Yesterday I attended a Platinum Strategy Meeting with friends from the Office of Transportation and the BTA. Also at the table were Mia Birk from Alta Planning+Design (former PDOT bike coordinator) and City Commissioner of Transportation Sam Adams.
We have these meetings once every few months to check in on programs and initiatives that are being carried out with the overall goal to be named a Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists (check out this page for more on Platinum).
Here are updates on a few topics you might be interested in:
The Portland Bike Summit (6/17)
[Summit website]
This first-ever event is generating a lot of buzz in the bike community and looks to be delivering on expectations. Pre-registration numbers are very strong and the schedule of events ensures this will be a historical day. Attendees will have 15 workshops to choose from over two, one-hour sessions (I’ll be giving a workshop on finding your way to bikey bliss on the web).
The opening and closing assemblies are packed with interesting speakers including Metro Councilor and Portland bike advocacy pioneer Rex Burkholder, US Congressman Earl Blumenauer, City Commissioner Sam Adams, BTA head Evan Manvel, and Portland’s bike culture diva and event promoter extraordinaire Ayleen Crotty.
I was glad to hear they’ve decided to show an edited version of the “Copenhagen, City of Cyclists” video that I posted about back in April. They also plan to close off Montgomery Street (near PSU) for a special performance by The Sprockettes.
Economic Impacts of Bicycling Survey
The City of Portland is working with Alta Planning+Design on a survey of bike-related businesses in Portland to assess the impact bicycles have on our local economy. They are focusing solely on money generated by bicycle-related industry. This survey is a very important start of an effort to establish our region’s growing bicycle industry as an important and viable cog in our local economy.
I can’t reveal the findings yet, but I can say that over 100 businesses were surveyed. They ranged from manufacturers, frame builders and bike shops to messenger companies, artists, and event promoters. I’ll have a lot more on the results of this survey once it’s completed and ready for public consumption.
MTIP funding for major bike projects
MTIP is basically a bunch of money that Metro doles out to various regional transportation projects. City Bike Coordinator Roger Geller told us about two projects he’s hoping to get funded through this process. His requests total several million dollars and include projects to develop bike boulevards and complete gaps in Marine Drive.
Looking over the rest of my notes, that’s all I can report for now. It’s sometimes a challenge for me to decide what I should and should not report on after meetings like this. I have to be careful what I make public or they may not invite me back next time.
Stay tuned…
While I am pleased there are a lot of people in Portland working hard to make the city better for all cyclists I fear we may have reached a point where encouraging additional cyclists to hit the streets will only be to the detriment of the already existing bike riders. I never thought I would be an advocate for fewer cyclist but just as Portland is unique in its number and dedication of its cyclists so also this combination brings unique problems. Prime of which is the recent crack down on bicycle traffic violations. The message I am getting is–more bikes = more tickets. An officer was recently quoted on bikeportland.org justifying the recent bike sting by saying due to increased ridership in Portland traffic enforcement should be putting more energy into bicycle infractions [my paraphrase]. It would appear traffic enforcment has been following through. There have been the two bike stings at stop signs but more importantly there has been a crackdown on the minutiae of bicycle ordinaces. In the past month I know of 3 people who have recieved tickets for not signaling lane changes. In the same time period I know of 0 drivers who have recieved ticket for not signaling a lane change. In fact I know of 0 drivers in my lifetime who have been given a ticket for not signaling a lane change (though of course somewhere I’m sure someone has). Tickets for equipment violations which used to be rare are now relatively common place. These tickets are not cheap either.
So, if this is what “Platinum Status” and increased ridership is going to bring to Portland I’m sure my wallet can’t handle it.
There is obviously a serious problem with the cops and bicycles. The cops are criminally negligent for wasting taxpayer dollars and their time giving tickets to cyclists when they should be out catching real criminals. I’m not sure what can be done about it legally, but we need to come up with some ideas. Bully gestapo cops picking on cyclists is ludicrous.
Well, I fully do not believe that he police are criminally negligent in what they are doing.
I mean, really, they are doing what we pay them to do. Sometimes it may be misdirected. But, they are doing their job.
I also have felt, but never voiced, Magnum’s sentiment on the increase in ridership in Portland.
While it is fabulous to see so many bikes on the road, it also draws unwanted, and unwarrented attention to the working cyclist. And, in reality, the working cyclist takes the brunt of the cycling citations in this city, whether you want to beleive it or not.
It would be great if we could all fit, and Platinum status could be reached.
But, this city neither has the gumption nor the gonads to own up to the real cycling problems we face. Alot is being done, but are they the right things?
Our little city has a huge, active cycling population. We are too big for our britches.
I mean shit, on some streets we should have 2 bike lanes, like double wide man (that was typed in my best hippy)!
Until the real problems are faced, I could not imagine we would be given platinum status..
And could someone tell me please, how I , the working cyclist, will truly benefit from a platinum status?
I mean real, down to earth, beneficial things.
I would like to know.
Maybe we should just settle for Pyrite Status?
Platinum Status amd MTB’s: What is the link?
I just finished listening to Andy Clark from the League of American Bicyclists, and a NEW criteria for a city to acheive Platinum Status is: What is the current amount of singletrack trails for mountain bikers in your town?
http://www.worldmountainbikeconference.com is where he spoke today, June 23rd, in Whistler BC.
Excellent news, we can NOW hold the city and parks department accountable for the lack of singletrack trails in Portland. There are currently only SIX miles open, at Powell Butte, for a city of 1.5 million. 37% of all bikes sold are mountain bikes. Why should we have to load them in our cars and drive 1 to 2 hours to ride ‘the good stuff’? Doing so wastes fossil fuels and at $3 a gallon, that money would be better spent at a local bike friendly business instead of going into a gas tank.
PUMP looks forward to working WITH the Portland Platinum Status Team, and we await their call to join the team, and help Portland earn PLATINUM STATUS!