ODOT’s bike guy moves on after 22 years
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on October 5th, 2006 at 9:00 am
After a 22 year career with ODOT, Michael Ronkin is set to retire. Ronkin has been involved with ODOT’s bicycle and pedestrian programs since 1989 and is a nationally respected expert on designing streets for cyclists and pedestrians.
Co-workers and colleagues are planning a party at the end of the month to celebrate his career.
My first experience with Ronkin was almost a year ago when I posted about the infamous “wet paint incident.” Here’s the story: A couple on a tandem had slipped on the wet paint of a newly re-painted street. Concerned for the lack of signage and what they considered a safety hazard, they contacted ODOT but got the runaround.
Ronkin got wind of my post and was quick to respond. About three weeks later Ronkin posted a comment saying ODOT had changed its paint policy.
Ronkin also did a good job handling the community backlash over ill-fated highway bike ban.
We were lucky to have a guy like Michael Ronkin at ODOT. Thanks Michael, for all your work to make Oregon a better place to walk and bike.
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October 5th, 2006 09:07
Mike lectured at my bike and ped planning course on Tuesday. He's really a great speaker on bike/ped issues and I'm sure we won't be seeing the last of him.
October 5th, 2006 09:09
Gotta love that old-skool PERS... :-)
I'm sure all that bike riding is why he looks not a day over 55.
October 5th, 2006 12:23
Thanks Mike!
We appreciate your longstanding effort to improve the safety of Oregon's roads. It's a monumental effort that you have devoted.
Good luck to you for the future.
October 5th, 2006 17:56
Mr. Ronkin spoke at the Iowa Bicycle Summit in Des Moines, IA this past February and it was great. Commited cyclists everywhere know how transportation SHOULD work, its nice to hear it from someone in a postion to do something about it. Much thanks to him, hopefully Iowa will see the benefit of his vision before the gas runs out or something.
October 5th, 2006 18:49
Thanks to Mike for helping bring us the "bike / ped statutes doc" so that we don't have to search through the many chapters in the statutes for all the applicable laws.
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/BIKEPED/docs/bike-ped_statutes.pdf
January 3rd, 2007 00:03
[...] ODOT has picked Sheila Lyons to manage their bicycle and pedestrian program. Lyons takes over for Michael Ronkin who held this important post for 22 years before officially retiring back in October. [...]