Like most initiatives, this one has taken some time and testing, including having the boxes at some intersections without the paint. The paint is an expense. It is a thermoplastic like that used for lane striping and crosswalks, but with embedded corundum, a mineral that makes for a nonskid surface. Regardless, the green paint is certainly eye-catching. Even if one were color blind, the hue would signal attention.

Portland, Oregonians has also fought to get more bike lanes for the city. In 1993, a group called the Bicycle Transportation Alliance filed a lawsuit against the city for lack of bicycle lanes in the Rose Quarter area. Now, 15 years later, the Portland Office of Transportation (PDOT) is installing 12-ft. wide, two-way bike traffic lanes in Rose Quarter.