that veering into the traffic lane would not have been a safe or smart move. Now bike riders can go straight ahead without risk.
Good job, Hasso! It’s safer now because of your reporting.
Good result from your “harping” (to quote you) on the problem, Hasso!
Hasso, it must be nice to know that people from all over read your Blog.
Thanks for writing about this hazard. Saved me a few times. Glad to see it finally got fixed
You mean the railroad does listen? Thanks for reporting on the before and now after. Now if the railroad would only make the crossing smoother for us drivers. While they did some repairs a couple years ago (it was awful before that), it will still bounce you around if you take it too fast.