PORTLAND, ORE.—In recognition of Portland’s growing bike culture, a unique partnership between the Lloyd Transportation Management Assn. (Lloyd TMA), a five-member project team from 2010 Leadership Portland, and the Doubletree Hotel Portland has culminated in 62 new, covered bike parking spots at the Doubletree Hotel. These spots are in the hotels’ parking facility adjacent to the MAX light rail, and have been designated for public use by bicyclists commuting to and visiting the area.
The corral, which consists of 30 new racks meant to accommodate 62 bikes, was conceived and designed by the project team from the 2010 Leadership Portland program, which also worked with the Lloyd Transportation Management Assn. to identify a site for the additional spots. The Lloyd TMA donated the racks to the Doubletree, which installed and will maintain the corral and make it available to the public.
“We expect the number of cyclists in the Lloyd District to triple over the next five years, so this project at the Doubletree will certainly help us meet the growing demand for secure parking in the area,” said Heather McCary of the Lloyd TMA.
Evidence of Hotel’s Commitment
Steve Faulstick, general manager of the Doubletree Hotel Portland, said that the project was another great opportunity to demonstrate the hotel’s commitment to community improvement and social responsibility.
“Giving up parking spaces to provide bike parking for neighborhood commuters is a natural fit for the Doubletree,” Faulstick says. “We strive to operate a sustainable, responsible business within our community and entering into this partnership has given us one more way to provide a benefit to our neighbors, visitors and team members.”
The bike lot is the latest in a series of efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the hotel. The Doubletree has been actively working to reduce the impact of its greenhouse gas emissions through increasingly efficient fixtures, alternative transportation options, and by raising awareness of carbon offsets among staff and guests.
The hotel eliminated its airport shuttle—a standard industry amenity—several years ago, in favor of promoting the door-to-door MAX light rail as a better option for guests traveling to and from the airport. The hotel now offers its guests a biodiesel van to transport guests in and around the city. The Doubletree also offers a 50 percent parking discount to any guest driving an electric or hybrid vehicle. The program has already been a success in its early stages, and plans are being discussed to extend a similar discount for day parking.
Go to the Doubletree Hotel Portland.
